The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1826-06-24


sent for Charles Werner, found him worthy to
be the possessor OF SO lovely a creature and
spoke III his behalf to the Duchess. who, wishina
to have some fair pretcxt for contributing to-
wards the marriage portion of the Cheyaler'e
protege, made 1t known to the nclghborhood,
that at the end of the season she would give q
prize of twenty five louis d'ors to the girl who
had brought her the greatest number of rare
and beautiful butterflies The emulation ex-
cited among the young villagers may easily be
ma5 med; and whether it was that the fresh
ycr'ure Of Ahna'S native forest of Amboise was
propltlou, to heT. or whether She was more agile
and dcNtcrous than the others, it fell out that
she often presented Madame de Choiseul. thro'
her kind protector, with the butterflies upon
which Reaumur had fixed the highest value
One day, when the Duke and Duchess. ac-
conpanitd by the numerous train of mobiles and
ladies who formed the usual society of Chante-
loup, were walking IN that part of the park Dor
dcrlng on the forest, Alma, with a gallZe net in
her hand, and painting for breath, came running
joyously up to Bouitlers, and said to him. with
that innocent familiarity he had encouraged in
her: . Look Monsieur de Chevaher what do
you think of my buttcrilicsn you are such fine
Judge OF them. This speech was susceptible
Of an application so curious y fitted to the known
character OF Bouiilers, that every body laughed
- 'ooh 'nc butteFlllcS from AilnaS nanuS, anu
told her they were really of "a rare and most va
liable kind; one especially, which. with its four
azure wings OF enormous size, studded with
flame -colored eyes, and its long black proboscis,
supplied the only deficiency IN the temple
and completed the Duchcsss immense collec
ton 1t was instantly decided that Alma lad
won the promised prize she soon after recei,-
cd il from the hands Of Madame de Choiscu,
and Bouiflers added a golden cross which Alma
promised TO wear as long as she lived
1t was now the middle of autumn and as the
pleasures of Paris became daily more brilliant
and inviting, the Chevaler dc Boufilers could
not resist their attractions, though he left the
delightful abode of Chantcloup with regret Be
fore he went away he saw the sweet girl whose
name, countcnance and disposition had So deep
~ interested him, and obtained from the father
OF her lover the promise that he would consent
to their marriage Alma had a sulii
Gent portion. He recommended her warmly
to the Duchess kindness. and departed for tIu
capital. lie was welcomed back to the society
he adorned by his wit, tempered a, it was ht
grace and courtesy, and by the eAhaustlcss ici
tllty Of his fancy.
A short time after, the Duke de Choi-cul quit
ted a world in which he had exercised such vast
power, and 50 coura @eousiv wthstood lis nu
merous enemies. His widow was compelled TO
sacrifice nearly the whole OF her own fortune II
pay the enormous debt contracted by her hue
band. who had outd0nc all IT,. noble, ut the
court in magniiccnct. She sold the estate Of
Chante1oup to thecNcren at Duke De Pcuthievrr
and went to live at PARIS. IN the midst Of her
old friends, Alma, thu, q, prj,tu Of her illus