The Wilmingtonian., 1824-04-08
THE BTGGAH WOMAN
of HE Chaalssee D'.4aiin.

THE BEGGAR WOMAN
of Me Chaapsee U.4atin.
AS the Marquis de Rosny was one morning
turning the corner of a street in the Chaussec ID
Antin, his charity was solicited by an old woman
in the following terms "Sir, for the sake of her
you love best give sous to poor miserable crea-
ture" DE Rosny stopped and surveyed the sup
plicnnt with look OF pity She was bent neatly
double, and appeared, either from age OF infrm
ity, scarcely able to support herself with the aid
of crutch. "rhe day is too cold for you to be
out, my good woman" said the Marquis. "lon
seem o be i'll, go home and nurse yourself little
As he spoke, lie slipped ten francs into her hand
+" Now may all the saints bless your bountifu
heart" cried the beggar; sand yet it goes a
gainst my conscience to take your money" "And
why = ' Because it is more than you ought to
give, after losing SO much as you did last night
|" How do you know Of my loss u cried the sur
prised d. Rosney--" Oh, have little bird. " he
whispered the matter to me, and told me as'
how you might retrieve it, if You were not tor
proud to take advice "What advice do yol
mean to give me- "Play with the Italian unit
Iyou retrieve the amount of our loss and then de
|sist quit the table that moment, Continued sh,
or else you area ruined man." " True
lly, my good mother, you pcrplex me not little
Can OH suppose.---" &c suppose nothing d'
mot go upon conjecture, but facts / tell you tn,
Italian is sharper, who will strip you of you
asst penny if you give him An opportunity"
The conlte was s,rlck BY the csrnestness Of he
manner, though he was not superslsiuus enoug
I" put any faith in her prediction. To his sul
prise, however, it was verified; he recovered tha
evening the money he had lost on the prece-c
ing one, and the excessive importantly with whic
the Italian urged him to play on, reused his su,
!picions: he bad consequently the prudence to de
cline playing any more, to his antagonists eviden
disappointment.
| The following morning De Rosney FASTENED t,
the spot where he had seen the old woman on tn,
pre- cce,lng day, but she was not there, and fo
several day, he sought her in vain. The love o
gaming was the comte's principal failing, and hi
Innsuspecting disposition rendered him too ofteI
.he prey OF sharpers but this adventure made hin
for Some time more cautious whom he played with
He was challenged one evening by Russian
Iwho seemed to have little skill, but who tslkee
with all the confidence Of frst.rate player. d.
Roiney refused his challenge, and laughed at hi
Igasconode; but in spite OF himself, he soon be
ame nc,tlcd At the sarcastic compliments which
the other paid to his prudence, he engaged will
ia determination not to suffer himself to be dra"I
Into play; but lie was match for the arts OF tn
Russi!n, and in few hours he had lost sum
the payment of which would leave him nesry
|brggsr. =,
f'u VIII give me u IcW iays 10 rAIsc tuis iio
Incy" said hr to his antagonist, as he arose fro n
the table" On i certainly" replied the Rus
sian; ~ had intended to leave Paris tomorrow
bit day or two will not signify" These Hord
made il eyi lent to poor De losny, that the baron
with all his poli,eness, wanted the money as sooi
as he could get il. He retired with calm colin
tenance, but heart bursting with anguish an,
Iseli.reproacll, and early the following morning IN
sent for his notary, to whom lie gave direction t.
sell his estates Immediately. Tue notary begA
Ito dissuade him from parting with them at thl
moment, becAuse it was very bad time to sell
|'' No wnlds, sir, cried the c0ate, fierccly inter
lrupting him al tell you it mus, be done instant
ly." The notary, half frightened and half afiront
d, replied that he should be ODE, ed, and hastil..
retired
Left to himself, De Rosny tried to collect hi
thoughts, and devise some plan for the future
but it was impossible for him to arrange any tina
seemed feasible and he WAS pacing his chamber
in most piliable state of mental anguish, wl,er
the sound of strange voice, vainly supplicatini
admission from his valet, reached his ear from tn.
lanti-chamber. In its cracked and feeble tones, HI
recognized those of the old beggar woman, ant
Ibis good heart even in this moment of extrcm,
distress, felt wish 10 thank one who would hav
preserved him from ruin it She could. "You ar,
come in time, my good mother" crit he, open
ing The door If his apartment, "to receive a las
testimony of my gratitude " A last testimony
what do you mean r." am going to quit Pari
forever "Not you, indeed" 81 am serious
circumstances oblge me" "No they DON'T
I" Woman" cried the conits impctnously, "this i
mo time to sport with my feelings: tell you
am ruined >" And | tell you," replied the ol'
woman very coolly, "you are not. in less thai
one hour, you will receive again the money yot
have lost, with formal scqui,a of your supposed
debit Impossible :" " You will find, however
iii is true.-Have you forgotten my last pred'c
|tion !"
The confidence of her tone startled DE Rosny
|' DO not deceive me, beseech yol," cried he
|" swe' to you," answered sne solemnly, thai
II tell you the truth" The comte could no long
Ter doubt her word. "My preserver," cried he
attempting 10 catch her in his arms She evacee
Ibis embrace with more nimbleness than nigh
have heen expected, and standing sloof with al
the coyness of youthful beauty" Compos.
yourself, comte" cried she, "and listen TO me.
expect "a stronger proof Of your gratitude than
'l;t,te ,nonev or an embrace ~" SIX what VOL