Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-04-05

information, and with the aid of my friends,
| made one Of those bold speculations,
which, if it had not succeeded, would have
placed me where had set out but which,
by splendid success, increased more than
threefold my capital.
While my commercial speculations were
going forward in profound secrecy, my sto-
ry became the topic of public animadver-
sion. The intrepid Aurora, from her Mon
astic retreat, hurled her fulminatons against
me and my confederates. This want of
address, on her part, in attacking the en-
gravers, besides obtaining the laugh against
her, was of infinite advantage TO me, by
throwing me In the back ground while my
| friends were so much the more awake to
my interests, as it was the best mode of de-
tending their own. Aurora insisted perem-
ptorily that the marriage should be annued.
| The abbess of the convent in which she had
found an asylum, and who was respectable
| for her birth, as well as her good qualities,
moved heaven and earth in her cause. Her
father brought together his protectors and
friends and every thing threatened us with
defeat, the shame Of which would have
fallen on the engravers, and the weight of
it on myself. The wags amused themselves
in seeing the pride of Aurora made the in.
strument of her punishment; but no smiles
can smooth the brow of wrinkled and Sc
we're Justice. Already warrant to arrest
me had been issued, from which had only
been saved by the obscurity in which liv-
ed. The affair was brought before the
courts with great rapidity.
My naughty enemy had requested guards
to escort her to the tribunal in which our
marriage was to be declared null and void.
She made her appearance arrayed in all her
charms, which were still frightened by the
semblance Of the most unaffected modesty.
Never had any cause assembled so i'm
mense crowd of spectators. Aurora's
counsel pleaded for her with so much elo-
quence, that the tears of the auditory some-
times forced him to suspend his declama-
ton.
| The emotion of the judges indicated what
kind of sentence they were about to pro.
nounce, and which the feelings of the audi
ence were powerfully impelled to sanction
when the engraver who had sought to be
the husband of Aurora, seeing that no coun.
sci arose to plead on my side of the ques.
ton, requested permission from the judges
to enter on my defence. This request was
Immediately granted, that it might not be
said that had been condemned unheard
He gave my history, in which nothing was
exaggerated, exceptthe eulogium with which
! he honored me. He owned, nevertheless
that the singular circumstances of my mar
riage would authorize the Judges to declare
it null and void. He hesitated for mo
ment. The most solemn silence reignet
through the assembly when turning to Au
rora, he added, in firm tone of voice, "Nt
madam, you are not the wife of the bellows
mender-but nature destines you to become
the mother of his child Listen to the pow
. erful cry of your infant yet unborn, ant
r then say, if you desire to become free, whi
, your child is condemned TO the infamy o
a illegitimacy?" "No, Mop exclaimed thu
: trembling Aurora, bursting into tears; ant
: the whole audience, weeping in sympath.
a with her, Joined in the exclamation of "No
u Mo-"
;, This cry of maternal tenderness decide
y the cause. The judges declared that tn,
d marriage was valid according to the con
: tract in which had signed my true name
It alleging, also, that our situations were nc
y sufficiently unequal to authorize the dissc
e luton of our union. But they wisely dc
e creed, in order not to leave the adventure
i. too much cause for triumph, that my viii
should be permitted to reside in the CONVEX
1t which she had chosen for her asylum an
Y Injunction was laid on the husband, undo
}. certain penalties, neither to reclaim, pursu
o or modest her in any manner whatever
a that the child should be baptised under m
name, but that l should at no time have an
;e right over its education. The rest Of I'll
y sentence turned on objects of detail, moi
!. interesting to gentlemen of the long rot
al than the historian. Aurora lief: the aud
m ence in triumph. The crowd escorted her
,r the convent: GROWING her with euloglun
] for the tender sacrifice which she had ju
a, made.
Is Such was the result of this celebrated II
so al; during the decision of which, was !
as tie at my ease. Obliged to hide myself fro
to every eye, took advantage of my not b
n ing known, to hide among the crowd
70 OHc COuJcCturinS tIdt tic ACKNOWLEDGING
IS of whose history they heard so much, wo
W decent clothes, fine linen, and was pc
/ sonage in no mean circumstances. II
RS most ridiculous stories were fabricated r
I'M speeding my absence and my marriage.
sometimes endeavored to laugh with 4
ne rest, but was horribly abased to find, tn
ny even those who amused themselves most
ye, the expense of Aurora, were virulent d
ra chalmers against what they called my I'M
e. my. Agreeably to the dictates Of my o,
,s- feelings, and in conformity to the advice
hal my friends, | determined to quit Lyons, a
employ my funds in some other plac
tn where my name and history were unknow
he made choice of Paris for my residen'
elf where amidst an immense population,
yht could most easily escape observation a
Bile also where could employ my capital
pm most advantage. There, the poor below
m member, with hundred thousand livres, a
re- the credit of his friends in Lyons, establi;
ro- ed commercial house, which succeed
me beyond all my hopes. | was during f
rs. years the favorite Of fortune and my &C
or science renders me this testimony, tina
IS; had no reason to blush at one of my 81
or culations.
the My correspondence with Lyons was
art tive. A happy accident gave me the me'
Of rendar;,,., ,,esootial service IN ono of