The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-12-27
SELECTED TALES.
CHARLOTTE DE MoNTMoRENCI
A TALE OF THE French CHRONICLE.
BY AGNES STRICKLAND.

/ IL was the second morning afer Char
lotte de Montmorenci's first ball but the
enchantments with which that memorable
evening had been fraught still hoated be-
fore her youthful fancy. She had thought
of nothing but The Louvre and its gittering
pageantry all day; and her pillow had been
haunted with dreams of Henri Quatre, and
the gay and gallant mobiles of his court who
had Wed with each ether in offering the
most intoxicating homage to her charms.
Charlotte de Montmorenci was the most
beautiful girl in France, and the sensation
produced by her first appearance at court
was enough to dazzle the mind Of dam
sci only just emancipaied from the sober
restraints of conventual education. She
had danced the pdUOn with Henri himself,
who had been lavish, OH that occasion, of
the seductive fiattery which he was so well
skilled to whisper ia a lady's ear. Char
lotte had found this incense only too agree
able but the pleasure with which she was
disposed to listen 10 the compliments oi
Royalty, received something very like a
check from the impertinent espionage of "A
pair of penetrating dark eyes, which when
ever she raised her own, she encountered,
I uAtu upon 1tI WIFI tOOhS DiCcsfC
er Of reproof than admiration.
How dared any eyes address language
so displeasng to the reigring beauty of the
evening, especially when her affianced low
er, the sprightly heir Of Bassompierre, ap-
peared highly gratified with the brilliant
success that had attended her presentation
at court? Bassompierre was the hand
soonest and most admired of all the peers of
France. He stood very high in the favor
of his sovereign; and SO generally irresisti-
| Bile was he considered by the ladies, that
his choice of Mademoiselle de Montmoren-
ci had entitled her to the envy of half the
/ females of the court, who had vainly en-
deavored to fix his rowing heart.
Charlotte, in accepting him, had driven
hundred lovers to despair for the beau
tful and wealthy daughter Of the most H.
lustrious peer of France, from the moment
she quilted her convent, had been surround
ed by sutors. The provoking dark eyes,
whose mpertinent observations had annoy
ed and offended her in the royal salon de
donse, did not belong TO any Of these luck
less gallants. 1t would have been difficult,
perhaps, for any lady, however fair, to re-
ject the addresses of a man with such n
pair of eyes, if their power had rendered
them as eloquent in impassioned pleading
AS they were in reproof These unauthor-
ised monitors, too, pertained not to the
grave and stately SulIy, or any of the ell
der worthies Of the court, whom wisdom,
virtues, and mature years might eniite to
play the moralist, but to pale, melancholy
xrhD hn ottont.an nf M
one in the gliuering circle but the neglect
ed queen. With her he appeared to be on
terms Of affectionate confidence and it
was from behind her chair that he directed
those gances which excited the surprise
and displeasure of the fair Montmorenci.
The expression Of these eyes, to say
nothing of their singular beauty, haunted
} Charlotte after her return to the hotel de
I Mon,morenci and she regretted that she
had not asked Bassompierre who the per-
son was that had conducted himself in so
extraordinary manner. She Ind thought
of propounding the inquiry more than once
during the evening, but wus unwilling 10
call her lovers attention to a circumstance
that was mortifying to her self-loye. She
I fell asleep with the determination of anus
ing Bassompierre, when he called to pay
his deU0ir 20 her the next morning, with a
whimsical description ofihe pale dark-eyed
boy trusting that her powers Of mimicry
would elicit from her sprightly lover the
name Of the person she sketched without
betraying her curiosity.
The following day, at as early an hour al
cour,ly etiquette permitted, the salons oI
the Duchess dc Montmorenci, were crowd
ed with yisiters of the highest rank, all ca
ger 10 offer their compliments to her beau
tiful daughter. He Of the mysterious darh
ewes, and Francois Bassompierre, were
however not among the visiters. Char.
lotie was surprised and piqued at this ne
glect on the part Of her lover, md resolved
10 punish him by very bsugb,y reception