The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-14

demon. Failing in determined at
tempt to baulk his plans by stabbing
him with q stiletto, she assured him
with her last words that she would be
revenged. De Valmont laughed at the
threat. /, however, determined to keep
an eye on the actions of the young lady.
In this resolve, however. i was foiled.
She left Algiers about month after,
and never knew what became of her.
Nearly four years had passed since
Eugene's return. We kept up a
constant correspondents &c, and learned
Of his marriage and the birth of one
son, whom he called Lucien. He con-
tinually pressed me to exchange and go
back to France.
AT length got appointed to a
cavalry regiment quartered in Paris,
and left Algiers to take on my new
duties. Landing at Marseilles, l put
up at the Hotel Castellane, where the
first names l read in the list of arrivals
were those of the Count and Countess
de Valmont. We met with Joy after
our long separation. Eugene intro
duced me to his wife-a lady as lovely
as she was charming-and showed me
with pride his son-a fine, chubby
child, with curly hair, and the splendid
blue eyes of its mother. He simply
worshipped this boy-poor fcllow!-and
his life and soul seemed wrapped up in
its being and existence. And now, as
to the sad sequel to my tale.
:" DE Valmont was on leave, and at
his wife's desire they were about to visit
Italy. Not to fatigue the child their
route was mapped out in short stages.
They were resting two days at Mar
settles before going to Genoa by La Cor
niche, so l decided to stay and see them
off.
I" In the afternoon of my arrival, as
the weather was glorious, little Lucien
was sent with his nurse down to the
sea, ON that magnificent beach where
the splendid palace of Prado stands.
Two hours after this nurse returned
alone, looking like a mad womal. The
eyes were starting out of her head, and,
sobbing and crying, she threw herself
ut the Countess's feet, and said she had
lost the child. She and her charge
were playing on the beach, where they
were attracted by the performance of
SUM- uCfODdtS. n SuldlA CTONu udu
assembled, and the boy was not out of
her sight for half minute. On looking
round he was gone; and she sought him
in vain. He seemed to have been
spirited away. She called his name at
the top of her voice, and ran up and
down the beach until exhausted By
ISLANDERS who heard her cries helped
her i'm the search; but they found
nothing"
"Was Lucien drowned?" asked the
Sub-Lieutenant.
This was. the question started, but
it was well-nigh impossible. The child
could only toddle, and the seas was too
far from the place indicated by the
nurse. So this hypothesis was given
up. The police considered it case of
kidnapping and went to work, but
failed to find a clue. They searched
for weeks through all the slums of the
city-the low quarters where the dregs
OF the population congregate. the scum
OF the Mediterranean-but with no sue
cess. A description of the child was
sent to every consul, with orders to
make full inquiry. De Valmont him-
self obtained special leave of absence
from the War Office and spent year
in trying to solve the mystery. He re-
turned more dead than alive to bury his
wife, whom grief had killed.
CAS- to the Colonel, at first he had
serious intentions of joining the Trap
pists and retiring from the world. But
hope sustains him still. He believes, il
his boy was not drowned, that Provi-
dence will take pity on him and yet re-
store him. Vain delusion! But we
humor him in his hope. He has since
devoted his whole life and soul to his
regiment; but the wound at his heart
has never healed, and when it breaks
out afresh he becomes sad and sor-
rowful and talks about presentiment.
LA Severina, / believe, has kept her
word and wreaked terrible revenge!"
Brisac finished his story and wished
all good night.
owe have six hours for sleep, my
boys, and them
On the morrow, at the early hour of
six o'clock, double line of smoke ex-
tended for distance of two miles on
each side of the plain. The French
had brought almost all their guns into
action. The Austrian batteries posted
on the opposite hills replied with we'll
directed fire. In this artillery duel,
which lasted for some hours, the adj
vantage remained with the French. The
superiority of the Austrian. position was
more than cOunterbalanced by the
deadly effect of the rifle guns of the
French, which were first employed in
warfare at the memorable battle of Sol
ferino. The carnage was frightfnl and
the result disastrous TO the Austrians,
who were obliged to retreat.
AT three o'clock on that day-23d
June, 1850-the French were formed
up to advance under whitening mus
kerry fire to assault the Tower of Sol
fcrino, the key of the enemy's position.
Marshal Benedeck then called on his
cavalry to make supreme effort,
which, had it been successful, would
have changed the fortunes of the day.
The Austrian cavalry were massed be-
hind fringe of wood which effectually
concealed their movements from the