The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-09-11


told her his determination to leave the
cOuntry-he repeated what he had over
heard-requested her to forget her mis-
placed affection for her lowly admirer-
and "oh that such advice Shonld aow
from my lips," he concluded, ''give your
hand, and if you can your heart,tO the OBJ
iect of your fathers choice"
The pale girl scarcely answered him a
word she hung her head upon her lovers
shoulder, and his bosom was wet with her
tears. Her fIial duty commended against
her unfortunate passion; but if he had
pressed, who can say that it would have
required much solicitation to have made
her the partner OF his fortunes? A sound
of heavy footsteps alarmed them, and they
babe one another melancholy farewell.
Their lips met for the first time land Jac-
queIine, scarcely knowing what she did,
vanished through one Of the alleys of the
garden.
The steps by which they had been dis
turbed were those of Jacqueline's father,
who, on his return to the house, discovered
that his daughter and Louis were both alb
sent, and went somewhat displeased in
quest of them. He encountered Louis,
and demanded, rather angrily, what he
was doing there at SO late an hour. The
young man, who did not wish to compro-
mise Jacqueline, offered some trivial, and
not very plausible excuse, which irritated
the General.
SIT is false, Sir" replied he.
II cannot permit any man, Sir, to use
such language to me-" was the reply of
Louis.
"You must permit it when you utter
falsehosd. Tell me then, Sir, truly,if you
can, was Mademoiselle de Valencay in the
garden with you2"
"Since, then, am so pointedly ques-
toned, | must answer you, that she
II see have taken a viper into my
house. Louis, l once had good opinion
Of you; butt
"If you knew my case" said the young
man, "you would still
"What. Sir, do you handy words with
me? Fine times we have come to. A
beggar here wants to ensnare the affections
Of my daughter, and dares to insult myself.
Take that, worm," and he made blow at
Louis, who however arrested his uplifted
arm.
"General de Vslencay," said Louis,
you were not used to behave to me thus. !
will not allow you to infict an insult |
which in your cooler moments you would |
lament. The memory of the great bene-
fits you have heaped upon me, the recol-
lection of the dreams of happiness which
enjoyed in your chateau, make me re-
greet that we part as we do. Adieu may
God forgive you for the sin which you are
about to commit, and shower down bles-
sings upon her, who suffers for the gratii-
cation ofyour pride. AS for me, you will
at last do me justice"
So saying, he passed hastily out Of the
garden, and directed his footsteps towards
the town. The General hemmed and
stamped, and whistled but in moment
began to feel that he was not altogether in
the right.
81 am sorry we part so,'' said the Gene
raj. "He was ever fine manly fellow
and a plebeian is as much flesh and blood
as the Grand Monarque. The fault
was mine, in allowing them to be so
much together. I must see Jacqueline.
poor romantic girl but all girls are silly
at her age. She will live to thank me, for
saving her from disgrace"
The dis leasure he felt with himself for
his violence, had, as usual, produced a re-
action, and he sought his daughter with
feelings considerably subdued. He made
no allusion whatever to her inter-
view with Louis, and when she put off his
proposed discussion of the propriety of her
marriage with Valrviere, by saying first,
with a melancholy eagerness, "not tonight
father--oh! not tonight! - and then at
tempting to correct her energy, by stam-
mering out blushing excuse of accidental
headache, he took no notice, but smiled,
and withdrew from her apartment.
We need not linger over our story. Her
father argued with her calmly and affec-
tionately. He pointed out the utter dis
grace of an inferior union-he talked kind
~ but coolly Of youthful affection-assu-
red her that his marriage with her own
mother was an arrangement, and he need
not tell her how happy that union had
been; pointed out the rank, birth and ac-
complishments of the Marquis and wound
up his appeal by the most irresistible of all