Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-10-25
An Affair of Honor.
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] found her 10 be an aged lady Of a
cry old family a yery deyoat church
eoer- and bis0ted Leghimist. believ-
ing in divine right and the Count
De Chambord. and luily expecting that
De and his white nag would rule the
d6stinies Of France when Orleanists.
l0napartists- lni Republicans would
= forgotten Apart srom dogma and
politics She was. however. a very
charming and Interesting person. She
had evidently been very handsome in
htr youth, and even in her old age
retained a little eoQuetry aud much
spirit. At the recital OF some deed
Of daring and herOism her black eyes
would fash and sparkle and her lips
tr7mble with emotion. II was like
going back to the past century to sit
IN her dim drawing room with its
quaint old furniture. rich and relig-
iously preserved. hung with portraits
of her ancestors. and hear her talk OF
warriors. priests and mobiles. whose
mitres and swords had decayed. and
whose moldy and moth-eaten banners.
waving in church and chapel. are but
lattered rags with the blazonry illegi-
bic
One day | was looking at the por-
irait OF lady so lovely. with a sweet
and melancholy beauty. that even the
dishguring costume OF the last cen
tury, especially the abom;nable high
head dress, could not mar its effect.
for you looked only on the face and
forgot the accessories. IL was from
the pencil Of Nine. Lebrun, the IA
vorite artist Of Marie Antoinette. who
has left us such touching souvenirs
Of the unhappy queen.
That lady, am sure. had a story. "
] said. = need not ask il the original
was a relative Of yours. Madame. for
| see a family Likeness in the head
'You are right" she said. That
portrait might pass for my own like
ness as looked so years ago. have
a miniature taken at the same age
which looks like a reduced copy OF
Nine Lebrln's charming picture"
''And the lady was"
Pardon me, said the old countess:
81 will tell you her story at fali length.
1t is an old family history. brs it
is thought TO have some Of the ele-
ments Of romance. Perhaps It may be
Of some future use to you as q story
teller in your own country. So arm
yourself with patience. cousin, and
hear with an old woman's garrulity."
The old lady called me cousin be-
cause at some far away period there
was matrimonial alliance between
our families, long before my grand
sather emigrated 70 America.
/ will not attempt TO relate the mar
ratite in ,he language OF my hostess.
but condensc it and tell it in my own
way
The original OF Nine Lebrun's pic
iure, then. was NictOrine de GrantieT.
wife OF Hector De Grantier, a gentle
man of wealth and family The mar
riage was an exception to the general
rule of French marriages. being a love
match. The parents of the lady had
permitted her 70 choose husband for
herself; and though among her many
suitors were some moro eligible In
point OF fortune and opportunities for
rising in the world than Hector. she
gave him her hand because she could
bestow her hear. with it.
De Glantier was handsome. gentle
and warm hearted lie had no vices.
and but little ambition. he was a poet
and painter. though not profession
al one, and he was in easy circum-
stances, although not reckoned man
Of wealth.
Never was there a happier couple,
and when the brides father and moth
er, who died within few days Of each
other, Lett the world almost hand in
hand. the certainty of leaving their
daughter the partner Of man devoted
to her. heart and soul, soothed their
last moments.
There was a shade OF melancholy In
Victorine's nature, and she often
thought to herself that her married
life was too happy-that il vas like
still, bright, summer day. so perfect
20 full OF sunshine, so heavenly. that
weather seefs pronounce 1t too lovely
to last. and regard it, with shaking
heads. as the precursor OF a devastat-
ing storm.
And the storm that wrecked the
happiness OF Nictorine was near at
hand. Among her rejected sui;ors was
a wild, bond man, named Raoal Nal
trayers, an eEsign in the royal navy
Of a very distinguished family high
in power at court, who might well
look forward to the prospect Of seeing
the broad pennant Of an admiral ioat
ever his own quar.er deck. But. with
all the qualities OF noble race. he was
stained with many vices. ~ was =
Eamester a duellist and a libertine
prodigal with his gold cruel with his
sword and fatal in his hates.
Although his rejection was eouched
in the most respectful terms, IL reused
his worst passions and he swOre TO
wreak deadly vengeance on the rival
who prospered where he had failed
The hand he could not win h mself
should never be tlasped in wedlock
by another In this temper Of mind
he went to sea.
It must be borne III mind that this
project OF vengeance was a secret
locked in his own heart. to be di-
vulged in actor, not in words. There
fore. when, some months after the
marriage. the ensign returned from his
cruise. the incident did not create any
alarm in the breast Of Mime. Vict9fine
do Grantier
One morning Wien she awoke She
missed her husband from her side. but
this caused her no surprise. for he
was In the habit Of rising without
disturbing her. dressing, and then taxi
ing ride on horseback But he al
ways returned % breakfast, which was
served punetually at II O'Clock in the
forenoon. When, therefore. It came TO
be nearly noon, and he did not make
MS appearance. she was naturally un-
easy His horse was very spirited ami
might possibly have thrown him. she
thought But. on inquiry. it appeared
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