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

1
what coolly the congratulations with which
her friends and relations overwhelmed herr
and when The folding doors of the saloon
were thrown open, and the king gave bis
hand TO the Duchcs De Montmorenci to
lead her in'o the banquetng- room, where
a sumptuous entertainment had been laid
out in honor of the occasion, she took the
! offered arm of the man to whom she had
Just affianced herself, with an averted head
and sigh escaped her.
Il fear said he, in low voice, that YOU
have been compelled to do violence to your
feelings in signing that contract
These were the first words that Condo
had ever addressed to his beautiful flnce,
and there was deep and tender melody in
The rich but melancholy tones Of his voice,
that thrilled to her heart not less strangely
than the penetrating glances Of his fine
dark eyes had previously done.
u shall not hate him quite so much as !
thought should was her mental response
to this conslderate question; but instead
OF answering the prince with reciprocal
frankuess, she replied, with some hauteur,
Il am not accustomed to do any thing on
compusion, Monsieur
1t was now Condos turn TO sigh--he did
SO from the bottom of his heart; and Char
lotte felt angry with herself for the per.
verseness which had prompted her to repel
his first advance towards confidential un-
Outstanding.
A ball succeeded the banquet. The
Prince de Condo did not dance, though
reminded that courtly etiquette required
! that be should at least tread one measure
! with his bride elect; and Charlotte found
| more gallant, if not more suitable
partner, in her admirng sovereign, with
whom she once more danced the graceful
pavon, and bounded, with flying feet, thro'
the light Couyant, needless of the grave
looks OF Interpretation with which her
vvacious enjoyment of her favorite amuse.
meat was regarded by him to whom her
hand was now plighted.
An early day had been fixed by the king
for the nuptials of Bassompiere and Made.
moiselle d'Aumale. Charlotte expressed
wish that her marriage should precede
theirs, and, in the mean time, the Prince
de Condo availed himself of the privilege
Of betrothed lover, in passing much Of his
time at the hotel de Montmorenci, but
when there, his attention appeared more
cngrossed by the parents and the youthful
brother of his .Gance, than by herself. In
conversation with them, the shy reserved
boy Of Condo, as Henri Quartre was &C.
customed TO call his studious cousin, could
be eloquent, graceful. and even witty he
possessed talents Of the finest order; his
mind had been highly cultivated, and there
was sound sense and beautiful morality in
every thing he said. Charlotte, seated at
her tapestry frame, beside her mother,
could not help listening, at first with grlsh
curiosity, but, by degrees with profound
attention, TO the observations which he ad
dressed TO her brother on the course of his
tory he was reading; and when she saw
his pale cheek kindling with the glow o
virtuous and heroic feeling, and his dark
penetrating eyes beamng with intellectual
brightness, she bushed at the thought thai
those eyes should have witnessed so much
vanity and frivolty in herself,
Sometimes she felt mortified that he ad
dressed so little of his conversation to her
and then, without rejecting that she hat
chilled and repealed him in the first instance
she was piqued into naughty imitation o
his reserve, when alone with him; ant
when surrounded by the gay crowd of hel
courtly admirers, she endeavored, by the
exercise of coquetry, 10 shake his equanim
ity, and provoke him either into quarrel
or an acknowedgm Of love.
She was convinced that he had ceaset
to regard her with ind fference for she
had more than once detected his lustrou
dark eyes fixed upon her with that intense
expression Of passionate feeling, which cal
never be mistaken by its object; yet he
had resoluely RETAINED from giving to tha
feeling Words and it seemed hard to tht
most beautiful girl in France, that sht
should be welded, unwoed by him of al
others, whom she most desired TO hear the
language Of love.
T 'IfI could but once see this youthful stoi'
at my feet, should feel prouder of tina
triumph, than of all the homage that ha
been offered TO me this night by him of thu
white plume, and his gallant peers sghet
Charlotte to herself, as she was returning
from the last ball at the Louvre at which
she was to appear as Mademoiselle d'
Montmorenc. 1t was the most brlllan
she had ever attended, and though on TIM
eve of her bridal, Charlotte ventured oil
the hazardous experiment Of exciting th'
jealousy of her belrothed. She succeeded
r only too well, and Condo unable to concea
, bis emotion, quilted the royal saloon at Al
: early hour. All the interest that the beau
tful admired Mademoiselle de Monlmorenc
had taken in the gay scene, departed wit
the pale agitated STRIPPING, whom ever
, one present suspected of being the objec
, OF her aversion; and pleading head ach
! to excuse her from fulfilling her engage
r ment Of dancing a second time with tb
c king, she retired almost immediately after
ward.
4. On entering her own apartment her at
4. tendant presented her with a billet.
j, was from the Prince de Conde-lhe frs
Q he had ever addressed to her.
Il To eYery woman Of senslbiltY il is de