Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-02
Ysa1sCN.ALAMA
THE WIDOW B%EWITCHED.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

You came into my house withou. my Leave;
Your practices arc cunning and dccciiful;
| know you not and | hope law will right me
Oh Play.
In Paris there lived a widow, who
! although sho was no longer young, la.
every inclination 10 be thought So, ans
possessed beauty enough TO second he
pretcnsions She. had a daughter abou
! the age OF fifteen, w.iom she thought i
prudent 10 keep in retirement, because
she feared, and without reason, that the
girls budding beauty nigh, deprive heI
Of some of the c%onqucsls which she
mcditated. AS il always happens in sucl
cases her precautions turned out TO be
useless. Every sun that rose diminish
: CD her charms IN the sans proportion as
those OF her daughter increased; and
although Madame dc Mcsr1l might have
overlooked, or at least pardoncd this
vet, when she found Gas she did after
wards that her daughters modosty ant
elegance OF amer wero 50 perfect
and in osis,abIc, that they had coptivated
the affections oftho old lady's most ia.
vorud lovcr-aud this too, in spite OF al
tn, rouge and patches that she had ein-
ployed 10 retain hiin-her anger know
40 bounds. The chcvalior, knowing
with whom he had to deal, conducted
his proceedings for some time with SO
much inessc, and so completely con-
cealed his passion for the daughter, tina,
the coqucitish mother still continued to
believe herself the sole object of his aE
fcctionatc attentions. The young girl,
however, knew better, and was not slow
in pcrcciving that her charms had made
an impression on the heart Of her moth
er's admirRr. She was naturally enough,
Hattered by his attentions; end with that
vanity tif il deserves so harsh a name)
which belongs 10 her sex, whenever she
expected the chevaiier's visit she took
more pains with her toilet than before;
her hair was better arranged, and her
dress was put on with a taste that great
ly increased her natural attractions
Her charms soon became talked OF, and
she grew the object of universal atten-
ton, to her mothers great disquiet.
The chevalicr 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 obyiate which, he
made a declaration Of his passion 10 the
person by whom it had been inspired. -
Nichon (for so the young lady was cal
lcd) felt so much confused and pleased
with this her first conquest, that she did
not observe her mother, who entered
the room at tho time. The anger of the
matron was beyond all control. In the
greatest rage, she asked Pastourd if he
visited at her house to insult her daugh-
Ger. Pastourd was q little confused, but
like a man who knew the world, nc
sought to divert the old lady's rage.
mo, madam he replied, my intcn-
tons arc honorable, and your suspicious
do me great injustice. I must, however,
confess that | did wrong in applying to
any other than yourself on this subject;
and for this mistake l very humbly and
sincerely beg your PARDON
The lady's vanity and her affection to-
gciher forbade her doubling that her
lover still wore her chains; she put on II
most am;ablc smile and forgavc aud for
got the cause that had excited her sus.
picions.
Pas,ourd, who was so completely en-
crossed by his passion that he thought
Of nothing else, seeing that the old lady
had recovered her good temper so soon,
he thought he might bring her owe to
his side, and said,
MADAM, if l were now TO declare
the true sentiments ofmy heart, might I
fatter myself that you would listen to
Thorn with a favorable ear:'
sSpcak,' said she, with a majestic blu,
at tho same time, co~ndcscending air.
Il love, m1dam,' continued he. { with
such intensity, TINT it is impossible for
me any iongerto conceal my Aame.'
tDo you imagine said she; that !
have not perceived il?
you astonish me, madam answered
the chovalier; 6 thought that my ad-
miration was a profund secret until to-
day; because, the better to conceal it, |
had fcigncd a passion for another per-
son.
Say no more about it, replied Mad
anne de Mesnil; 'you ought to have told
mo OF Il ut first, when ! should have ap-
proved OF it, as | do now"
Madam cried the chevalier, pas
sionately throwing himself on his knees,
s I will not rise till you have promised
me that hand on which my happiness
DEPENDS
sRise,' said shc,in a most condcscend-
ing mauner-at the same time extending
10 him her hand to kiss.
'Ah, madam exclaimed the chevalier
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