Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-01-20
A WIFE,s DEFeTION,
OUT OF BONDAGE.

| had often observed in idling through
the public gardens a very beautiful girl
seated on one of the benches reading She
was invariably accompanied by an cid ser-
| want. who watched over her mistress with
tender solicitude. But the young lady nev-
er smiled and her face never lost for mo-
ment its melancholy.
| lie time | made the acquaintance of the
old servant maid, and she consented to tel
ms one day the story Of her little mistress.
! "You may have heard" she began, ''of
the Count dc La Valette, who was such a
devoted adberen. of Napoleon. This young
lady was his daughter. After the Emperor
was sent to the Island of Eba the Count
was imprisoned By Louis XVIII, ana con'
demned to death.
"His wife formed g pan of sescuing him
| from prison. She was to scar on her next
visit two dresses, and he could put one on
in his cell, and, as they were of much the
same height, the plan seemed feasible. As
she explained
He will, moreover, shorten himself by
leaning on your shoulder, and my daughter
will support his arm on her shoulder. Thus,
| with the large bonnet, no one will suspect
who he is. For me, shall cover myself
up in bed and hide there as long as l can.
The sedan chair will be met by cabriolet,
and the good Englshmap, Sir Robert Will
son, will escort him out of France.
"'Some day we shall be reunited, and
together, even in exile and poverty, shall
be happy. Meanwhile, dear and faithful
friend, care for my daughter; return her to
the convent and let the good nuns know
when shall send you word to join u.s.
$50 my mistress spoke to me, and having
also instructed Mademoiselle, she got into
81, .lc AZ, ELL
and at O'Clock we stood at the gates of
the prison of the Conciergerie Prison.
"They admitted us. The pockets of our
dresses were examined, as usual. NY lady
was even already overwhelmed with grief
and apparently very ill. And the doors of
the cell opened and .olosed on us.
"There was pity in the face of the man
who admitted us, and be permitted the
husband and wife few more maments than
usual for their farewells and lamentations.
"We made good use of those moments.
We dressed my master in his wife's Goa.
tune, and, indeed, he resembled her closely
when they we're assumed.
"She protested to him that friends had
promised to proteo. her, and that she was
in no danger. If he died she protested she
would Kill herself. Therefore refusal was
equivalent to her murder. In a moment
more she threw herself on the bed, and cov-
cred herself with the clothes.
"'Adieu,' said my master, in his deep
voice.
We sobbed together.
"'Ready! asked the jsiler, turning his
head aside.
"We proceeded on our way. led my
Justice, past the posts of the gendarmeris.
A + ho to daIa
were away. trembled with terror.
"'Msdame will die here,' I said, in ex.
plantation of my unusual excitement.
Then we placed our faiating figure 10 the
sedan chair. Its bearers walked away.
We fingered little. We feared to hear an
alarm from within. There came none. I'll
led Mademoiselie to her convent. There /
she sits, pale. in her black dress by the /
window. Occasionally think tear threat |
ems to drop upon her embroidery. She is |
here With her father in foreign land. He |
will not die. His head is safe. But he has |
lost more than life.
Goa, my poor lady it is for you your
child weeps, and well may she do so.
"When they discovered my dear lady in
her husbands prison they were furious.
They threatened her, and her friends were
Of little avail They kept her long in prison,
ana refused 10 permit me TO sec her Tor
seme time; and in this time, alone, among
those who felt themselves wronged By her
brave deed. what did they not say or do to
terrify her! Among other things one lied
to her and declared that the Count de La
Valette had been captured and beheaded;
and hearing this falsehood, she sank to the
floor of her cell insensible. So she remain
sd for long while, and then they let me go
to her.
"Alas! it was too late; her reaaon had
down. She did not know me. She thought
her husband dead, aud other wild fanoiss
filed her brain, too terrible to be recorded.
So she still lives, nor will she ever be aught
elss than mad until heaven mercifully takes
her to itself.
"As for Mademoiselle, the nuns dared
not keep her in their school, for so cruel
we're those who hated the friends of Bona
parte that they refused to allow their chill
dren to attend the same school with this
poor child.
'One day took her to her father. 1t is
a tragedy which l have watched with these
poor old eyes of mine. Its end is not yet,
but nothing can ever restore the happiness
Of my poor master and mistress and the
moor child who waeDa vOnderY