The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
STORY OF LADY OLIVIA.
FROM THE FRENCH.

One OF the apartments OF the hotel being
elegantly fitted up and furnished, il immedi-
aiely struck me that il must be the abode OF
some accomplished lady, and | inquired oil
the doctor who occupied it.
1T is Madame Olivia's apartment" said
he. with sigh, "poor girl, she deserves a
better fate.'
How" said I. !" If she have reason enough
to enjoy this happy home, why wish for an
oiher I"
Poor lady," observed the doctor, - love
her as daughter When my oSn daughters
are at home, they constantly associate with
her. Her sorrowiul history would make me
love her, if she had less beauty, less anna
bility, or less accomplishment"
Here wild voice burst from the adjoining
room; there was sweetness in the tone, tho
could not distinctly hear the words--after a
moment it ceased, and the lady we had been
speaking of made her appearance, and after
polite inclination Of the head to me, jnined
the Doctor, and wished him good morning.
You have no letters for me. Doctor %
asked she, in melancholy tone Of voice, and
the gently modulated tones thrilled through
me-a negative was the reply. "And there
are no news in the journals interesting to me,
| presume :"
mo madam, nothing" answered he.
She turned away to hide starting tear,
the Doctor took her hand, and she drew him
gently aside to converse apart for few mo-
ments. She could not have been more than
twenty-eight years Of age, and the sweetness
and righteousness in the expression Of her
countenance, tinctured with melancholy, that
charmed me exceedingly she was pale, but
transparent white. relieved by clear blue
veins that traversed her temples; her eyes
were dark. and the long siken lashes nearly
obscured the buey white Of her eye-balls--
she was slim and delicate figure. which her
white muslin dress set off to advantage, and
observed a marriage ring on her finger, as
she laid her exqustely well-formed and white
hand upon the Doctors arm.
!" If that lady is mad, my dear Doctor"
said |, when he joined me, "ihere surely is
method in her madness"
"My friend" answered he, she is no more
mad than the noble Hamlet whose words you
quote
What" exclaimed with surprise, :" is
it only feigned madness ~
sNo more," answered he
expressed the liveliest desire to be more
acquainted with her history.
at Is sad tale," said he, and almost a
breach of confidence to make you acquainted
with it.; but as stranger TO the country and
her family, and as a man who would really
appreciate the lesson it affords, must rely
on your discretion and give YOU her history.
You shall have it as she gave it herself to me,
to beguie the hours Of imprisonment, flor il
is but happy imprisonment
expressed my gratitude to the Doctor,
and we entered the house Unlocked his
secretary, and taking from it manuscript,
tied with green ribbon, he put i before me,
and left the room; it was written in a clear
delicate lady's hand. and some. passages
seemed bloiied with tears.
MANUSCRIPT or OLIVIA.
"My mother died whilst | was so young
that cannot be said to have known her. |
can just remember being taken to her bedside,
being fondly embraced by her, and seeing
those around her bed weeping bitterly. She
would have been fond mother had she lived,
and her early death has probably been the
cause of all my misery; for my father, al
though he certainly loved me as his only
daughter, was man whose passion was gain
and worldly advancement; he neglected me,
and my education would have b, en- but slight.
ly attended TO, had not my aunt, sister Of
my mother, in visiting my father upon some
family business, (for he never invited any
person 10 his house as a mere guest observ-
ed that at the age of ten years, my acquire
ments consisted Of as much reading and writ
ing as an old servant who had been my mo-
theirs nurse, could give me. She took me
shome, and remained an inmate in her family
for several years, and received tolerable
education
My aunt lived at small village abou, two
leagues from Paris. She was widow Of an
officer in the army; she inherited an easy
competence, her family consisted of two
daughters and son. How happily I spent
those few years that passed with them.--
What meteor-like existence ii appears to