The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-10-21
TIE BLIND GIRL.
Translated from he French Of .nadaH,
De f,snHy

/ WV w lflE Hills ffHllttf l1iI1tis III tllf eel
ebraied Ahbe de rEpee, named Durmane.
only sun nj u genflenan of great estate il
: Normandy, LOST his father WHEN he had at
TUNED his twenty fiitli year, who left hin
in pnsscssion Of landed property to the n
moNmi of about ten thousand liyres per an
nnn1, and M elegant mansion near Paris
which Durmanee Fixed GA for his place %
residence. Deaf aud dumb from his birtl,
his sirinous aud benevolent Instructor had
endeasoured To compensate for those def
eieneles by storing his mind with ever,
valuable acquisition which could tend Ia
alleviate his misfortune, and render him
morn estimabie in the regard of others.
Although nature lad been partially I'M
just 10 him, she had ia other respects dealt
her favors with liberal hand. With most
captivating figure he united noble spirit,
. generous soul aud most susceptible
mind. He was dcvotcdly fond of reading.
drew with taste, and excclled in all those
accomplishments which II was possible to
acquire under such unfortunate cirrumstan.
ees. Yet these talents he resolved 10 bury
IN retirement, under the humilialing idea
that he was wholly unfit for socrty,-sl
the gay world" thought Durmancc. ~
should be- considered hurlhensome and oh
tnlsiss, | could not Join in their pursuits;
MIR could they readily comprehend my
sensations. Friendship could with dill
Gully b. formed; and lo,e--ohl love can
never be cherished in n female breast for
the unhappy Durmance!--liere then will
remain, can dispense part of my wealth
in acts of charity; the poor, while they re-
ceiye benefits AT my hands will guess my
| thoughts, and moi DC the less grateful Tor
my donations, aud those nntortnnutcs who
require no pccuniary aid, can console with
tears Of sympathy"
These satisfactory ideas reconcilcd the
| unfortunate young man 10 his lot; and nj.
though when hc witnessed the domestic e..
| LEFTY OF sumo Of his neighbours he felt n
sensation of regret, TINT such joys could
never be his portion, his Innate pieiy rem
dered him content with the dispensaiions
of the Divine Regulator of NIL things.
One fine morning In The month Df May,
Dnrnance, after n long walk in the forest
of Vincenues, seaied himself nj the foot of
n tree, aud casting his eyes by chance down
an avenue opposite TO him, perceived re-
main approaching holding by the hnDd u
| child about twelve years Of age. He gnzed
on her with surprise and admiration, for
never before had he beheld such perfect
beauty united with such an mir of sweetness
and modesty. On sudden he saw h,r
fall; her head had struck against an over
hanging branch, and the blow laid her sense.
less ON the ground. He flew 10 her assist
ance; tia little boy who accompanied her
was unable 10 render her any assistance;
and Dnrmauce, trembling with agitation,
raised the fair sufferer IN hs arms.
The child in vain addressed himself 10
our hero, who waa mcrpablr Of undrrsian.
ding him. AT length the sweet girl unclo
scd her eyes, and Durmancc noticed with
astonlshmcnt, thai she betrayed 20 emotion
At finding herself IN The arms Of stranger;
sad pensiveness marked her lovely fen.
lures and her blue eyes seemed Fixed on
vacancy. HetoOk hcrbaBd in his, and that
instant her face was suil'uscd in bushes /;
and he now discovered that the fair object
of his admiration WAS blind
This conviction flied his solh with the
ienderest sympathy. The similarity Of
their mistoliunes gave birth To love, which
the enthusiastic Durmancc inisiook for pi-
ty. lie took out his tablets, and wrote n
few lines, which he put into the hands ol
the boy, who fortunately could read, and
repeated them aloud 10 his sister. Thus
was an intelligence established between
them, and he learnt with extreme regret,
that llermipia bad not only received pain
fol cpntuslon, but had in Ealing sprained her
ANGLE 80 severely, that il was impossible for
her 10 walk home. Durmaice Immediate
ly, IN writing, requested the little Leon to
conduct him to the place Of their dwelling,
and again receiving the lovely lIerminia In
his arms, TO which her modest dlilidencc nj
first objected, conveyed her 10 her home.
The door Of the neat little mansion To
which Leon had led him, was opened by an
elderly servant, who no sooner saw Her
NINA in that situation, than she hurried a.
way 10 call her mistress. Durmance de.
.'sitrd his precious burthen In laige easy
chair, which he had no sooner dune, than
| the grateful Leon threw his arms arou, !,
his neck, and with innocent smiles EXPIRE ss
Ell his thanks. Durmanre tenderly return.
ed his carcsses, aud Instantly Withdrew.
Every thing in the humble dwelling eyin
crd poverty combined with cordent and
neatness, yet Darnancc was nDt SORRY I,
find II SO, and rs he bent his Steps toward,
his own stately mansion, lis heart over
flowed with feelings Of be1e,olence. ash,
Is poor-slie is unfortunate" thought he
"ihe first evil have Inc power to alleviate
the latter would render my misfortune les
Objectionable to Ler. But how shah W,
explain our sentiments 10 each other? eset
shonld our feelings be in unison, il woul,
he dliliciilt 10 establish communication
between two such unfortunate beings We
Whe knows, but some means may be found
at least II is worth attempting"
!, The next morning Dnrmanco hastene,
into his garden, and bss!ed himself in pull