Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-22
POPULAR TALES.
Translated from the French.
THE WIDOW BHWiTCHED.

III take course against you;
You came into my house without my leave;
Your practices are cunning and deceitful;
| know you noe---aBd hope law will tight me,
Play.
Ia Paris there lived a widow, who,
although she was no longer young, had
every inelina.ioo 10 be thought so, and
possessed beauty enough to second hes
pretensions. She had daughter about
the age Of fifteen, whom she thought II
prudent to keep in retirement, because
she feared and not without reason, that
the girl's buddIng beauty might deprive
her of some of the conquests which she
facilitated, As il always happens in
such cases, her pre- cautions turned out
TO be useless. Every sun that rose di-
minished her charms in the same pro.
portion as those of Der daughter increas-
ed; and although Madame de Mesnll
might have overlooked, or at least par
doned this, yet, when she found las she
did afterwards) that her daughters mo
desy and elegance of manners were so
perfect and irresistible, that they bad
captivated the affections of the old la
dy's mos. favored lover-and this too,
in spite Of all the rouge and patches that
she had employed to retain him-her
anger knew no bounds The chevalier,
knowing with whom he had to deal.
conducted his proceedings for some
time with so much fnesse, and so com
pleteIy concealed bis passions for the
daughter, that the coquettish mother
still continued to believe herselfthe sole
object of his afectionate attentions.
The young girl, however, knew better,
and was not slow ia perceiving that her
charms had made an impression on the
heart Of her mothers admiTer She was
naturally enough. fattered by his in
tsniions; and with that vanity (if it de
serves so harsh name) which belongs
to her sex, whenever she expected the
chevalier's visit she took mora pains with
her toilet than before: her hair was bet
ter arranged, and her dress put on with
taste that greatly increased her natu-
raj attractions. Her charms soon be-
came talked Of, and she grew the object
Of universal attention, 10 Der mothers
great disquiei.
The chevalier who has been mention.
ed was called Pastourd, and seeing the
attractions Of his mistress, he naturally
enough feared that some rival might
present himself; TO obvia.e which, he
made declaration of his passion to the
person by whom ii had been inspired
Nichon tfor so the young lady was call
edl felt so much confused and pleased
with this her first conquest, that she did
not observe her mother, who entered
the room at the time Rhe anger of the
masroD was beyond all CONTROL. In the
greatest rage, she asked Pastousd if he
visited at her house to insult the daugh-
ter PassnuFd was little confused. but.
like man who knew the world, he
thought TO divert the old lady's rage.
mo, madam he replied, my inten,
tons are honorable, and your suspi.
cions do me great injustice. | must,
however, confess that | did wrong in
applying to any other than yourself on
this subject; and for this mistake very
humbly and sincerely beg your pasdon'
The lady's vanity and her affection
together farbsde her doubling that her
lover still wore her chains; she put on
a most amiable smile. and forgave and
forgot the cause that had excited her
suspicious.
Pastourd, who was so completely en-
crossed by his passion that be thought
of nothing else, seeing that the old lady
had recovered her good temper SO soon,
thought he might bring her over to his
side, and said,
Madam, if I were now to declare the
true sentiments of my heart, might
flatter myself that you would listen to
them with favorable ears
Speak, said she, with majestic, but
at the same time condescending air.
| love madam, continued he, with
such intensity, thai it is impossible for
me any longer to conceal my flame.
Do you imagine, said she, that have
not perceived it?
You astonish me, madam, answered
the chevalier; l thought that my admi-
ration was a profound secret until to-
day; because, the better to conceal it.,
| had feigned passion for another per-
son.
Say no more about il, replied Madam
de Mesnil; you ought to have told me of
il at first, when should have approved
Of il, as do now.
Madam, cried the chevalier, passion
ately throWino himself ON bis knees