The National tribune., 1882-08-12

Will punlsn LniS mistress nnely. we HdFe
lists of the guests sto-morrow-we have bribed
the major-domo-we have the consent of
every invited person but yourself Give us
your cooperation, and the thing will be a
success" "What ana I to do?" "Simply
prevent Colonel Verdier from going to the
dinner; 60 yourself, bring your watch, and
be present precisely at g." promised and
the ladies left me.
Next morning Verdier made it easy for me
by announcing that he had suddenly been
called to go to Cherbourg with NJ. lie Ministre
and in the suite of the Emperor, but would
dine with Madame all the same / went,
and, as I had promised, reached the Hotel
Delfuss punctually at 8. The dinner was for
twenty guests / found nine ladies already
present, not gentleman. Nine. Delfuss had
not yet come down. The Princesse Manfre-
donia came to me: "You are late Madame"
she said Pardon" said /, "on the con-
trary, l am punctuality itself" / showed
my watch. "Your watch is precisely an hour
SLOW" she said, coldly, showing her own
watch. 1t marked 9 o'clock. was aston
ished. "My time agrees with that of all
these DANES" added the Princesse; "and, as
you see, the official house-clock corroborates
u.s." She pointed to the mantel-piece. In
effect, the handsome bronze time piece
pointed to 9.
A servant passed through. The Princesse
interrogated him. Madame is still at her
toilet" he replied. The Princesse rose.
make my excuses to Madame, and order
me cabriolet." "And mine" "And mine"
The nine ladies marched from the salon and
left the house in a body. 1t was an evacua-
tion-an emigration. / waited, all in a
twitter At $50 Nine. Delfils came down.
| "Ah," she said, these danes have got impa-
tient, it seems" She looked at the clock
at her own watch. "And they have been
tampering with the clock-it is conspiracy,
then!" Madame is served" called the but
Ter. "In good time" said she, cheerfully;
"come, Nine. de Verdier, we will have the
singular pleasure of state dinner en- famiVe."
She led me into the dining-room, she made
me eat all the courses she was wonderfully
affable and entertaining. "My DEAR" she
said, as we slipped our coffee, NJ. de Verdier's
fortune is made" l thanked her, but trem-
bled.
Next day the Figaro had an account of the
conspiracy of the watches, the names only
suppressed. Three days later M. de Verdier
was gazetted brigade commander, and to
have the first vacancy on the Etat- Major
Nine. Delfuss invited us to grand ball in
honor of my husbands promotion. We went
Not one of the nine conspirators had been in
vited. The following day / called upon Nine
Delfuss. She received me with great empresSe-
ment and talked in the most brilliant way
I" The journals have bright account of last
evenings affair."" she said, with an appendix
to it which 1 am sure will surprise you"
She handed me a copy of the Figaro, and
stood before me, watching me with glittering
eyes. l glanced at the paper. account of
the grand ball of Nine Pontac-Delfuss de
Pontacque." Suppressed facts in the his
tory of Marceline Hon, afterwards Raymonde
Mortier." My head reeled-the paper drop
ped from my hands. Madame is i'll ?' sh, s
asked, fixing me with her glittering eyes,
"Thanks for your most lively sympathy.
These things do not affect me thus. They
only inspire me with the purpose of ven-
geance!" l could not look at her. went
home.
On the day when he was to have assumed
his new rank Verdier was put under arrest.
The charge was altering accounts and en-
al
tion. Much sympathy was expressed for
Verdier, whom every one believed to be in
nocent, except the Minister Delfuss, in whose
department the alleged frauds were COM
mitted Verdier was well defended, but
the proofs were conclusive. He was con-
victed of forgery and theft, and sentenced
to ten years. imprisonment and fine Of
10000 francs On the morning after the
sentence my good husband shot himself
through the heart. "Mondmie," was all he
wrote to Inc, keep the children in the sure
faith of my innocence and my martyrdom.
Be brave for them. AS for me, / lose courage
and so am of no more use in the world"
This was one of my troubles, you see-not a
light one, either.
The children Non Dieu! Victor was in
the Eastern seas, ensign of a French frigate;
the rest were with me. / gathered them to
my bosom and fled to ST. Brion. Surely,
thought, that woman will not pursue me
there! The State took all our property :;
we were desperately poor, but some friends
furnished US a house for the sake of Pere
Richet, and we lived obscurely, struggling
for our living. In vain! My infants slipped
from my bosom one by one-one by one
till all were gone. Pity me, friend! Victor,
the savages slew him; Aline, name her not!
Ilon Dieu-they are every one gone! At
last when my little Mathilde lay dead upon
my knees at night of the scarlatina, and had
buried her, sold my little effects and pre-
pared to return to Paris. / took spade,
l went into the cemetery, dug up the wee
bones of the little corpse found strangled on
the sea shore, l tied them in a handkerchief,
and took the railroad to Paris. 1t was night,
and as / walked the streets / saw the salons
of the gay Hotel Delfuss illuminated for a
grand ball. went in; with devilish cum
ming made my way into the grand salon,
into the midst of the astonished guests, into
the trembling presence of Nine. Pontiac
Delflss de Pontacque. / faced her, united