Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-17
A TRAGEDY.


Neuilles, lady of fashion and one Of the
leaders of the beau monde of Paris.
Leontine was upon the eve Of what was
considered most brilliant marriage, but,
although the event was near at hand, she
seemed oppressed by sadness. For some
time the young girl had refused to consent
to the marriage, but at length, to the sur
prise of all, accorded voluntary yielding
to the wish Of her family.
"Are you happy, my childS" inquired
her mother.
GAS happy as I can be-" was the sad re-
ply.
The Baron de Neuilles, anxious respect
ing his daughter, questioned his wife fire.
quently.
~ am pleased that Leontine has aooeded
to my WISH" he said, "but fear that she
entertained prior attachment for Maurice
Dorval."
"You are right" replied Mme de
Neuilles. "She has been attached to Mau.
rico, but she has reason to believe him
false and SO consents to wed another.
"Has she the proof that he is falsea"
Undoubtedly, and love once trifled
with Is destroyed"
"You may be right" added the baron,
shut fear that Leontine is romantic and
she will learn when too late that life is
earnest.
The morning fixed for the marriage ar
rived and Henri de fremont was united
to Leontine de Neuilles in the chapel of
St. Cloud.
The last eight days Of her girlhood life
had been passed by Leontine in sort OF
stupor. She seemed dead to all that sur
! rounded her., Each day her mother had
assisted at her toilet, had embraced her
tenderly, and yet she did not seem to rea.
lie the fact that additional and devoted
attention was accorded her.
Arrayed In her white robes and shielded
by her veil, Leontine was driven to church
and led to the altar without one thought
Of the terrible sacrifice she was making
the sacrifice of heart, soul and pride.
Mne dc Neuil!es, seeing Leontine's
unnatural condition and deathlike COM
posure, besought her to weigh well the
step she proposed.
IF this marriage is displeasing to you,
she said, "there is yet time to avert the
evil"
| "You are mistaken, - responded Leon
tine. "This marriage must take place. 1t
is inevitable"
The marriage was celebrated with much
pomp. The court attended the ceremony,
| and great was the display Of grandeur.
The newly married couple passed the
day at the chateau, where the gayety was
Tn, kho bod
never looked more lovely. Not a ray of
color tinged the marble pallor Of her fair
cheeks, and in the dreamy depths of her
dark, lustrous eyes there was deep mean
ing.
"What ails you, LeontineP" questioned
the Princess dc Pays in q whisper.
Nothing"
"Why, then, do you look SO sadf'
1T is the effect of getting married, !" re-
piled the Countess de Wise, who had over
heard her words.
At O'Clock the Baroness de Neuilles
led her daughter to the room she had al
ways occupied. Nothing had been changed
except the bedstead. The little snow white
bed which had formerly invited rest, was
gone, and in its place stood one Of regal
appearance, surrounded by rich curtains.
| Here the baroness embraced her daughter
! and retired.
"Try to be happy, my child, she said,
land remember you are now married."
mot for long," murmured Leontine
when the baroness closed the door. mot
for long. was asked by the priest IT I
| would be his wife. My lips, but not my
heart, murmured yes. In the silence Of
my heart I hate him-hate him and think
only Of Maurice Maurice, my only lovel''
As Leontine ceased speaking she exam
ined the vial hidden in the folds Of her
handkerchief. II have drunk 1t ALL"
AS she ceased speaking she arose and
folded her hands devoutly before the
crucifx.
"Let 1t come quickly" she murmured.
In the large mirror that hung opposite
she contemplated her changing features.
/ As she did SO the mirror suddenly turned
upon It's hinges, and another chamber
stood revealed. Scarcely had she realized
this fact when, to her surprise, man,
beautiful as the arohangel Of Eden, stood
upon the threshold.
i II am here" said the stranger.
At first Leontine deemed herself either
the victim Of some supernatural manifes-
tation or thought the poison had rendered
her delirious, but In an instant she recog-
nized Maurice.
"Is 1t you," she murmured, land are
you dying alsof'
i "Dyingl" he exclaimed, seizing her
hand. why, what do you meanp'
"That have lost all desire to live"
Late as 1t is," he continued, ~ must
have some explanation from you, before
you become that mans wife.
"What explanation do you requirer'
"You were mistaken and were deceived.
The man you married forged the letters
that illuminated me. This chateau was
once my fathers. I know Of the secret
door and came to you"
n "But am dying, Maurice, dying"
With CRY he raised her gently and car.
rlod har intn the adioininQ OhAnlhAr and