The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-01-28
FOLLY SEVERELY PUNISHED.
STORY OF THE FRENCH woMAS IL THE IRo,
MASK.


MASK.
On the banks Of the Marine, close by the
village Of r., and about three-quarters OF an
hour distant from Paris, stands the chateau
Of the Marquis Of r. 1t is a very grand old
chateau, built at a time when every country
residence was a fortress, and tourists travel
thiJheT from afsr to admire its turrets and
its donjon, and its portcullis and, above all,
its armOry, which is said to contain the finest
private collections Of offensive and defensive
weapons in France. There hangs the au-
thentic suit OF armor worn by Francis L at
MaTignan, and no less authentic buckler
brought back by one Of the noble owners
ancestors from Palestine, where once it had
been carried by Saladin. There, too, is to be
seen the ''Claiye Of Justice before which
fell the head Of the count Of Montmorency-
BOuttevile with illustrious c1dssords and
celebrated 5rossards and daggers and rapiers
and cimeters, each with its especial history.
But the gems Of the gallery are the helmets,
of which there are specimens Of every shape
and epoch, from the humble morton of the
retire to the plumed and gilded casque Of the
knight. In fact, helmets are The particular
hobby of the marquis who is, or rather was,
pIOuder Of his collection than Of ANYTHING
else in the world until he took unto himself
wife, when, so long as the novelty Of the
situation lasted, she assumed the first place
in his affections. But the Marchioness who
Is restless little Parisienne, did not like the
village Of r., nor the chateau Of r. She
found the neighbors dull, and saw no more
charms in the Sunday evenings game OF
whist with the notary, the cure, and her hus-
band. Time hung heavily on her hands
she had nothing to do, and she looked about
her for some distractions, as she was as much
out Of place in that gloomy old castle as
would be canary bird inside Of cannon.
She found it naturally most people do find
what they want if they seek diligently and are
aided by the devil, as she was, for the dis
tractor appeared IN the form Of MI T. p.
the son Of an eminent Partisan doctor, who
has villa in the enyirons. All through the
summer their frtations went on nicely, if
wickedly, but, as usual, the pitcher went to
+ the well once too often. One Of the servants
. considerably Informed bis master Of Mad
DANES "carTyings on, and when Monsieur
/ came in unexpectedly upon the turtle doves
last Wednesday evening he was not left in
any doubt; Nj T. p. jumped cut Of the
window and was not shot after; the lady
dropped upon her knees and asked FOR mer-
cy. Madame, - said N. de r., with a calm
ness more terrible than would have been an
explosion OF wrath, ''be good enough to get
up and accompany me. "But-this COS
tune" she ventuTed to protest is perfect
ly appropriate" was the reply, and ike an
other statue Of the commander, lie led the
way to the armory. 1t is all over with me, -
thought the MarchiOness, ''he means TO cut
my head of. - but they passed by the -'glaive
OF justice" and never stopped until they
reached the helmet department. So far the
prologue. On Thursday morning as the
milk-caFts came in az the Grenelle gate OF
the Notifications, their drivers were aston
ished to see a female sitting on the pavement
clad only in ? chemise, but with her head
surmOuuUed by an iIon casqus from which
hUlted an immense plume OF ostrich feath
ors. Who was she, whence came she, what
was the meaning of this strange accoutre-
menty Al. those questions were asked, frs.
uy the miikmen, and then by the police
agents who conveyed her to the nearest
guaTd-h0use. The answers came, but were
inaudible from Eehind tnat lowered yisol
her voice sounded like the bark Of 3 littlC
dog at the bottom OF . copper-kettle with it:
cover on. At last somebody thought ths
perhaps she might be able 10 write her story
which, as my readers may have supposed. il
= continuation Of the promenade in the Il
armory. Then q locksmilh was sent for bu
he could do nothing toward ridding her o
her cumbersome beadgear, the secret sprin.
Of whose fasteUiHgs is only known to tn
marquis himself. 4 dispatch was posted Of
to r., but the marquis had left-for tw
! years, said the steward, and without giyin
any address, except that of his banker il
p Palis, who has not been told Vet whittier u
Is TO direct his correspondence. SO stand
the affair nov, and there is no reason to an
Jicipate its speedy termination. The yictiI
, Is fed ON liguiGs through = tube passed De
= tween the bars Of the helmet, and gets JUS
enough air to avoid sufIocation but can sh
endure the torture until her lord relents
, The steel Is so narvelously tempered that
turns the edge of every tool so far tried upo
it, and the uniucky heroine of this extTao1
, binary but positively veracious history is NJ
likely to derive much consolation from ii
/ inscription found upon the piece Of arnol
4, from which il appears that it Is one Of n
chefs d'Cuyre Of the celebrat ted Florentine a
n morer Galotti, made by him expressly II
. AlphOns d Este, the fourth husband Of III
notorious Lucrezia Borgia.-Paris Letter
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