The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-08-09
A Turtle.doIe IVldowhooa.

at the loss of her husband is still re-
membered throughout Paris. Within
her doors, drapad in black, in the
Partisan mourning emblazoned with
ciphers, thereroigned the terrible dc.
spair of a devout Spanish woman.
The Princess cut of her hair, and Sc.
cluded herself from every one, In
her mourning robes, with her youth.
ful head shorn Of its lock, she had
the appearance of a nun, which made
her hotel resemble a convent. She
passed her days before the portrait of
her husband, and dined alone in the
large dining-room, where every eve
ming the table was spread for two
The cane and the hat of the Prince
remained in the ante.room in their
accustomed places, as if the mastor,
i.ss i,s,,, lsf. ,i.a.,,a ,sers-ss,
had just come in. His presence be.
ing thus recalled, rendered the de.
spair of the poor wife more intense,
and the void of his absence even
greater.
But Of all that round Of calls, balls,
receptions and concerts where they
had met and loved, and which set, as
it were, their happiness in a fashion
oble society frame, she retained only
one friend, the Baroness Ancelin, q
drawing.room prima.donna, who was
indebted TO her beautiful voice for
having remained the intimate friend
of the Princess, whose great incon-
solable and noisy grief made all con.
versation jar upon her mood, but
who loved to hear singing around
her, as it helped her to give vent to
tears.
Two years passed thus, and the
widow was still sorrowful, still au-
stere. Her hair, however, was al.
lowed to grow, ripping over the
head with rebollious life in luxu-
riant curls and waves. Her mourn.
ing was thus Gghtened and made
more cheerful, and seems now to be
worn only as caprice Of fashion. 1t
was at this period that the nephew
Of Nine. Ancelin, meeting the Prin.
cess at his aunt's house, fell desper.
ately in love and began to dream of
marrying her. At the first word of
love he venturcd TO address her, the
widow became indignant To her
the Prince still lived, and this offer
seemed an insult tempting her to be
unfaithful. For some time she did
not see her friend, the Baroness
The young man went away and tried
to forget, but soon returned, and
showed SO much love. and despair
that Nine. Ancelin took pity on him
and resolved to overcome the scruples
Of the Princess. But how could She
persuade q woman with so peculiar
nature, who never reasons, and who
was lei only by impulse and enthus:
iasm.
She beloved that a passion SO ex-
elusive must necessarily be jealous,
and tried to obtain some old letters
of the Prince. This was not very
difficult, NJ, de Sora having written
many before his marriage, and scat
tered his scrawls throughout a mul.
tidude Of little boxes and locked
drawers, which, however, were SO
well hidden one from the other, that
each might boast Of being the sole
possessor of the perfumed coat,of.
arms of the great lord.
In order to bring a few sheets Of
some commonplace romance in let.
ters without date to show to the wild
ow, Nine. Ancelin had the courage to
present herself again at the hotel
which was like a tomb Of the dead, u
silent, hower.dccked tomb, where all
day long wept living statute.
It was not grief, but the falling of
her idol that now became her pain.
Poor little Princessl Her years Of
happiness, and period of widowhood
alike rolled down and vanished into
the same abyss Of scorn aud anger.
Nothing remained but an intense de.
sire to ayenge herself. The portrait
was banished from her room. Tho
second plate at the table by which
she tried to delude her fancy that she
was not alone was now removed from
before the empty, sacredly guarded