Year: 1860

THE SISTER OF THE FRENCH EMPRESS.


The death Of the Duchess d Albe has given
terrible check to the family Of the Empress;
much untei, and. in spite Of the high posi-
ton to which the fairest scion of the house
Of Montijo has arrived, until now but seldom
separated The nature of the illness with
which the Duchess was afflicted, rendered
from the first all hope Of recovery doubtful,
and for the last month she was wavering be-
tween life and death The crisis, which took
place during the stay of the Empress, at Lex
Bonnes, was decisive. From that crisis she
never rallied, and rem,ined PROSTATE and
almost inanimate, scarcely to be called in
life, thereafter. The Emperor, who had been
apprised by telegraph, while at Merseilles, of
the inevitable approach Of the fatal catastro-
phe, had wisely urged the departure Of the
Empress from Frarce, lest she should be
oalled to attend her sisters dying moments.
The sen, with all its Inconvenience and trying,
was far less to be dreaded than the moral
effect of the sad event to which the Empress
would have been compulsoriy witness had
she returned to Biarritz according to her in
tention. This, the most terrible trial in hu-
man life, has been avoi led, at all events
and time, the sole, sure soother Of human
grief, will have done much towards restoring
the calm Of her Majesty's mind before her
return.


Few people have left more regret to their
circle among whom life has been spent than
the Duchess d. Abe. The story of the rival
ship in love with one for whom she was will
ling, when the truth became known, to sac.
riice her own happiness, but who with equal
generosity refused to accept the sacrifice, is
well known at Madrld The Due d. Albe
was the most elegant and fascinating of the
cavaliers of the Court of Spain, and sought
for his high name and goodly estates as
much as for his own family in Madrid 1t
was soon beheld, however, where his affec-
tions had been fixed, as he was seldom day
without paying visit to the mansion OF
Madame Montijo, and was soon established
in gossip talk as the suitor of one or tn, other
of the young ladies belonging to the family.


For long time not even gossip could point
out the favored one, so equally were the
Dukes attentions in puhlic divided among
them all. 1t was one of the most pleasant
sights in Madrid to behold the highly decora-
ted box at the opera belonging to Madame
MontUo occupied by the bevy of beauties, of
divers style, complexion and age, which
the family at that time could boast, sitting in
front !; and behind them, standing in row,
the various pretenders to their preference
Madrid could tell at glance for whom was
intended the murderous attempt at conquest
which had evidently occasioned the armine
in embroidered cravats and white kid gloves
with all manner of glittering orders at the
buttonhole, beneath which, after the man.
ner of men in general, the pretenders were
won't to disguise their pretension The Due
fAlbe was the only one, however, whose
views remained inscrutable Meanwhile one
heart was sinking with hope deferred, and
the uncertainty which in love is mortal; and
each hour increased this indecision, became
one of the most sickening agony to the fair
girl, whose vigilance could detect no prefer.
ence either for herself or for any one in par.
ticular amongst her companions in the dukes
assiduities so equally were they distributed
amongst all. She was of too bold and deci.
sive character to admit for any length of time
to this Improbable torturing Of the soul.


A grand bal nasque was given by the
Queen. She resolved that this occasion
which is always considered one wherein the
greatest freedom of speech is permitted
should put an end to the uncertainty which
was eating her very heart away. Alone Of
all the family she excused herself from at
tendance at the ball. Aided in her romantic
scheme by an aunt to whom she was much
attached, she feigned indisposition, and re.
tired to bed before her companions had lie.
parted for the palace; no suspicion was there.
fore aroused.


When the family carriage had driven from
the door, she rose, and Disgusting herself in
long black domino, instead Of the brilliant
NEUROLOGICAL costume which had been pre-.
pared for her, she proceeded to the palace
under the escort of her aunt. In the mids,
of the splendid scene which burst upon hel
vision as she entered the great ballroom, but
one thought occupied her mind-she beheld
but one object amongst the highly decorated
crowd which swayed to and fro in the dance
1t was the Due d Albe, whose costume she
knew at once, it having been chosen FOR him
at a general conclave in the Montijo salon
some little while before. She soon managed
to threat her way towards where he stood
talking eagerly, as was his won't, to one o.
the ladies OF the Montijo family. But she
feared not recognition; and pulling him by
the sleeve, asked him, in the shrill "ba
masque" tone adopted on the like occasions
whether he would fear to dance with ont
who had come to the ball with no other pur
pose than that Of trcading one single meas
urc with the hero Of the night, the gallant
"Don John Of Austria, which was the char
acter the Duke had assumed, and in which
he was the observed Of all Observers. Botl