Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-12-21

| hunu CouId open The letter. II contained
only these words:
"CharloHe de Nontmorenci,
Late MS 1t may be when you receive
this, must see you before you retire 10
rest. You will find me in the East Saloon.
HENRI DE CoNDE"
Not even the common forms, unmean.
ing though they be, which courtesy re-
cures, observed in this his first. his only
communication to mel thought Madcmoi.
selIc dc M0ntmorenci, as she crushed the
paper together in her hand. She turned
her eyes upon the dial that surmountcd her
tall dressing g|ass-it still wanted five
minutes to midnight. Those five minutes
decided her destiny. She took the silver
lamp from the toilet, and dismissing her
damsel, repaired to the appointed trysting
place; then Enclosing the door with q
trcmuous hand, she stood before Condo so
pale, that when he caught the first glimpse
OF her deeply Swallowed reflection in the
cold glossy surface Of the mryored pannel.
opposite TO which he was standing. he
absolutely star'ed so different did she
look from the sparkling animated beauty
whom he had left, scarcely an hour ago,
leading off the dance with royalty in the
gttering salons of the Louvre. Condo
had, in fact, neither anticipated her early
return home. nor the prompt attention she
had paid to his somewhat unconfteous
summons; far less was he prepared for
indications of softness and sensbility,
where be had expected to encounter only
GOODNESS and PRIDE lie advanced a step
one step only-to meet her then paused,
and silently awaited her approach. The
glance which Charlotte venlured to steal
as she placed her lamp on the marble table
at which he stood, revealed to her the air
of stern resolve with which his lofty brow
was compressed; the only trace of the
passionate emotion that had so recently
shaken his firm spirit, was a slight redness
about his eyes.
Charlotte dc Mon,morenci, said he,
addressing her in a low deep voice, 4 hold
IN my hand the contract of our betrolhment.
That contract was signed by you with evi.
dent reluctance, and it will cost you no
pain to cancel it, He paused, and fixed
, his dark penetrating eyes on her face as if
to demand an answer.
Charlotte tried to speak, but there was a
convu|sive rising in her throat that pre-.
vented articulation. The gl,tering carca.
net that encircled her fair neck appeared
at that moment to Cypress her with an
insufferable weight, and to have suddenly
! frightened almost to sufocaton. She drew
, a deep inspiration, and raising her trem-
$ bling hands, essayed to unloose the clasp,
g but in vain. 1t seemed TO her that the
! hysterical emotion that oppressed her was
t occasioned by the weight of this costly
, ornament and its rich appendages, and that
I her life depended on her instant release
hatr
Intellectual attempt to unclasp the jewelled
. circlet, she actually turned an mploring
v glance tor help upon tho real cause Of her
f distress. Condos assistance was promptly
K accorded; but either through the intricacy
/ of the spring, or his ineXpercnce in all
I matters relating 10 female decorations, or,
B it might be, that he was at that moment
not less agita,ed than his pale and trem-
b. bling Jahcee, his attempts to unclasp the
!: carcanet were as unsuccessful as her own
d When thus employed, her single ringlets
), were unavoidably mingled with his dark
f locks; and more than once his brow came
d in contact with her polished cheek; and
r when at last, by an effort Of main strength;
G he succeeded in bursting the fastening oil
the jewelled collar, she sank with con-
l., vnlsve sob into the arms that were nvol
unfairly extended to receive her. For the
first time, Condo held that form of perfect
e loneliness to his bosom, and forgetful of all
5 the stern resolves that had, for the last few
c hours, determined him to part with her
n iorever--torgelful of pride, anger, jealousy
G and reason itself, he covered her cold fore
4, head with passionate kisses, and implored
o her, by every title Of fond endcarment to
e revive. Those soothing words, those ten
H der caresses, recalled her to Il sweet bu,
G agitating consciousness and when she
perceived on whose breast she was sup
C ported, a burst o. tears relieved her full
[ heart, end she sobbed with the vehemence
S of child that cannot cease to weep when
@ the cause of its distress has been removed
d Speak but one word cried Condo
o Have | occasloned this emotion --these
h tears?
e Charlotte could not speak, but her silence
It was eloquent.
e 'Nay, must be told, in explicit terms
n that you love me- cried Condo ! 1T is ,
G point on which dare not suffer myself t,
d be deceived
Il Mighty fine ! said the fair Montmorenci
n suddenly recovering her vivacity, and sml
l. ling through her tears, and so you have
ii the vanity 10 expect that am to reverse
h the order of things, and play the wooer It
Y you, for your more perfect satisfaction
;, after you have informed me OF your obi
e gng intention Of cancelllng our contract O
y betrohment.'
,e 'Ab, Charlotte! if you did but know how
:. much have suffered before could resolve
to resign the happiness of calling you mine
/. well if you are resolved, | have n
II more to say reioncd Charlotte proudly
st extrlcating herself from his arms.
But have said Condo, taking her b!
- both her hands, which he retained in spit,