The Red Cloud chief., 1881-03-24
A CLEVER COUNTESS.

A CLEVER COUNTESS.
On the 4th day OF October, 1879,
love to be particular in dates-a coacl
and six drew up before the shop of tn,
well-known jewe!cr, NJ. Rue St. Hon
ore. The equipage was covered will
a profusion of gliding and heraldic de
vices, aRd the liveries of the footmeI
indicated high rank in the possessor
The steps being adjusted. a lady
splendidiy dressed, descended and en-
tered the shop. where all the attend
ants. and oven NJ. himself. were profus,
in their attentions. anticipating ever,
look and step. and displaying before
herthe most costly diamonds and '.pier
~reries."
The lady, with the most lofty non.
chalance, selected jewelry to tha
amount of about Is, 900, which were
Immediately placed in q casket by the
O~bsequiOus attendants, when, handing
her purse to the jeweler, he found Il
contained n sum somewhat exceeding
f3,000. and short of the requisite
amount. The lady, with many graceful
apologies and o momcntary flush oil
fcAderOHs uCSSO paiuou AOf TIC uliS-
take. desired N. to lay the parcel by
until she should call again with the
money, and giving her name as the
Comtesse de L., departed with all the
ceremony and splendor that marked her
first appearance.
The coach passed up the Rue st.
Honofc In the direction of the Barriere
Neuilly, turned by the Place dc Louis
QuinEe.i and finally stopped at the
house of q celebrated physician in the
splendid Rue de Rivoli. The lady
alighted here, and was shown into the
presence of the well-known Dr.. IN,
who's arising from his seat at a table
covered with anatomical preparations.
salutsd iserwith his usual courtesy, and
begged to know why he was hOnored
with this unexpected visit.
The lady, assuming an air of settled
melancholy, replied:
II can hardly command my feelings
to tell You the cause of my unhappi-
ness. My dear husband. the Comte dc
L., during the early years of mar
riage, was all that a fond wife could de-
sire; my slightest word, hint or sign
was sufficient inducement for him to OBJ
tain any object of my wishes; but lat
terly the scene is changed there her
voice became nearly ~inarticulate through
griefs9 be has become moody, sullen
and reserved-at times breaking forth
into violent fits of rage without any APP
parent cause, thus making my life q
perpetual scene of misery; In short,
dear doctor, / more than suspect he is
touched with insanity, and It is on his
account that / now visit you to obtain
your advice which / consider of more
weight than that of any other member
of the profession there the doctor, much
flatcercd, made a low, disciaiming bowl
especially as the dreadful secret has
been concealed from all his family, not
even his brothers and sisters having the
slightest intimation OF it.
1.-The following circumstance, doc
tor, has especially influenced my, pres
ent visit. My dear husband, the Comte,
wishing to support the honor of the
house, sent me last spring to the noted
jewcier NJ. Rue st. Honere. with a
carte blanche to select ornaments to
wear at the approaching festival. / at
first hesitated. but finally, urged by his
earnest protcstations, went today and
chose a few, to a trifing amount, more
to please him than myself, as he de-
lights, the dear Connie (here the lady
sObbed), i'm seeing mt sp.endidly dressed
and supporting my rank. But, from
the many similar instances / have oh.
served, l have not the least doubt that,
on being reminded of the fact, he will
pretend utter incredulity, aud. on being
assured of its truth, burst into those
terrible paroxysms which but too clear
ly indicate the cause of his disorder.
Therefore, dear doctor. favor me with
your best, kindest advice. and-and-
excuse the feelings of a wife" (Here
the lady applied her Handkerchief TO
her face and was silently
The doctor. crossing his legs and
supporting his chin upon his gold-head-
ed ane began to c~ogitate, with his
eyes half-closed and his body inclining
forward at an angle of forty-five de-
grees.
"Hum- madame, conine him in
deed we must-aclear case, madam-the
humors, which, had they been pituital
or salivary, would have been expecto.
rated. having become sanguineous and
melancholic, having refrigerated upon
the eerebellum-hem but excuse me,
madame. while l make the necessary
preparations"
So saving the doctor arose, rung a
bell, and directed his valet TO see his
chariot at the door, and to order John
lie porteur and Francois lie cocher to at
tend him Immediately. land, bark
ye," said he, in an undertone, "tell
them to bring all my apparatus les
lunatics. depeckez, and let them follow
in my chariot. / will avail myself of
the carriage of the Comtesse (the lady
made a bow of grateful acknowledge
ment) and be careful to remain in the
ante-ro0ni al l cali aloud"
HE servant retired, and in a few
minutes announced everything ready.
The doctor entered the carriaye of the
COmtesse; he own chariot followed at a
shost distance behind. During the ride |,
he used every argument to asSuaoe the |,
gri0f OF the lady, which would burst /,
forth at times with increased yehe-
msnee, until the honest ..medicin,
himself, hardened as he was to the de- R
tails OF his pro.ession, became affected |,
by sympathy. 1t seemed as If every |,
traaauil moment only added to the vio-
lence of the succeeding paroxysm. I,
Passing down the Rue st. Houore. I,
hey reached the jeweler NJ, before
when the lady pulled the
string of the coach and aligned. Upon
entering the shop she desired NJ. to take
The packet of jewels, and accompany (,
her in her coach, assuring him of his
pay as soon as he reached the hotel of
he Comte. adding. with . fascinating
smile, that he could have no ~apprehen-
'ions. since the jewels were still in his
Seeping. The jeweler, with a smile of
battered vanity. took the parcel into
MS hands, insisted upon handing
Madame La C0mtesse into the coach.
'prang in himself, and the coachman
'napping his whip. the equipage rolled
down the Rue st. Honore.
litter . drive of = mile and . hall. and
crossing the Boulevards, they stopped
II a splendid hotel in the Place du I
Thine. celebrated in history - the site I
the Bastile. The jeweler. with his
packet, alighted first, then the doctor, t