Litchfield enquirer., 1881-02-10

ridiculous in my eyes, but did not impair my friendship for him and + did my, best to for get his grimaceS before the mirror. .A9q '
 His marriage was fixed for tn 8th of June. The last days of May were come Stacho- witch dined almost every day at Madame do Baudays returning home about ten. had formed the habit of going to him at that hour, and we used generally to wind up the even- ing-those pleasant evenings of the end of May by sauntering down the Champs Ely sees together.
 One evening called at his house at the ac- customed hour, but heard that he requested me particularly to wait for him, as he had some thing important to communicate. imagined that 1t was some commission relative to his marriage that he wanted me to execute for him and having nothing better to do, 1 set- tied myself in an armchair, and began to read. The evening was beautiful. From the windows could see the trees of the avenue, and could hear the roll of the passing car riages. There was nothing in my surround ings likely to produce lugubrious or fantastic ideas. .. r... E.. s's99
 Suddenly started up with cry of terror Before me, pale as death, with wild and flashing eyes, stood the tall and spectre-li like form of Stachowitch. ."..r
 ''Read that read that!" he cried, in a hoarse voice, without giving me .time to speak, and thrusting orumpled newspaper before my eyes.
 Instead of looking at the paper, surveyed Stachowitch with surprise.
 What is the matter ?" inquired.
 ''Read, read," he repeated. ''You will see how right was. Oh! my terrible fore bookings !"
 took the paper, and read the paragraph fn hn It was despatch of the Agsnce Hauas in these words :-
 We learn from Athens that Vicomte de Drieux has been murdered by brigands during an excursion he had undertaken in the neigh borhood of this town. The identity of the victim has been established by the French Consul. M. de Drieux was stabbed in the heart with dagger. The police are making active search to discover the authors of the crime"
 ''Poor fellow!" I said. ''Thls is indeed sad news, and am truly sorry" 4e
 ''I knew, 1 knew that Drieux would die so," exclaimed staohowitoh.
 This exclamation struck me as strange It occurred to me suddenly that Stachowitch had shown great reluctance to fight with Drieux because he felt sure that he would kill hlm. In spite of myself felt queer sensation of awe creep over me but did my best to over- come It, saying to myself that, after all, it could only be strange coincidence, and that my duty was to recall Stachowtch by argu- ment to reality and sober reason. instead of following him in the fanciful theories and im- aginings which seemed to have taken hold of him. l, therefore, urged hln strongly to tell me what 1t was that troubled him.
 His excitement was so great that he was thrown off his guard, and he could no longer maintain the reserve he had SO long imposed upon himself. After while he consented to give ne an explanation, but even then his az itation did not subside. He walked up and down the room, speaking in 8 loud voice, and gesticulatiDg vehemently. His speech was so disconnected, and touched en so many points in quick succession, that for some min- utes could scarcely understand what he was saying. Gradually, however. he became more inteiligible, and when he had done speaking was in full possession of his sad story.
 cannot transcribe 1t here as he told it but in substance, this is what has remained en- graved on my memory.
 The story of my friend, Count Boris Stach- owitch was as follows: 'One day I was seat. ed near beautiful girl at a large dinner party. Her figure was faultless. da not remember to have ever seen such lovely shoulders, or such perfect hand and arm. Her large, blue, liquid eyes beamed with intelligence; her mouth was fresh and rosy. The line of the eyebrow was exquisite, and the long, thick eyelashes lent inexpressible charm to her en- chanting countenance when she looked down. was literally bewitched by such a combina- tiOu Of hoo,,tiac soo lasted, was exclusively occupied with my neighbour. She listened with fattering at tentlon when 1 spoke to her; at times she smiled with good humoured familiarity, as though we had been old friends; at others she assumed grave and almost solemn expres- sion, as if all was saying were worthy of her most serious attention From time to time she raised her eyes to heaven, and seemed ab-' sorbed ina gentle reverie; and then again she would cast them down, and veil them for few seconds with the magnificent fringe of her eye-lashes. The more I looked at her, the more beautiful she appeared to me.
 After dinner our hostess begged her to give us some music. She required no pressing, and executed some difficult pieces of music with the precision and taste of master Then she sang. Her voice was powerful, and wonderfully cultivated. Never in my whole life had met with 80 accomplished being. She was at once surrounded and assailed with compliments, and to every one in turn she re- piled ID few words of graceful and becom- ing modesty. My eyes followed her wherever she vent Suddenly, I saw her go with timid steps up to a middle-aged lady who had been seated in front of the piano, and whom nobody appeared to have noticed
 1.-The face of the lady was not quite new to me, and yet tried in vain to recolect where 1 had seen it before. examined her atten- lively. She was not ugly, and yet there was something ill her appearance which was sim gularly repellant. It was harsh, cold and even cruel countenance. She was tall and thin, and wore a plain, dark k-coloured dress. Her hands, which were encased in black shiny gloves, were singularly small Her thin hair, black as jet, was dressed simply and unpre- tendinglY. Her skin, of the colour of wax. was dried up like that of mummy, and her eyes, which seemed to take heed of all that was passing around. were deep sunk in their sockets. Her lips were thin and colourIess.
 What an odious creature ? said to myself That woman must have a heart of stone.'
 "Just then she raised her eyes to the cell.
 Where have I seen that face before p I asked myself again.
 "Her eyelids dropped slowly, and closed as if in slumber. 1 felt more and more convinc- ed that she was no stranger to me.
 Do you know the lady to whom Madem- oiselle Olga M is speaking?' I inquired of an old family friend, who was also very intimate with our host, ~i
 "She is Countess M., the mother of your neighbor at dinner
 what Can it be possible that 30 lovely 8 being has such mother p
 ''The old gentleman smiled.
 't'l knew the Countess before her mar riage, he said. We used to call her '.the fair Nathalie" She was incomparably hand. somer than her daughter Olga; and moreover, so clever so amusing! Every man who ap- preached her was captivated. There was no resisting the witchery. I, too, was madly in love with her; and as to your father, Boris, he nearly died of love for 'the fair Nathalie. D An me she was girl who knew how to make the most of her charms. She talked. she laughed, she danced, she sang like siren. But neither your father nor myself were what sue wanted. Her choice had fallen on Count M., very rich man: and of col1rse ahe man.