The Litchfield County post., 1828-09-11

of Valencay shall not be forced on any
man, far less smuggled ciandestinely into
his family. She shall go into a nunnery,at
all events. should send her lhither with
pleasure sooner"
But he stopped, and sighed. The ''with
pleasure" was upon the lips: it was not in
the heart.
"My dear General" said the Marquis,
" you are making mountain of the most
trifing mole-hil. That MademoiseIle
Jacqueine, shut up in this secluded chat
eau, may have romantic ideas,-that she
may fancy herself in love with this person,
is perhaps possible; but aftershe is my
wife, Madame la Marquise de Valrivere,
she will forget all this trumpery. The air
Of Pars will soon dispense the nonsense
of the provinces. | make no objection.
am ready to fulfil my part of the business.
But introduce me. l have a great fancy
to behold ma petite epouse. Ii, after see
ing me, she remembers this secretary of
yours, her taste must, indeed, be barbar-
Gus beyond what my general good opinion
of the ladies would incline me to be-
lieve.''
The General had succeeded as far
as one of the parties was concerned
Valriviere was introduced, and talked gai-
ly on all the affairs of Paris. An the wit,
and all the scandal of the saloons were
poured forth-the beauties, the wits, the
poets, the philosophers, the cooks, the
chemists, the politicians, they were be-
ginning TO have politicians in 1889 the &C
,ors, the singers, the painters, the tailors,
ihe MERCHANDISE des modes, severy body,
III fact, was discussed, valued, and dismiss
sed by him during dinner. Poor Louis
was ecrasr, and Jacqueljne was at least
dazzled. They well knew that she was
destined TO be Valrivere's wife, and the
humble lover was dstracted-the extent
of his misfortune for the first time stared
him in the face. AS soon as he could
leave the room, he fled into the neighbour
ing forest to vent his sorrows. The eve
ming was bright and balmy, but its balmi-
ness brought no consolation to poor Louis;
who, having exhausted his thoughts of
grief, rage, bitterness, and despair, in all
the eloquence and vehemence of passion.
sunk in stupor on the ground.
From this state the sound of we'll known
voices aroused him. The General and
Valriviere had walked out to enjoy the
ineness ofthe evening. The Marquis was
praising the grace and beauty of his inten-
ded spouse, and observed that winter in
Paris would render her truly distinguish
ed. He tested ON the pretensions of his
rustic rival, who, however, he admitted to
be a good LOOKING fellow.
ale is" said the General, with sigh;
"and he is also a good-hearted fellow.
hope he will forget his bOyish passion. His
own good sense will point out to him the
folly of INDUCING it; and I am sure his
amiable disposition will make him recoil
from doing what would break the heart of
one who has always endeavored to be
his friend, and who, even now, re-
CARDS him with the affection of fa-
Their"
They passed on, and Louis heard no
more Of their conversation: he had heard
enough. The fact that the General knew
what he lovers considered to be an invio-
liable secret-waS startling but his kind
ness came like an icy pang upon his
heart.
II break his heart !" he said. EMO
no-my own first; and God knows that
speech has already broken it. o, Jacque-
line (why do dare to call her by such
name )-MademoiselIe de Valencay, I
resign you forever. Accused be these diff
ferences of rank-these blighting distinc-
tons, which wither the only fair flowers
that decorate the wilderness of life"
His resolution was taken: he would see
her once more-and see her in private
Through the medium Of her nurse, who
was privy TO all their little arrangements,
he invited her to meet him in the garden,
by the fountain which had first witnessed
their loves. twas a secluded, old-fash-
Toned garden. Surrounded by immense
walls, and quite out ofsght of any part of
the house. In the evening the family sell
dom ever entered it, and Louis thought it
the most private spot he could select. With
some difficulty, Jacqueline consented-de-
corum plead hard, but love still harder.
They met in silence, and the tears of
Louis flowed as copiously as those of his
beloved. At last, he took her unresisting
hand into the chilly pressure of his own:
"JacqueIjne," he said, 81 must call you
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