The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 2

  LETTER LXIV.

  SHOWING HOW THE COSMOPOLITANS MET AGAIN, TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE "NEUTRAL BRITISH GENTLEMAN," AND HEAR MR. BONBON'S FRENCH STORY.

  WASHINGTON, D. C., August 25th, 1862

  Ever since the British chap read all that unpublished British poetry atthe Club, my boy, I have been anxious to favor him with an "Idyl,"written by a friend of mine who has traveled much in Albion, and writes_ex-cathedra_. Last night there was a fair chance, and I then introduced

  THE NEUTRAL BRITISH GENTLEMAN.

  Incrusted in his island home that lies beyond the sea, Behold the great original and genuine 'TIS HE; A paunchy, fuming Son of Beef, with double weight of chin, And eyes that were benevolent--but for their singular tendency to turn green whenever it is remarked that his irrepressible American cousins have made another Treaty with China ahead of him--and taken Albion in. This Neutral British Gentleman, one of the modern time.

  With William, Duke of Normandy, his ancestors, he boasts, Came over from the shores of France to whip the Saxon hosts; And this he makes a source of pride; but wherefore there should be Such credit to an Englishman--in the fact that he is descended from a nation which England is forever pretending to regard as slightly her inferior in everything, and particularly behind her in military and naval affairs--we really cannot see. This Neutral British Gentleman, one of the modern time.

  He deals in Christianity, Episcopalian brand, And sends his missionaries forth to bully heathen land; Just mention "Slavery" to him, and with a pious sigh He'll say it's 'orrid, scandalous--although he's ready to fight for the Cotton raised by slaves, and forgets how he butchered the Chinese to make them take Opium, and blew the Sepoys from the guns because the poor devils refused to be enslaved by the East India Company--or his phi-lan-thro-py. This Neutral British Gentleman, one of the modern time.

  He yields to Brother Jonathan a love that passeth show-- "We're Hanglo-Saxons, both of us, and carn't be foes, you know." But as a Christian Englishman, he cannot, cannot hide His horror of the spectacle--of four millions of black beings being held in bondage by a nation professing the largest liberty in the world, though in case of an anti-slavery crusade the interests of his Manchester factors would imperatively forbid him to--take part on either side. This Neutral British Gentleman, one of the modern time.

  Now seeing the said Jonathan by base rebellion stirred, And battling with pro-slavery, it might be thence inferred That British sympathy, at last, would spur him on to strife; But, strange to say, this sympathy--is labelled "NEUTRALITY," and consigned to any rebel port not too closely blockaded to permit English vessels, loaded with munitions, to slip in. And when you ask Mr. Bull what he means by this inconsistent conduct, he becomes virtuously indignant, rolls up his eyes, and says: "I carn't endure to see brothers murdering each other and keeping me out of my cotton--I carn't, upon my life!" This Neutral British Gentleman, one of the modern time.

  Supposing Mr. Bull should die, the question might arise: Will he be wanted down below, or wafted to the skies? Allowing that he had his choice, it really seems to me The moral British Gentleman--would choose a front seat with his Infernal Majesty; since Milton, in his blank verse correspondence with old _Times_, more than once hinted the possibility of Nick's rebellion against Heaven succeeding; and as the Lower Secessia has cottoned to England through numerous Hanoverian reigns, such a choice on the part of the philanthropical Britisher would be simply another specimen--of his NEUTRAL-I-TY! This Neutral British Gentleman, one of the modern time.

  When Smith-Brown had heard that, my boy, he sniffed grievously, andsays he: "England never _was_ happreciated in this blarsted country."

  I believe him, my boy.

  It being Bonbon's turn to read a story, he unrolled his papers and gaveus

  THE CONFESSION.

  "During my short stay in France, I belonged to a convent of Carthusianmonks, and there became acquainted with the man whose confessionconstitutes my story. He had applied for admission to our order, as onewho had tired of life's gaieties, and bestowed his wealth, which wasenormous, upon the holy church. Brother Dominique was the name heassumed; and his austere devotion speedily gained him notoriety forgreat piety; but there was something so unnatural in his actions, and,at times, so incoherent in his speech, that we, who were his dailycompanions, involuntarily shuddered when he spoke to us. Among thevarious incongruities of his character, was a gloomy reserve--or,rather, pride, which repulsed all advances of friendship, and impressedupon the mind a conviction that Brother Dominique's religion was morelike that of a hypocrite foiled in his schemes, than of a pure-mindedman, whose sense of duty to his Creator had induced him to assume theserge and rosary. This conviction was more than confirmed by hisoccasional exclamations of anger and defiance, as though once more aprey to the passions of an outer world; and, at the expiration of ayear from the time of his entrance, the new brother was an object ofsuspicion, if not dislike, to the whole convent, excepting myself.

  "My sentiments in regard to him were those of pity; for I feltconfident that some great sorrow was preying upon his mind; and thewild agony which would often contort his whole countenance, while atevening prayers, made me anxious to know something of his history.

  "One evening, having received an order to visit the cell of Dominiquefrom our superior, I was surprised to find a curiously-fashioned lamp,burning in a niche, directly opposite an iron cot, on which the monkwas sleeping. Knowing that the convent rules expressly forbade a lightat that hour, I was about to extinguish it, when there fell upon mystartled ear a loud yell, like that of a springing tiger, and, in aninstant, I was seized by the throat. Filled with dismay, I struggled toextricate myself, when the beams of the lamp fell upon the writhingfeatures of Dominique, pallid as those of a corpse, and spattered withfroth from his lips.

  "'Devil, I defy thee!' he exclaimed, dashing me violently against thewall; and then quitting his hold.

  "'Brother Dominique, are you mad?' I asked, as soon as I could recovermy breath.

  "'It is a lie! I am not mad!' he ejaculated, glaring fiercely upon me,and biting his lip until the blood streamed from his beard.

  "Hardly knowing what I did, I again approached the lamp; when he againsprang to my side, and pushed me violently from before it.

  "'Must I kill you, too?' he said, in a whisper that pierced me.

  "'You are excited,' I replied, with all the calmness I could muster. 'Ithought you were asleep, or I should first have spoken to you aboutyour lamp, the burning of which, at this late hour, is a violation ofthe rules.'

  "He covered his face with his hands while I was speaking; and when heagain looked up, all traces of former agitation had vanished.

  "'Forgive me, father,' he said, with composure. 'Our superior hasgranted me the privilege of having a light always burning, as I amsubject to fits, such as you have just witnessed, and cannot do withoutit. God have mercy upon me! I might have murdered you,' he added,turning suddenly pale again, and leaning against the damp wall.

  "I delivered my message, being anxious to leave a being whose passionswere so violent when aroused; but he called me back as I turned away,and resting upon his hard bed, motioned for me to take a seat besidehim.

  "I hesitated about complying at first; but there was an expression ofmingled sorrow and entreaty resting upon his whole countenance, thatawoke my sympathy and conquered fear. Closing the door of the cell, Iobeyed him in silence, and sat down with a feeling of awe not to bedefined.

  "'Father,' he said, laying one hand on each of my shoulders, andstaring fixedly in my face, 'Will you hear me confess?'

  "The extreme abruptness of the question made me start from him with agesture of surprise, but I answered not.

  "'Wil
l you hear a tale of crime from a criminal?' he continued,pressing heavily upon me, 'a tale of murder from a murderer!'

  "I felt convinced that I had a maniac to deal with, and remembering tohave heard that any sign of timidity but added fuel to the fires ofinsanity, I steadily returned his stare, and responded as quietly as Icould.

  "'Brother Dominique, if your soul is burthened with crimes, why notconfess to the superior who is our father confessor?'

  "'No, no!' he exclaimed, frantically. 'To you, or no one.'

  "Fearful that, by refusing, I should again arouse him to violence, Idrew my cowl closely over my head to guard against the damp air, andbade him tell me his sorrows.

  "He, at once, fell upon his knees before me--nor could I persuade himto assume any other attitude.

  "'Here on my knees,' he began, 'will I tell a tale that shall freezeyour blood, and make you turn from me in scorn, or hatred. You will notbetray me?'

  "I assured him I would not.

  "'I am the last of a noble Florentine house, which bears the names ofsovereigns upon its registers. My father was a cold, stern man, proudof his high descent, and arrogant with those beneath him. My mother wasthe daughter of a Venetian noble, bright and beautiful as a diamond,and insensible to all the softer warmths of women as is that preciousgem. I was their only child, and all the love their hearts were capableof feeling was bestowed upon me; all my desires were gratified ereexpressed; obsequious menials stood about my path eager to obey myslightest nod; velvet received my infant footsteps, and the atmospherearound me was one of mellow music.

  "'I grew up to manhood a pampered child of fortune, happy only in themidnight orgie or early morning revel, and the most polished profligateof my native city; yet my father regarded me with feelings of pride,and my mother looked upon her son as one well worthy to inherit theflaunting fortunes of his house. Although my father was ever kind to mehe was subject to occasional fits of violence, when he would beat theservants, and render it necessary for his friends to confine him. Itwas said that he had seized a gipsey woman who had been caught in theact of stealing, causing her to be burned alive, and that while theflames were torturing the poor wretch, she had denounced herexecutioner with the bitterest execrations, and declared that he andhis offspring should feel the curse of madness. The prophecy so workedupon my father's mind as to occasion periodical attacks of insanity, atwhich seasons he would rave fearfully, and, as I said before, rendertemporary confinement necessary. I cannot say that the knowledge ofthis fact had any effect upon me then, for I was gay and thoughtless;but, alas! it has since proved my bane, and poisoned every cup that hastouched my lips.

  "'Onward I flew, in a whirl of wildest dissipation, until mytwenty-first birth day, when my father ordered me to meet him in thelibrary at a certain hour. Not daring to disobey him, although Ianticipated some cutting rebuke for my late headlong course, I waitedupon him at the appointed time, and was relieved when he asked me in akind tone to take a seat near him.

  "'"Dominique," he said, "you have now reached an age when you must giveup childish follies, and be a man. You are my only son, and my titlesand fortune must one day be yours. It is my hope that you may supportthem with honor; but, in order to do this you must take a decided stepat once--you must marry."

  "'Although arrived at that period of life when woman usually becomesthe principal object of man's hope and ambition, I was totallyindifferent to them, and ridiculed those of my friends who had married,or, as I termed it, become slaves for life. But I knew my father'stemper too well to thwart him, and appeared to acquiesce in his designsfor my future benefit. He informed me that the lady whom he hadselected to be my bride, was of a noble family, and would be at ourvilla in a few days, when he wished me to render myself as agreeable aspossible, and at once commence my wooing.

  "'I left him with a feeling of despair at being so soon obliged to giveup my gay companions and become suppliant to one whom I had neverbefore seen, and belonging to a sex that I held in contempt.

  "'In my trouble I appealed to a young nobleman, an associate of mine,for advice, and he recommended that I should go abroad without myfather's knowledge--afterwards giving him my reasons for so doing in aletter, and humbly asking his forgiveness. This advice just suited mydisposition, and I resolved to follow it. Accordingly I collectedsufficient funds for my journey, and on the morning of the day when myintended bride was to arrive at our villa, I started with my valet forFrance.

  "'Upon reaching Paris I wrote to my father, declaring my determinationto remain unmarried until tired of being my own master, and concludingby asking his pardon for the step which I had taken. My father did notanswer this letter, and hence I supposed that he was seriouslyoffended; but this conviction did not prey upon my mind for any lengthof time--indeed, I soon became more notorious in the French capitalthan I had been at home for unbounded extravagance and heedlessdissipation. The well-known prominence and wealth of my family gainedaccess for me to the circles of the most exclusive aristocracy. Theglory and power of the unfortunate Louis and his peerless queen, MarieAntoinette, were already on the wane; yet their magnificence fareclipsed that of any other European court, and many traitors stood inthe glittering throng that swarmed about them, whose meekly down-casteyes were destined to blaze with the fires of rebellion, and whoseswords were yet to flash terror into the heart of that sovereign whoregarded them then as the staunchest bulwarks of his throne. With alldue ceremony, I was presented to the ill-fated representatives ofroyalty, and quickly found myself the cynosure of all eyes, leered atby languishing dames, sneered at by those of my own sex whom nature hadslighted, and honored with the attention of more than one aristocratwho afterwards fell a victim to the fury of red republicanism. But thesword of Damocles was suspended over our heads, and it soon fell with aclash that aroused echoes in every corner of the globe. When first theferocious Club proclaimed its prerogative, I joined with others intreating it as a subject beneath our notice; but, as the flames ofinsurrection spread, and street barricades were successfully defendedagainst the assaults of the National Guard, I began to feel the dangerof being an aristocrat, and take measures for flight when events shouldhave reached their crisis. It was too late. At the dead of night, I wasaroused from my sleep by a violent uproar in the street below,accompanied by a thundering at the court yard gates of my hotel. Isprang from my couch to the window, and, with a vague apprehension ofwhat was to come, pulled aside the curtain and looked forth. HolyVirgin! what a sight was there!--Thousands of howling demons, fastlosing all semblance of humanity, surging and roaring like an infernalsea, with ghastly death-lights leaping above its waves and drowninggrim shadows beneath. 'Blood! blood!' was their watchword, and I heardmy name bandied from lip to lip, with bitter execrations. My pride wasaroused, and conquered every other emotion. Hastily drawing a heavymilitary cloak over my head and form, I opened the casement, and walkedout upon the balcony. So completely did my garment shroud me, that thebloodhounds knew me not, and for a moment their hellish cries sank intodead silence.

  "'"Open the gates, or we will burn you alive," shouted a hoarse voice.

  "'"_Vive le Roi!_" I shouted in answer.

  "'Oh, what rage there was in the yell responsive to my taunt. It seemedas though Pandemonium had sent its countless fiends to join in thechorus of brutal fury. The gates were fast yielding, and my servantswere constantly reminding me with pallid faces that I was ruthlesslysacrificing their lives for my own. In a moment, my resolution wasmade. I hastily assumed my usual dress, and wrapping the cloak aboutme, went down into the court and placed myself in a dark corner.

  "'"Open the gates," I cried, disguising my voice, and throwing it asfar forward as possible.

  "'With quaking limbs, my servant obeyed the order, and in anothermoment, I felt the hot tide of devils bolting past me, into the elegantsaloons of my hotel. So intent were the mob upon despoiling andplundering, that I was enabled to gain the street unmolested; but atthat point, some enemy called my name, and with a shout of triumph,hundr
eds of infuriate demons started toward me. Knowing that resistancewould be worse than madness, I drew my sword, and clenching it firmlyin my right hand, with the point in front of me, I ran swiftly beforethem. Again arose the shouts, and onward came my enemies, panting forblood. Desperation gave me strength, and like a hunted deer, I farout-sped my pursuers; but human nature cannot be taxed beyond a certainpoint, and as I turned into the Rue St. Martin, my strength began tofail me, and my breath came hot and quick. Giving up all hope of escapeand resolving to sell my life dearly, I was about to stand at bay, whenan open door in a house close by caught my glance, and with therapidity of thought, I darted through and closed it behind me. Myhunters had not yet turned the corner, but I could hear their cries andwith regained strength, I ascended a flight of stairs and entered anapartment, when a scream of surprise arrested my progress. A young girlstood before me with uplifted hands and astonishment painted upon everyfeature.

  "'"Holy Mother! What would you have, monsieur?"

  "'"I am pursued by the _canaille_, mademoiselle, and entered here torecruit my strength. I will die like a man."

  "'"You are a royalist?"

  "'"Yes."

  "'I turned to the door, when she eyed me closely for some moments, andthen opening a closet in the wall, pointed to its interior, withoutspeaking. I saw at once that she wished to save me, and after raisingher hands to my lips in mute expression of my gratitude, I entered thecloset, and heard her turn the key in the lock. Almost at the samemoment, loud shouts arose from the street and heavy footsteps wereheard ascending the stairs.

  "'"Whose house is this?" demanded a gruff voice, as its ownerapparently entered the room, in company with others.

  "'"Citizen Foliere's," answered my protectress, in sweet, calm tones.

  "'"Which side?"

  "'"_Vive la Republique._"

  "'"_Tres bien._ He can't be here, comrades; he has given us the slip.Where is your father, mademoiselle?"

  "'"He went to join in the attack on a hotel in the Rue St. Honore."

  "'"Then he will be back soon, for the building is in flames, though itsmaster has escaped us. Adieu, mademoiselle."

  "'My nerves and muscles had been drawn to the last degree of tension,excitement had buoyed me up for a time; but now that my pursuers weredeparting and danger no longer surrounded me, a reaction took place,and I fell insensible upon the floor of my closet, while my fair jailerwas in the act of liberating me.

  "'Soon a scorching heat fell upon my brain, and in fancy I returned tomy father's house. Dire shapes of blood haunted me, until I raved likea maniac and cursed the author of my being as the author of mydestruction.

  "'I woke as from a dream, and found myself lying upon a soft couch,attended by a physician, and a tall, middle-aged man, wearing the redrepublican badge--I owed my life to one of a class which I had everdespised. Monsieur Foliere had returned home soon after my pursuers hadquitted it; and found his daughter attempting to revive me; great aswas the risk he incurred by protecting a royalist, he did not hesitateto send at once for a surgeon, and order every comfort necessary topreserve my life.

  "'I endeavored to express my gratitude; but the stern citizen frowned,and from that time forth, I said no more on the subject. Health slowlyreturned to its temple, and as it sent the warm blood tingling freshlythrough my veins, love mingled with the current that flowed to theheart. Cerise, my saviour, my guardian angel, hovered about my pillowlike a spirit of light, awaking in my breast a passion which had neverdwelt there before. She was not what the world termed a beauty; butthere was a quiet grace about her actions, and a smiling, lovelydignity ever shining from her large brown eyes, that so drew her to me,as to make me silent and melancholy when she was not present.

  "'Not to linger over a period, the purest and brightest of myexistence, suffice it to say, that Cerise returned my passion, and Iwas blest with her love. I told her my name, and painted the splendorsof Florence, while she listened with a gentle smile of approbation, andconsented to become my wife, should her father raise no objection.

  "'Anticipating no difficulty in that quarter, my happiness wasunalloyed, and I considered her as all my own. At length, when myhealth was fully re-established, I asked a private interview withCitizen Foliere, and demanded the hand of his daughter in marriage. Idescribed in glowing terms my love for Cerise and her reciprocation--Ispoke of my high rank in Florence, the many honors of my family, andits great antiquity; the advantages which would accrue to him fromhaving such a son-in-law--in fact, presented my views in every light ofinterest and paternal affection that I could devise. The sternrepublican heard me through in silence, and then answered coldly--

  "'"Young man, you were received into my house, a fugitive fromretributive justice, and sheltered by me at the risk of my own goodname and life. I pitied your youth, and yielded my protection, whenduty bade me surrender you to my friends. Would you repay me by robbingme of my richest treasure, or forever blighting her existence byarousing in her bosom a hopeless passion? My daughter cannot be yours,though you boasted the blood of a sovereign; she shall never sit in thepalaces of our oppressors. My decision is irrevocable, and this subjectmust be forever at rest."

  "'Frantic with indignation and disappointment, I flew to Cerise, andwith the violence of a maniac, acquainted her with my ill-success; Iswore she should be mine, or I would slay myself at her feet. By turnsshe wept and expostulated, until I accused her of faithlessness, whenshe threw herself into my arms, and in an agony of tears, bade me dowith her as I pleased.

  "'That night I was on my way from Paris, with my _wife_ clasped to mybreast, calling down heaven's bitterest curses upon my head, should Iever cease to love her as I then did, and kissing the hot tears fromher cheeks in a burning, maddening transport of blind devotion.

  "'Oh madman! wretch that I was--why did I not fall a withered corpse atthe feet of that innocent girl, who sacrificed a father's love for me?

  "'At Genoa I purchased a villa in a retired spot, and there tasted theintoxicating joys of elysium; but fate was darkening in clouds above myhead, and the bridal garlands were soon to blossom in a harvest ofblood. I wrote again to my father, acquainting him with the step I hadtaken, and narrating my escape from death in France. An answer sooncame, and in the presence of my wife I read as follows:

  "'"DOMINIQUE--Foolish boy, you have well nigh driven me to madness byyour conduct, and your mother has gone to the grave a victim to thefolly of her son. Come hither at once, if you would not kill me also,and behold the wreck that remains of

  "'"YOUR FATHER."

  "'The vague tone of this communication, and the intelligence of mymother's death, overwhelmed me with sorrow. Cerise, dear Cerise, fellupon my bosom and reproached herself as being the author of all mytroubles. In vain did I try to forget my own griefs, and strive toconsole her; she soon became calm, but the smile of contentment nolonger beamed from her eyes, and her peace was departed forever. Sheinsisted upon obedience to my father's request, and when I yielded,accompanied me to my native city silent and tearless.

  "'Resolving to see my father alone, I left my wife at an obscure housein the suburbs of the city, and promising to return when I had softenedmy parent's wrath, I set out with a heavy heart for the home of mychildhood.

  "'The servants at once recognized me, but I could only learn it fromtheir glances, for they led the way in silence to the saloon ofreception.

  "'My father was seated in a remote corner, conversing with some personwhen I entered, and on beholding me, at once came forward and embracedme with every token of affection. Astounded at receiving such a salute,when I expected nothing but reproach, I stood motionless, staring athim in silence, until the other person present approached. Never shallI forget the appearance of Lucia on that day. Her raven locks, fallingbelow her waist and mingling imperceptibly with the folds of her sablerobe, contrasted strikingly with the snow-white purity of hercomplexion, over which her piercing eyes, shed a lustre trulyspiritual.
As my father introduced us, our glances met, and I felt athrill to my inmost soul.

  "'It maddens me to dwell upon those scenes, and I will hasten to theconclusion of my story. I forgot Cerise, my honor--everything, in thesociety of her who had once been selected to wed with me. Day followedday until a month had elapsed, and I still remained fascinated to thespot, false to my vows, false to my wife, and true to nothing but blindinfatuation. My father beheld me sinking deeper and deeper in the blackwaves of infamy, and a light of demoniac exultation burned in his eyes.I marked his triumph, and I, too, felt a savage joy, though for whatreason, I knew not.

  "'At length he taunted me as the husband of a lazarone. He pointed withhellish glee to where Lucia stood, the incarnation of perfection, andbade me behold what I had lost. My brain was on fire, a thousand furiestugged at my heartstrings, and as my father clasped my hands in his andlooked down into my soul, I felt that savage joy again, and a demonpossessed me. My father approached his face to mine, until his hotbreath burned upon my cheek, and whispered in my ear; it was enough.With a loud laugh I left him and flew, rather than ran, to where mydeserted wife was watching for me, sad and alone.

  "'Why did she not tax me with my perfidy? Why did not her angel soularise in its innocent love, to crush me with the glancing of an eye?Oh, that she had uttered one reproach, one bitter word! She saw me, andwith a cry of joy, cast her white arms about my neck, as on ourmarriage; they were like chains of searing, glowing iron to me, and Idashed her from me, howling in the delirium of my torments. She markedthe wild fire that flashed from my eye, the dark flush that burned uponmy cheek, my breast heaving with the struggles of the fiend within, myhair hanging in disordered masses over my throbbing brow, the cowardlytrembling of the hand concealed in my bosom; she beheld a fiendincarnate in the form of one who had sworn to love and cherish herforever; yet no word of reproach arose from those lips I had so oftenkissed. Again her arms were about me, and again I attempted to dash herto the ground.

  "'"My husband, my dear Dominique!" she shrieked, clinging to me, andpressing her cheeks, pallid and cold, against mine, glowing and burningwith the reflected fires of hell. The spell of madness fell upon me, asI struggled with that faithful wife, and hissing froth boiled frombetween my teeth, mingling with her long locks of auburn hair. Isuffered all the torments of the damned as we swayed to and fro, untilher strength began to fail and her arms relaxed their hold. Then, witha horrid laugh, I wound her long curls about my hand, and plunged astiletto to its hilt in her breast.

  "'The warm blood of life poured in a torrent upon me, and as my victimlay gasping upon the ground, I danced frantically about her, laughingwith glee.

  "'I did not wait to see her die--I _dared not_ do it--but all gory as Iwas, I returned to my father. He met me with a smile, and his calmnesscommunicated itself to me.

  "'I was happy then--oh! yes, very happy!

  "'With blood upon my hand, and madness in my brain, I wooed Lucia withall the cunning of insanity, and another gentle heart soon beat for mealone.

  "'We were married! I remember the bright glare of the lights, the holydignity of the priests, the gay laughter of the brilliant company, asmy health and _happiness_ were pledged in goblets of rare wines, theface of my _second_ wife shining like that of an angel, with fond,confiding love for _me_; and then my father! We looked at each other,and smiled exultantly--we murderers, madmen, receiving the homage ofreasonable beings. I was filled with mad joy, and sent forth peals uponpeals of laughter while the ceremony was being performed. My fatherjoined in my unnatural merriment, and surprise and fear was painted onevery countenance. I saw the lips of Lucia tremble, and squeezed herhand so that she groaned with pain. Oh! what would I not have given tohave been in the open air, yelling my triumph to the beast in his lairand the bird on the wing; making nature's arena to echo my bursts ofmirth, and rising far above the earth on a sea of discord. My fathercontinued near me through the ceremony, and left the saloon at itsconclusion; but I _knew_ that his feelings were like mine and enviedhis liberty.

  "'Then I grew calm again, and friends congratulated me, and musicfilled the air, and the dance went on, and I kissed my bride until sheinvoluntarily shrank from me in confusion. I was very happy then.

  "'At length the midnight hour arrived and the maidens of Luciaconducted her, veiled in blushes, to the nuptial couch. How beautifuldid she look, arrayed in spotless white, such as bright angels wear. Anhour elapsed ere I flew to her chamber and threw myself upon the floorin a paroxysm of mirth. There was a large lamp of glass that burnedbefore a mirror in our bridal chamber, and as its perfumed oil wasconsumed a delicious odor ladened the air; as I rolled upon the carpetand tore it with my teeth, the light shone in my eyes, and in aninstant I ceased all motion and stared fixedly at it, while cold dropsof water came out upon my temple.

  "'Timidly my bride approached and spoke to me; but I answered her not;for there was another form before my eyes; another bride speaking to mysoul. There was an explosion; the lamp fell into a thousand pieces, andwhere it had been there stood _my murdered wife_, with the bloodpouring from her bosom, and the stiletto in her hand. I saw her asplainly as I now see you, and she bade me _slay her rival_! I knew myfate decreed it so; I dared not disobey the dead, and with a howl offury, I sprang upon Lucia, my _second_ bride. In vain she clasped herhands to me in prayer for mercy; in vain she tried to shriek for help;I grasped her pale throat until my nails sank into the flesh, and apurple hue spread over her face. There I saw her sink from bloominghealth to ghastly death, and every feature was visible to me in all itsconvulsive workings, although the light was out.

  "'My spirit wife stood before me and my last victim, until she faded tonothing in the morning light.

  "'As the beams of the sun streamed in upon me, I took my dead bride inmy arms and stalked gaily down to the saloon of my father. I heard himlaughing loudly, and with a laugh I answered him as I carried my burdeninto his presence. He, too, had something in his arms, and it was thelifeless form of Cerise, crumbling to decay, and fresh from a banquetof worms. We placed our treasures side by side upon a table, andembraced each other with yells of laughter. Higher and higher rose ourmirth, and louder grew our shouts of triumph, until the street beneathus was crowded with people, and the servants burst into the saloonwhere we held our revel.

  "'We were seized and carried before the Duke, with the cold corpses ofmy wives; but we laughed when they called us murderers, and cursed whenothers called us madmen.

  * * * * *

  "'The keepers of the madhouse awoke me from my slumbers to tell me thatmy father had died during the night. What was that to me? I wanted alight burning beside me all night, and then he would not come from thegrave to visit me. So I laughed and was merry to think that I waslocked up in a madhouse. After many years I was released from myprison, and came thither to take the cowl of a monk. Think not that Iam mad, holy father, when I solemnly swear that the shades of my wivesstand beside me every night, and only wait until the light goes out, todrag me down to hell. I see them _now_, with bleeding bosom, and throatbearing the prints of my nails! Cerise! Lucia! I defy thee both! Thelamp still burns! ha! ha! ha!'

  "With a horrid laugh brother Dominique fell upon his face on theground, like one blasted by a stroke from heaven; and with a vaguefeeling of terror, I crawled stealthily to my own cell.

  "On the following day we met at morning prayer, in the chapel, but hetreated me as though we had never known each other, and the events ofthe preceding night were never again mentioned by either of us.

  "One evening, loud peals of laughter were heard issuing from the cellof the maniac, and several of the monks hastened thither with me, tolearn its cause. On opening the door, I first beheld the lamp lyingextinguished in its niche, while brother Dominique was stretched uponthe stony pavement in strong convulsions, giving vent every now andthen to sounds of mirth, so dreadful that we stopped our ears, and fledhorrified to the superior. When all was again silent we returned to thec
ell; but the maniac was not there, and the niche was vacant."

  Such, my boy, was the story related by M. Bonbon, the reading makinghim hoarse, and the plot suggesting a nightmare also.

  Yours, staringly, ORPHEUS C. KERR.