Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-05-24
A BLOODY REVENGE.

| u OLOOD1 1tG GN1G.
How q Spanish Grandes Won the Title o.
'Ths Headsman."
Translated from the French of Balzac by
Mabel M. Chamberlain.
The bells in the steeple of the little
town of Menda had just chimed mid.
night. At that moment young French
officer was leaning on the parapet of the
long terrace which bordered the gardens
of the Chateau de Menda, seemingly
plunged in more profound meditation
than was compatible with the careless
Ryety Of military life, though it must be
! admitted that never was there an hour,
a spot, OF a night more conductive to
reverie. The beautiful sky of Spain
stretched its azure dome above his head.
The glitter:ng starlight and the moons
soft rays itup delicious valley that un-
folded itself coquettishly at his feet. As
he leaned against a blossoming orange
tree, Major Narchand could see the town
of Menda hundred feet below him, at
the foot of the rock on which the
chateau was built, sheltered from the
fierce north winds. Turning his head,
he saw the sea, whose shimmering wat
ers framed the landscape like silver
circle. The chateau was Illuminated,
and the joyous tumult of ball, the
strains of the orchestra, the laughter of
the gay officers and their partners float
ed out to him, mingled with the far
murmur Of the waves. The freshness of
the night gave new energy to his tired
frame, wearied by the heat of the day,
while up from the gardens, planted with
fragrant trees and balmy flowers, came
such waves Of intoxicating odor that bis
soul seemed bathed in perfumes.
The Chateau de Menda belonged to a
grandee of Spain, who at this time was
occupying it with his family. During
the whole evening the eldest of the
daughters had regarded the young Off
Ger with an interest imprinted with such
sadness that her ardent sentiment of
compassion might well have caused the
Frenchman's reverie.
Clara de LegaHes was beautiful, and
although she had three brothers and a
sister, the marquis's wealth was consid-
erable enough TO warrant Victor Mar
chand in believing that the young girl
would have a rich dowry. But how
could he dare to hope that the daughter
of the proudest grandee in Spain would
be given to the son of Partisan grocer?
i Moreover, the Spanish were at war with
the French.
General Granville, who governed the
province, suspecting the Marquis de
Leganes of being about to stif;up an in
surrection'inp favor of Ferdinand VII,
stationed MajsS March snd..s battalion at
the little town of, Menda, in order to
control the neighboring country, which
was under the marquis's sway. A recent
dispatch from Marshall Ney gave cause
for fear that the English were about to
land upon the coast, and designated
the marquis as a,man who was in cor
respondence with the London cabinet.
So it was that, despite the kindly well
come which the Spaniard had rendered
Major Marchand and his soldiers, the
i Young officer was constantly upon his
guard. r.
As he strolled out upon the terrace to
examine the state of the town and the
country confded to his supervision, he
wondered how to interpret the frieudli-
ness which the marquis had not ceased
to evincs, and how to reconcile the ap-
parent tranquility of the country with
the general's uneasiness; but he was
soon aroused from his reverie, and all
these thoughts quickly banished by a
sentiment of pru Hence and feeling OF
Legitimate curiosity as he perceived an
unwonted number of lights in the vii
1lage. Though 1t was the Feast of st.
Jacques, he had ordered that very morn.
ing that all lights should be extinguish-
ed at the hour prescribed in his regula-
tions, the chateau alone being exempt.
After vsinly seeking to explain the in
fraction of which the inhabitants were
guilty, he only found mystery in the
odense the more incomprehensible in
that he had carefully stationed officers
a. ssntinels and night-wstch through the
town. BE could see his soldiers bayo-
nets glittering here and there st their