Year: 1877

The Bois de Boulogne is the modern
pride of Paris, and it is to the French
capital what Central Park is to New
York, extending from the Triumphal
Arch, at the head of Champs Elysees,
for mile or more by boulevard one
hundred and fifty feet wide, into what
used TO be thick forest, abounding in
game, and the resort of duelists and or
ganized bands of robbers. All this is
changed now; millions of dollars have
been expended in turning the entire re-
gion into a charming park, intersected
by beautiful drives, waterfalls, fountains,
grottos and flower beds, all of which
form the favorite drive and promenade
of the Parisians


To create this beautiful and extensive
park, many of the houses which stood
here and there upon the grounds were
necessarily torn down and destroyed,
some of them mansions which had
stood for century, many pretentious
buildings belonging to noble families,
and many Of very humble aspect, form
ing the homes of the middling class OF
people. Some, indeed niany, of these
houses had their story or legend, well
remembered by the neighborhood, and
it is one of these which we are about to
relate, as exhibiting marked instance
of providential justice.


The Bois de Bologne was one of the
crown domains under Louis Philippe
but in 1852 was transferred to the mu-
nicipality of Paris. ON the condition that
two million francs should be expended
upon it at once, and that il should he
henceforth maintained as public park
at the cost of the CITY, Then at once
commenced the demolition Of the build
ings referred to, the laying out of broad
and attractive thoroughares, lakes,
groves and the like, so that the date OF
the events we describe is scarcely more
than twenty years since.


In that section of the present Bois de
Boulogne nearest to the Champs Ely
sees there stood an ancient stone struc-
ture which had evidently once been a
very pretentious mansion. but waich in
later times had been reduced in size,
and the walls and building generally
had been adapted to the convenience of
a modern residence. In effecting this a
false wall had been erected on the east
side of the building, so as TO cover up
the rough appearance produced by the
removal of a portion of the former edifice
on that side. This portion of the build
ing of which we speak was the back part,
and, with this exception, the whole
dwelling presented neat and handsome
aspect.


1t is still remembered that in 1910 this
house was occupied by lady, known as
Madam Brienville, and her daughter, a
very beautiful girl ofeighteen or twenty,
and that compliment of the old house
hold was made up by the addition of an
elderly domestic, named Nanette. Little
was known relating to Madam Brien-
vile and her family; indeed, there SEEM
ed to be some mystery connected with
them. She was understood to be a
widow and to have come here to live
from the neighborhood of Lyons, but
she had no intimate acquaintances, nor
any relations, as far as could be discov-
cred


The old servant was very reticentand
the gossips could get little or nothing
from her concerning her mistress, ex-
cept that they had all come from the
department of the Rhone. That the
widow was possessed ofample pecuniary
means was clear enough to her neigh
bors, for though there was nothing ofan
ostentatious character in her style Of
living, still every domestic necessity and
even luxury ofa desirable character we're
freely enjoyed by the household, except
that they lived quite isolated and were
satisfied with the services of old Nanette
alone.


Madam Brienyille and her beautiful
daughter were often seen together
among the shaded paths of the vicinity,
walking arm in arm, on which occasions
the observers did not fail to note the
dignity and quiet, and distinguished air
which seemed to surround the widow,
quite as readily as they did the extraor-
dinary beauty of her daughter. Yet
the charms of face and form which
characterized Mademoiselle Loise was so
n,arkad au IN bo the thonoe of universal