Year: 1864




Or, the Last Stroke of Fortune.


Twenty years ago an old house was still
standing in Cologne, which showed to the
street frontage of five small windows. 1t
was the house in which the first painter OF
the French school, the immortal Rubens,
was born, A. d. 1877. Sixty years later than
this date, the ground-foor was occupied by
two old people, q shoemaker and his wife.
The upper story, which was usually let to
lodgers was empty ut the time we write of.
Two, however, occupied the garret. The
evening was cold and wet, and the shoe
maker and his wife were sitting together
in the room below.


"You had better go up stairs again." said
the man to his wife, 'and see how the old
lady is. The old gentleman went out early,
and has not been in since. Has she not ia
ken anything"


SIT is only half an hour since / went up
stairs, and he has not come in. took her
some broth up at noon, but she hardly touch
ed it, and | was up again at three; she was
asleep then, and at five she said she would
not want anything more"


"Poor LADY, This time of year, and
neither fire nor warm clothes, and even not
a decent bed to lie on; and yet am sure
she is somebody or other Have you noticed
the respect with which the old gentleman
treats her?"


''If she wants for anything it is her own
fault. That ring which she wears on her
finger would get her the best of feverything."


Then came a knock at the door, and the
woman admitted the old man they hal Just
spoken Of whose grizZled beard fell down
on his tarnished velvet coat. The hostess
sadly wanted to have little gossip with
him, but he passed by, and, bidding them
short "good night" CROPPED his way up the
steep and crooked staircase. On entering
the chamber above feeble voice inquired
the cause of his long absence.


IL could not help it," he said, II have
been copying manuscript, and as l was on
my way here, a servant met me, who was
to fetch me to raise the horoscope of two
ladies who were passing through; they
were ladies whom | have known before. I
thought could get little money to pay
for some samples which will be Of service
to YOU"


II am cold"


at is fever cold. / will make you some-
thing which you must take directly"


The flame of small tin lamp sufficed to
heat some water, and the patient, having
taken what the old man provided, was dill
igently covered up by him with all the
clothes and articles of dress he could find.
He stood by her motionless, till he perceiv-
ed that she was fast asleep, and indeed long
after; he then retired into small closet,
and sought repose on the hard floor.


The next morning the lady was so much
better that her attendant proposed she
should leave the house for a momentor two,
and ne succeeded in getting her forth as
far as the Place st. Cecilia. 1t was seldom
that she left the house, for notwithstanding
the meanness of her dress, there was that
about her carriage which rendered it diff
cult to avoid unpleasant observation.


"Do you see that person yonder?" shesaid
suddenly. "If l am not much mistaken, it
is certainly the Duke of Guise.'


The strangers attention had also been
attracted, and he now approached them.


"PTbleui" said he, "why, that is Mascali.
What are you married."


"He does not know me-" sighed the lady.
~ must indeed be altered"


Mascali had, however, whispered single
word in the Dukes ear, and he started as if
struck by thunderbolt; but instantly re-
covering himself, he hastily uncovered and
bowed nearly to the ground.


II beg your forgiveness" he said; "but
my eyes are growing so weak, and could
so little expect to have the honor of meet
ing you-'


"For the love of God, name me not here
A title would too strong contrast with my
present circumstances. Have you been
long in COlogneW


''Three days. l am on my way from It
ally. took refuge there when our COM
mon enemy drove me forth and contiscated
all my earthly goods"


"And what are your advices from
France? Is the helm still in the hands of
that wretched caitiff?"


"He is in the zenith of his power"


'See, my lord duke. your fortunes and
my own are much alike. You are the son
of a man who, had he not too much despis-
ed danger, might well have set the crown
upon his own head, and |, once the queen
OF the mightiest nation of the universe
and now both of us are alike. But adieu,"
she said, suddenly, and drawing herselfup,
''the sight of you, my lord duke, has re-
freshed me much, and pray that fortune
may once more shine upon your steps,"


"Permit me to attend your majesty to
-n


A slight color tinged the lady's features
as she answered with gently commanding
tone, "Leave us, my lord duke; it is our
pleasure"


Guise bowed low, and taking the lady's
hand, he pressed it reverently to his lips
At the corner he met some one, to whom
he pointed out the lady and then he hast
ened away.


The next morning knock at the door
announced person inquiring for Monsieur
Mascali. She had small packet for him,
and also billet Inside this was distinct
ly written:


1.-TWO hundred louisdors constitute the
whole Of my present fortune; one hundred
send for your use. GUIsE."


And the packet contained ahundred louis
dors. The sum thus obtained sufflced to
supply the wants of the pair two long years.
But the last louis had been changed, and
the lady and her companion were still with
out friendly succor. The shoemaker and
his wife had undertaken journey to AK
lat Chapelle, to take up some small legacy.
1t was on the 18th of February, 1642. A
low. sound of moaning might have been
heard issuing from the garret; a withered
female form, more like skeleton than
thing of flesh and blood, was lying on
wretched bed of straw in the agonies of
death. The moans grew more lndistinct;
and slight rafting in the throat was at |
length the only audible sound, and this al
80 ceased. An hour lateran old man dressed |
in rags and tatters, entered the chamber. |
One only word had escaped bis lips as he |
tumbled up the falling staircase: "Nothing! |