Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-07

them, were tall OF young Sii', VIZ" s"u@S
in their hands, GREATNESS with Inc chase =.
their trail and beautiful prey
Bouff1ers was frequently witness to the
Duches,'s assiduous cares about her favorlte
,ennle uCheyalier," said she to him, with an
,,,r.e.bIe smile. 81 run no risk in introducing
Won among nv butterflies, they will take you for
One of themselves, and will not be frightened"
On one occasion, when Madame de Choiseul
WAS compelled by illness to keep her room for
some weeks, she gave the key Of her temple to
the Cbeyalier, who found ample compensation
for the trouble Of his charge, in the pleasure OF
receiving the country girls who daily came TO
recruit the numerous family Of butterflies He
encoura ged them to talk about theirrural sports,
their love affairs, and all their little secrets, so
that he was soon master OF the chronicles OF
the surrounding villages. In this way he Ire
quently caught ideas and expressions with
which he afterwards adorned his poems.
1t was, however, remarked that Boufflers al
WAYS preferred the butterflies brought by the
prettiest girls; his scrutiny turned rather upon
their charming features, their natural and sim
pie graces, than upon the objects it was his OIL
flee to select. An engaging face, graceful car
riage, or a wel-turned person, was pretty sure
not 10 be rejected; he was not very rigorous in
his examination, and he trusted that The same
INDULGENCE would be extended 10 him. Thus
the beautiful temple declined in splendor: but
fewer poor little girls went away disappointed;
and the Dutchess's bounty, passing through
the easy hands of the Chevalier, was diffused
more wisely, and gladdened more hearts.
Among the villagers who came to offer Bout
hers the fruits Of their days chance, he had fire.
quently remarked girl Of about fifteen, whose
large deep blue eyes, jet black eyebrows, rosy
and laughing mouth, graceful and easy carriage,
and sweet, penetrating voice, realised the most
poe,ical descriptions of rural beauty. 10
crown her attractions, he found that she was
the daughter Of a forester of Amboise, and
that her name was Alma. This pretty name
was the title Of tale of his which had been
greatly admired. 1t may be imagined what an
interest he took in this innocent and ingenious
girl, with what pleasure he rewarded her in the
Dutchess's name, and how eagerly he took adj
vantage Of the pretext afforded by the beauty Of
any of her butterflies TO double the gift, accom-
panying il with some protecting caress, some
times even with kiss, which Alma thought too
great an honour to be resented.
Bouffers soon drew from her the secret Of
her guileess heart: he learnt how she loved
Charles Werner, son Of the keeper Of the castle,
but that his father opposed their union on ac-
count oft the disparity of their fortune. Bouf-
lers, who thought love levelled all distinctions,
secretly resolved to serve the sweet Alma
He sent for Charles Werner, found him worthy
10 be the possessor Of so lovely creature, and
spoke in his behalf to the Duchess, who, wish
ing to have some fair pretext for contributing
a,ria norton If Tho Cteyalier'c
protege, made il known to the neighborhood,
that a, the end of the season she would give a
prize of twenty-five louis d'ors to the girl who
had brought her the greatest number of rare &
beautiful butterflies The emulation excited
among the young villagers may easily be i'm
agined; and whether it was that the fresh YER
dure of Alina's native forest of Amboise was
propitious to her, or whether she was more
agile and dexterous than the others, it fell out
that she often presented Madame de Choiseul,
through her kind protector, with The butterflies
upon which Reaumur had fixed the highest va
lue.
One day, when the Duke and Duchess, &C
companied by the numerous train Of mobiles and
ladies who formed the usual society Of Chata-
loup, were walking in that par, Of the park bor-
6ering on the forest, Alma, with gauze net in
her hand, and painting for breath, came running
ioyously up to Boufflers, and said 10 him, with
that innocent familiarity he had encouraged in
her: "Look, Monsieur de Chevalier what do
you think Of my butterflies? you are fine Judge
of them" This speech was susceptible Of an
application so curiously fitted to The known
character of BoutAers, that every body laughed.
He took the butterflies from Alina's hands, and
told her that they were really OF rare and most
valuable kind one, especially, which, with its
four azure wings of enormous size, studded
with flame coored eyes, and its long black pro-
boscis, supplied the only deficiency in the tenn
pie, and completed the Duchess's immense col
lection. 1t was instantly decided that Alma
had won the promised prize; she soon after re-
ceived il from the hands of Madame &c Choi-
seul, and Bouffiers added 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 de Boufflers could
not resis; their attractions, though he left the
delightful abode Of Chanteloup with regret
Before he went away he saw the sweet girl
whose name, countenance and disposition had
so deeply interested him, and obtained from
the father Of her lover the promise that he would
consent to their marriage as soon as Alma had
sufficient portion. He recommended her
warmly to the Duchess's kindness, and depart
ed for the capital. He was. welcomed back to
the society he adorned by his wit, tempered as
n \, and nd I>y,f