The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-02-24

a. Af4clo MIc GuuCu1u uIc8unu u bQlOukuE
How sweet to hope that they al cametruei
A CLEVER COUNTESS.
On the 4th day of October, 1921
love to be particular i'm dates coach
and-six drew mp before the shop of the
well known jeweler, M. Rue st. Honore.
The eQuipage was covered with a pro-
fusion of gliding. and heraldic devices,
and the liveries Of the footmen indicated
high rank In the possessor. The steps
being adjusted, q lady, splendidly
dressed, descended and entered the
shop, where all the attendants, and even
NJ. himself, were profuse In their atten-
tions, anticipating every look and step,
and displaying before her the most costly
diamonds and s'pierreries."
The lady, with the most lofty nonchal-
ance, selected Jewels to the amount of
about e5, 900, which were Immediately
placed In a casket by the obsequious at
PENDANTS, when, handing her purse to
the ieweler, he found it contained q sum
somewhat exceeding $1,000, and short
of the requisite amount. The lady, with
many graceful apologies and a momen-
tary flush of vexation, begged pardon
for the mistake, desired NJ. to lay the
parcel by uutil she should call again
with the money, and giving her name as
the Countess de L., departed with all the
ceremony and splendor that marked her
first appearance.
The coach passed up the Rue St.
Honore In the direction of the Barriere
Neuilly, turned by the Place de Louis
Quinze, and finally stopped at the house
of q celebrated physician in the splendid
Rue de Riyoi. The lady alighted here,
and was shown into the presence of the
well known DIR. N, Who. arising from
his seat at O table covered with anatomi-
cal preparations, saluted her with his
usual courtesy; and begged to know why
he was honofed with this unexpected
visit.
The lady assuming an air of settled
melancholy, replied:
sI can hardly command my feelings to
tell you the cause of my unhappiness.
Ny dear husband, the Comte de L.,
during the early years of our marriage,
was all that a fond wife could desire; my
slightest word, hint, or sign was sufficient
inducement for him to obtain any object
of my wishes; but latterly the scene is
changed here her voice became nearly
inarticulate through grief; he has be-
come moody, sullen, and reserved-at
times breaking forth into violent fits of
rage without any apparent cause, thus
making my life a perpetual scene of mis-
cry; in short, dear Doctor, I more than
suspect he Is touched with insanity, and
it is, on his account that / now visit you
to obtain your advice which I consider
of more weight than that of any other
member of the profession there the
doctor, much hattered, made o low, dis
claiming bow, especially as the dreadful
secret has been concealed from all his
family, not aver his brothers md sisters
having the slightest intimation of it.
s'The following circumstance, Doctor,
has especially influenced my present
visit: My dear husband, the Comte,
wishing to support the honor. of the
house, sent me last spring to the noted
jeweler NJ, Rue st. Honore, with a
carte blanche to select ornaments to
wear at the approaching festival. I at
first hesitated, but finally, urged by his
earnest protestations, went to-day and
chose a few, to a triHing amount, moro
to please him than myself, as he delights,
the dear Comte there the lady sobbedl,
In seeing me splendidly dressed and sup
porting my rank. But, from the many
similar instances I have observed, / have
not the least doubt that, on being re-
minded of the fact, he will pretend utter
incredulity, and, on being assured of its
truth, burst into those terrible paroxysms
which but too clearly 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 silent.
The Doctor, crossing his legs and sup
porting his chin upon his gold-headeG
cane, began to cogitate, with his eyes
half-closed and his body inclining for
ward at an angle of forty-fve degrees.
"Hum-madame, confine him-indeec
we must1a clear case, madame-tht
humors, which had they. been ,pituita
or salivary, would have been expector
ated, having become sanguineous ant
melancholc, having retrograded upol
the Observation-Disclosures excuse me
madame, while I make the necessary
preparations"
So saying, the Doctor arose, rune
bell, and directed his valet to see hi
chariot ut the door, and to order Jean i
porteur and Francois lie cocher. to attend
him Immediately, "and, bark Ye," sait
he In an undertone, s'tel them. to brin,
all my apparatus des lunatics. depechez
and let them follow in nv chariot.
will avail myself of the carriage of tn,
Comtesse 1.-THE lady made allow of CRATE
full acknowledgement; and be careful Il
remain in the ante-room till I call aloud.
The servant retired, and in q few min
utes announced everything ready. Tn,
Doctor entered the carriage of the Com
tesse; his own chariot followed at a shor
distance behind. During the ride h
used every argument to assuage the grie
of the lady, which would burst forth a
times with increased vehemence, unit
the honest stmedicin" himself, hardene,
as he was to the details of his profession
became affected by sympathy. Itseeme,
as if every tranquil moment only add
ed to the violence of the succeedin,
paroxysm.
Passing down the Rue st. Honore
they reached the ieweler M, before men
toned, when the lady pulled the strin,
of the coach and alighted. Upon enter
ing the shop she desired M. to take tn
packet of jewels, and accompany her i
her coach, assuring him of his. pay a
soon as he reached the hotel of tn
Comte, adding, with a fascinating smile
that he could have no apprehensions
since the jewels were still in his keeping
The ieweler, with a smile of hattere
vanity, took the parcel into his hands
insisted upon handing Madame La Com
tesse into the coach, sprang in himself
and the coachman swapping his whip, tn
eQuipage rolled ma~gnificently down tn
Rue st. Honore.
After adrive of q mile and half, ant
crossing the Boulevards, they stopped a
a splendid hotel in the Place du Throne
celebrated IN history as the site Of tn,
Bastile. The jeweler with his packet
alighted first, then the Doctor, an,
lastly the Comtesse. The Doctor maxim,
a sign to his myrmidoms, they rename,
in the hall, while the lady ushered tn
jeweler into an ante-room until the CONT