Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-01-13

| eo"e"' icCc'Vcu Ut icHBtH formal III. |
| vltation from the picture merchant to o
fete, which he gave in the country, and of
which WIS led to think myself the hero
The vain beauty behaved go respectfully
| loward me, loaded me with such disin,
gushed attentions, was so lovely, so en-
| chanting whether Us mistress Of The fctc
or is brightest ornament-that the mo.
ment that we were alone, impclled by emo
| tons which was unable to suppress,
threw myself at her feet, and made her an
offer OF marriage. She heard me with
modest dignity; while tear Of joy, which
dimmed for moment her fine eyes, con-
WINGED me that pride was no, tho only feel
ing which agitated her heart! Yes-I dis
| covered that was beloved!
After having deceived the daughter with
respect TO the person, it was necessary to
blind the fn,hcr with respect to the fortune.
This was not difficult. Possessed of little |
penetration, he gave full credit to tho story
which | related Of myself. My father,
told him, lived, retired at his seat in the
farthest part Of Dauphiny. Old age and
the govt deprived him Of the hope Of &C
companying his son 10 the altar but he
gave his consent TO the marriage, and so
much the more willingly as the fortune of
his house had been considerably increased,
from the interest which his son had al
ready taken in the mines Of his province, !
| dweIt with secret complacency on the
words-wlhout portion; alleging that my
fortune was too considerable 10 think of
augmenting it by tina; Of a wife, Before
the end of this conversation, we perfectly
agreed; for felt him absolute master Of
the conditions. All required was the
avoiding any expensive and unnecessary
eclat, as both the family of Aurora and my
own were at distace from Lyons; The
marriage, it was fixed, should take place
on that day fortnight. and undertook to
arrange oil the preliminary articles.
Having with some difficulty obtained per-
mission to leave Aurora, flew to Lyons in
formed my friends that the drama was has.
teniug to conclusion, and related all that
, had passed, They overwhelmed me with
, so many compliments, that. had only pos.
, sessed slight lincturo Of vanity,I might
have believed that they rallied me. The
event, however, proved that they were Sc
5 rious and their revenge on Aurora was
! as expensive as it was singular. That
very morning they sent in my name, TO my
, mistress, the most magnificent bequest u
watch, 0faCeie,, jewels, Laws or .~Yuis;.e
fineness, forming present sufficiently splcn.
did to complete the deception both Of The
father and daughter. Towards tho end Of
the week, the contract of marriage was
framed, in which took care 10 sign nv
real name; precaution which, you will
perceive hereafter, was not useless to me.
In this contract consented TO certain stip
, ulatins in my brides favor, which was
Y very far from thinking would one day prove
8 so much 10 her advantage.
deceived her; but Heaven is my wit
ness, it was not without remorse In pres
S cncc of the beautiful Aurora, intoxicating
, love made me forget every thing but hers
self; and when was with my Joyous friends,
, their peasanlres, their bon.ton, the kind
, Of dependence in which they held me, their
t services, their instructions, rendered me
thoughtless with respect to the future
But in the stiffness Of solitude. sophsry
: and passion disappeared, leaving dread
ful perspective before me! When asso-
, Ciated the idea Of Aurora with the misera
! bic flock-bed which was soon to be her
portion, when figured TO myself her deli
cate hands employed in preparing the coars.
est nourishmcnt; when behcld her, who
, deserved palace, lodged under the thatcl,
ed roof of my aged father; sIlrunk back
, with horror, or started up covered with
cold sweat. More than once resolved to
. throw mysclfat the feet OF the injured Au.
, rora, make full confession Of my crime,
and cover myself with the infamy, which
|; belonged TO him who could so degrade him.
self as to act the part of q villain. But
. self. love and passion came alike to my aid.
Enchaincd by the fascinating enjoymens of
the present, my Imagination gided with
81 hoOn tho ulnnO, Of hn fnin
J "The unhnppiness Of Aurora" said | to
myself, twill be but transient: love will
soften its bitterness. Her mortal enemies
She will, she shall be happy in despite of
them! They will leave me some money
!, and the means of procuring more by indus
try-I should be a wretch, indeed, if did
not devote my life 10 the task of sirewing
flowers along her path! When sho learns
who nm her resentment will no doubt ut
first be vehement; but when her good
sense shall perceive that the evil is rrepar
able, resignation will come to her aid love
will supply the place of richest!
Such were my reflections, during eight
days previous to that on which conduct
ed my mistress to the altar. At the moment
when she pronounced the vow to live and
die with me,a sudden shi,erlng ran through
my veins, n general tfepida,Ion seized my
whole frame; had SO near view Of vii,
any. should intalhbIy have sunk to the
earth, if food of tenrs had not come to
my relief; while the silly crowd who sur
rounded Us mistook this last cry of expir-
ing virtue for an excess Of sensibility.--
Aurora herself was deceived: felt from
tho warmth Of her careSses, that the vain
parsonage was ambitious of appearing as
much my mistress as my bride. The en-
drawers. in order TO reWard me, as thew