Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-05-18

Strange occurrence WHICH came uuuei NY
own observation %
''Certainly'
With that peculiar, fearful glance about
him which have described, my host began
"In 1925, a wedding took place in Paris
NJ. the Count de Luigo, y young man bu
recently come into his estate, espoused Marie
the daughter of Alphonse D'Ambert, lineal
descendant of the great Condo. The nuptu
ais were magnificent, and hundreds of friends
prophesied happy future for the pair whose
married life had been SO auspiciously begun
The two, after an extended wedding tour
repaired to their estate in the province o.
S., in the south of France, where they
settled down to enjoy their honeymoon. The
husband was gay, handsome fellow, witty
good natured and little given to serious
| thought. The wife was slight spirituelle
girl, with waving golden hair, blue eyes, and
the fairest of complexions Oh, she was very
beautiful. | remember her so well. And
that was thirty years ago"
Another searching inspection of the room
and this time the fearful eyes sought to pene-
trate the obscurity Of the lofty roof, where
the dim shadows danced dance of death
among the smoke stained rafters
"She was delicate to degree" my COM
panion continued, sensitive and shrinking
Her health had not been the best before her
marriage, and upon their arrival at their
estate it was not improved.
IAN incident had invested their courtship
with peculiar interest. A young Spaniard
RoHagno by name, gifted but depraved and
desperate man, had contested with the Comte
the honor of Marie's hand. Aduel had resulted,
in which Romagno, despite his great skill as
q swordsman, had been wounded in the sword
arm so severely as to make continuation OF
the duel impossible. The Comtes marriage
followed closely upon this event and Romagno
was forgotten in the busy, happy time. Upon
their arrival in the country, too, nothing oc-
Cured to recall him to their minds, and he,
50 far as these two were concerned, was con-
signed to oblivion.
"He, it seemed, however, had not forgotten
them. One evening the Comte was return
ing from the chase laden with game and fol-
lowed by retinue of servants, when upon
approaching his castle he heard scream.
He recognized his wife's voice and spurred
forward like an arrow. Arriving at the
castle he saw his wife struggling in the arms
of Romagno, who was carrying her towards
his horse, where two attendants were await
ing him. He dared not charge upon the
william lest he also slay his wife. Dis
mounting, therefore, and drawing his sword
he rushed at him. when blow from club
dealt him from behind laid him senseless
Two hours later, on returning to cOncious-
ness, the Counte was told what had occurred
He had been knocked down by one Of R0-
magnO's servants The Counties retinue, ar
irving almost Immediately, had slain Romae-
no and his attendants. Romaguo had lived
some half hour after the reception of his
wound, writhing i'll fearful agony, and cling
ing to Marie with y clasp which could not be
broken until he had breathed his last"
And Marie 2" l asked breathlessly.
For time they deemed her dead. But
scarcely had Romagno ceased to live than
she showed signs of consciousness and by
the time the Comte's aching head would
permit him to walk, she was sleeping an un-
easy, troubled sleep. Night was now ap-
preaching and with it came such q storm rs
this, but fiercer, wilder, more terrible They
were in q room much like this, the Comte
has told me- Her couch vas near the win
dow, much as am here and the lightning
played over her as it does now over me-"
Again that terrified inspection, which now
was extended to the swoolen surface of the
roaring stream below.
''He sat by her bolding her hand he con
tiuued, "his heart big with gratitude to God
for their marvellous escape, when suddenly he
noticed with horror that one of her eyes was
half unclosed, as though she were stealthily
watching him, and the CLEAN that shot from
it was not of love, oh, no, but of hatred purely
demoniac With shudder at the fearful
which delirum can work upon
the brain, he gently shut the eyelid with his
finger. Strange words fell from her lips in
languages unknown to him and in voice
that was not hers Her hand frightened upon
his with a grasp that was like vice Her
face writhered in violent contortions. and
even when these commissions left her features
for q moment in repose, her face seemed
changed. the veins upon her throat and
forehead stood out like whip cords; and
huge drops of cold and clammy perspiration
rolled down her face. She was very cold.
The Comte heaped wood into tAe huge fire.
place, and covered his wife with fsrs and
but she grew no warmer At last
she fell into troubled sleep, and the Comte
weak from his wound, soon fell into slum-
Der, despite the horror of his position
How long time elapsed he never knew,
but he was suddenly awakened from his
sleep by a fierce grasp at his throat, and
opening his eyes he saw glowering over him
with look of fiendish malice such q dread