St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-27
LEPRoUs DUKE OF PORTLAND
A Terrible Recital of the Last
DAYS of Noted Lord.


Louise Chandler Moulton in Boston Herald
Whata colony there must be in that
neither world of dead French poets! LIE
Comte de Villers de 'Isle Adam joined
this colony not long ago; and | have
been reading here at AK that one book
of his which the best French critics
have pronounced "a collection of mas
terpieceS," the "Contes Cruels." Well
may they be called "Cruel Tales for
there Is scarcely one of them that is not
tragedy in little; or, worse yet, Bit
ter farce. that mocks at the tragedy that
underiies it. One of these terrible tales
is founded on the cruel history of the
Iate Duke of Portland, who died, as
every one knows, of leprosy.
When first went to London the high
garden walls behind which the duke
dwelt in his horrible solitude were
pointed ont to me: and it used TO seem
to me whenever [ went by the place
that the day turned cold. NJ. de PJsle
Adam adds to the story. which the
world knows We'll, the thrilling note of
romantic love. According to him the
dukes leprOSy was first made known IN
answer to summons from the queen.
She had heard of his return from for
eign travel and his seclusion, and she
sent for him to come to court. When
his reply arrived young girl was read
ing to her majesty and the dispatch was
put into her hands to open and read.
She broke the seal, unf0lded the letter
and glanced at it with her eyes blue
and clear as the summer heavens. Then
suddenly she shut these eyes, bright
with youth and hope. and blindly and
without one word reached out the letter
toward her rOYal mistress
The queen took it and read ii. 1t was
the announcement of Duke Richard s
leprosy as the reason for his not obey
ing the royal summons, and the girl
who opened it was Helena, his betrothed
wife. The queens hand trembled as
she read and then held the pa pers in
the fame of candle Until they were
consumed. My lords" she said to
some of her mobiles who had witnessed
this scene-'.my lords, you will never
see again our beloved Duke of Portland.
He will never again sit among you i'll
parliament. We shall grant him dis
pensation from his duties, and we will
keep his secret. Do not seek to see or
to speake with him."
Then she sent the messenger, who
waited, to report to the duke what he
had heard, and after this she rose to go
away by herself into Der innermOst
chamber, but she turned to dismiss her
young reader, and To- the girl lay as
one dead-she had tainted. One does
not know what letters went and came
between the duke and Helena. But at
last, one evening of autumn. there came
to the girl note written by one of the
dukes secretaries, in which were only
two words: This EVENING""
II was toward midnight when Helena
enterdd the gates whence the world had
for so long time been excluded. She
came TO place where man lay upon
the turf wrapped in mantle and
with mask over his face. She
threw herself on her knees beside him,
sobbing bitterly. He strove to lift his
head, but it sank back again helpiessly.
''Adieu," he cried, ''adieu. Helena !!
You are free henceforth." And you
you are delivered" she answered, and
then the silence between them was long
Suddenly there came from the lips of
the masked man a profound sigh. IT'LL
our next meeting" she heard him say
in strange voice, like that of a vanish
Ing soul, and all was over. When the
attendants returned Helena said quietly
THE duke is dead" Three days after
IN the journals Of the court all men
might read the tidings that Helena
H, the betrothed eff the late Duke of
Por tland. had taken the veil and entered
convent of the CarmeIites.