Jasper Banner, Volume 2, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1855 — THE DEAD BRIDE. [ARTICLE]

THE DEAD BRIDE.

[Translated from the G&nnan Republican, of March 17th, for the State Sentinel.]

FOUNDED OK FACT.

BY J. C. HICKEL.

In .Paris, that great Babel, lived the Marquis of Bt. Varennes, the richest of all noblemen, the most loveable and polished of companions.— He spoke nearly all livfog languages; was a bold rider, an excellent fencer, and a renowned dancer. An income of a million of francos enabled him j to lead a life of the utmost elegance, i llis horses were of the purest blood, j his equipages of the most tasteful j description, his dwelling a model, j and he himself the glass of fashion for the whole Parisian world, which confessed with envy that he was in everything, inimitable. The ladies, high and low, rich and poor, were in love with the Marquis; he paid court to them with genmne French gallau - try; but none could boast that she had made an impression on his heart. ™H6'~WaS Tike a butterfly, fluttering from flower to flower, bathing in fragrance, but flying away when tired of revelry. " But though he could gratify every wish, satiety soon made him weary of Paris. One morning, his hotel was found deserted, the window-slitters dosed, and his servent was seen going about with visiting cards, on which were written, uuder the title of the Marquis, the words, pour prendre, conge. For some days the saloons were astonished, and not to*be comforted, at the sudden departure of the Marquis. Heads were tortured with conjectures about his route; some said lie had gone to the, baths, to Spain, to England even, that land of spleen; —others thought. he had taken a trip to the African colonies. But he was on the road to the - north; he had fixed on St. Petersburg, as his destination; “for,” said he, with true French vanity, “what -e&n I sec in civilized Europe; it is but the ape of France; perhaps, on the Neva i may find something new:” He found many new things; but re- 1 fined society was after the French pattern; they spoke French, had French cooks, Italian singers and English grooms. All was Parisian, with here and there a dark Russian j ahadhw. lie felt as much at home in circles of St. Petersburg, as in those of Paris; but, when the eharm of novelty was gone quite as much languor and disgust. “1 must travel to Siberia or the Caucasus,” said he to himself, “Europe is to inontonous.” The Marquis had frequently visit- j ed the house of the rich Russian, j Count Worn If. The old man was a • widower, often plagued with the gout, and knew no greater pleasure than high play. 1 lis circle consisted exclusively of men who came to eat, drink, and gamble. The Marquis had lost a considerable sum to the Bank, kept by the Count, and had given his word of honor for its payment. He now took the amount with him, and directed the coachman, on his way to the theatre, to call at the Hotel Woftoff. ' ; i_. The Count was albne, with his limbs carefully wrapped up and resting on a lounge. He excused himself from rising in consequence of the severity of his gout. The Marquis paid his debt, and was about to leave, when a maiden of eighteen entered from a side door with the question, “How are you now, my dear u nclc?” She looked surprised to see a stranger in the room, but was introduced by the Count as his neice, Feodora. With the eye of a connoisseur did the Marqis inspect Feodora, who soon recovered heiNself possession aud took a part in the conversation. He was compelled to confess that he had never seen a faee of such iheaveniy beauty. Slender and wetl.hhilt,' her form had that elastic roundness artd teneler smoothness which we so much ad ritiro in the statues of the •Greeks. Her enter was pure and frtssh; and to her cheeks was a slight roso-glaam. Her ftteliead seemed carved ofivopy> and below her penciled brows, from dark lashes beamed . : ' “• - ■ g

a pair of eyes which it Was bliss j to look upon; lor (he beholder thought! he was gazing on the deep blue eather. There lay high poesy in those eyes, and behind their moist, half veiled looks, nestled love’s holiest ■ mysteries. Her slightly parted lips j served to discover,pearl-rows of small; but most symmetrical teeth. Blond tresses, of that gleaming gold color;, which we find in pictures of the Vir4*y~the bid Dutch printers, fell over Her round alabaster shoul-j Iders. Her dress, though simple, was ; elegant and costly; she wore a pearl necklace and diamond earings of great value. Feodora was not only the most beautiful, but the most spirituelle of her eCx, and yet so unconcious of her.merit, so simple, so modest. varennes could not protract his visit beyond the limits of etiquette, but he took leave reluctantly. He went to the theatre, but he had no eyes, for the beauties of the boxes ; who would .have gladly attracted the attention oi the rich and amiable stranger; the songs of the Prima Donna sounded, when compared with the voice of ’Feodom, like the croaking of a raven, and tKe BattclgirTs seemed like leaden imag es Varennes was in love; he sought to obtain the being w ho had produced this change in his heart. As his rank, wealth, and education were all satisfactory, he had no difficulties with the Count when he applied for Feodora’s hand. The maiHFnleam- ’ ed to value the Marquis; soon she j loved him inexpressibly; and the peo- j pie of quality at St. Petersburg had j probably, never before seen such a j happy •bridal, pair. The marriage ; was fixed for the approaching spring; j Varennes reveled in a sea of blessedness. Feodora was happy; she w»*4 looking lor the time when, by the side j of her bridegroom, she would be in j the beafitilul France, in Paris, the i city of cities, of which he had told her ! so much. The carnival was over; a sleigh- ! party was arrangeiljlrTWfucTi theT Court participated. Varennes drove the sleigh in which Feodora sat, who could not loregp the delightful ride, | although Buttering from slight indis- j position. The next day, early in the j morning, the Marquis received intel-, ligence that Feodora had, in the night j become seriously sick, and was lying in the delirium of feaver. He hastened to the Count’s palace,but found the old man in despair. The physicians had little hope. Feodora was attacked by the nerve-feaver. Three days later, robed in white satin, pale but beautiful as an angel, and adorned with myrtle like a bride, she lay in her colfin. Varennes was frantic, Shortly before her death, she was restored to reason, and had requested to speak with him- ._As~he+ approached the bed, she extended! her hand with a heavenly smile, and ; said with an indescribable look - 'd have loved you —1 die -but 1 will come for you soon” ..llfhe liner-glow covered her cheeks j as she uttered these last words; her ; eyes rolled wildly; her features were, convulsed; she was dead. {She was entombed in her anpes-j tral sepulchre, ou tlie estateofCount , Woroft. Jp a fqw days the Marquis left St ; Petersburg, for it had become intol-1 erable to him. Hey# he had found and lost the highest bliss of his life. Solitary and unsocial, he now lived in Paris, an enemy to society, and to all the luxuries and dissipations in which he had formerly taken so much delight. He received in mockery of,‘The'Tfappist.” His only associate was a young man named Alambord. With him he would talk, half a day at a time, about Feodora, whose picture was placed over his writing-desk, so that he might always have it before hia eyes. Looking at this, he would often express the most glowing hopes that Feodora would keep her word, and come to take him to that better world, into which she had gone before him. But time has its healing rights, and cap close the wounds which it cannot harden. Varennes yielded to the entreaties of his friends; and would sometimes take a ride, visit the opera, or receive a few' acquaintances. Yet hq avoided those circles where he would be brought in contact with ladies of fashion. Among his new acquaintance, was an Englishman who had no taste for the enthusiasm of the Marquuf about Feodora; and would often lecture him in broken*

j French, on his mania for the dead. | while beefsteaks, porter and oh&m pagne, still remained to hinu a The Carnival had coiqe; aud the little company, who usuyUy assembp j 'ed in the evening at the House of the ! Marquis,had resolved to visit the ball at the opera; and though Varennes earnestly refused to go, he was, as it JfiEVftdJa. accouipaaxlh«“r . . In the varigated throng ol masks, j which wearied and disgusted him, he i ! had lost his friends; who had been ; here and there, addressed by masks, and had given themselves up.to jollity. He leaded agaiasfcthe pillar, and gazed vacantly on the moviug crowd. His name was softly called, and turning round he stood speechless. Before him was a female mask, in a black dress; the form, the size, the splendid blond hair were all marvellously there; but .a black mask concealed the face. “You here, .Louis,” whispered the j mask almost inaudibly, “have you so} soon forgotten me?” A flash pierced the soul of Varennes; he now recognized a likeness in the form; and he even thought in the voice, though muffled by the masks, j His blood boiled; be vvamahakpn with ] the shudderings of fever. “Feodora!’ A Re pronounced her name, wildered. The black mask floated towards the entrance —she floated—it was not the movement of a mortal. He presses after her through the throng; he- is fearfully exoited; Fern j dora’s words return to his memory; ! he doubts not for a moment that it is j the departed one who has come buck jto keep her word with him. lie press!es after her and overtakes her. j “Whither? Tell me who thou art, mysterious being, Thouhastcltarm]ed me; i must sue clearly who thou jart.’’ j “Feodora,” was the hollow re- | sponse.” Down with the mask!” ex!claimed Varennes “I must see your; jface. You are an impostor.” “Impostor? Here.” r-»-Th»-«iask ■ t-hrus something hard and gleaming. He looked at it and recognized a ring fwhich he had given Feodora, and S with which she had been buried. A • duplicate of it he wore, on his finger. * He trembled in every limb, arid starled on the mask in blank arnmazement. “The day dawns, and I must awaj”,’ said the mask. “Whither? whither?” “Come with me if you have the courage. I have said to you. that 1 1 would soon come again for you.”— She stepped to a cariolet and said to the driver, “Boulevard * * * * * ” She entered, and Varennes, in a state of unconsciousness, followed.— The window was closed. A stupelying odxmr aFittoulrland vioFgTs fiTF” jed the air. The Marquis felt his head j swimming, and opened tho window. “Play no trick on me, unknown! one. This is too much for a joke.” “You doubt the words of the dying; ; wait and you shall free.” The carriage suddenly stopped, the mask sprang out; Varennes hasten I ed after her; he offered her his arm, j but she repulsed him. A grave-yard | wae a tinndred ! she hastened. Ait they approached j the grave-yard, the gate swung open ! of itself and the mask moved rapidly over the snow-covered graves. Varennes could restrain himself no longer; he Seized Her afid cried out, “Show me your face without a mask, I must see you.” She tore the mask off; the moon sffoqe full on the black form- Yarennea fell, withone scream to the ground—he had looked on a Death’s Head. The mask drew a silver from her bosom and blew it. Several men cajne from be- j hind the grave stones, and hastened to the spot where the Marquis lay. “I have lost my bet,” said a rough voice, in broken French, “f think he is dead. What tender nerves these Frenoh have.” - The Marquis eould not be recalled to life. He was indeed, dead. [The Englishman had made a bet that he could cure the Mhrquts of his enthusiasm—and had hired a tordeath's head for her, and instructed her how to behave- Hehad, through a sfervant, obtained a ring, of the Marquis, and a jeweler had made an. accurate imitation of it.] ' OC/ 3 When record our angry \ feelings, let it be on Ihc snow, that fhc first beam of sunshine in ay oblit--1 '-rate thr*m forever . » *