, 1840-05-16
MfSceuaUeous.
From the Philadelphia Caskcs.
A Tale of Truth.
"of one who loved not wisely
But too WELL" OruELo.

But too we'll" OTuELo.
In the beautiful little church of St. Roche.
a marriage ceremony had just been compile
ted, and the priest was raising his hands to
heaven to invoke 4 blessing on the newly
married couple. The bride was young aud
beautiful, but her extreme paleness, and her
eyes suffused with tears, told most forcibly
that it WAS not a marriage of affection ; the
young man who was now her husband. seem
ed as if he dared scarcely raise his eyes TO
her who was his bride he held her hand list
lessly in his own, some vague and IrresolGte
feeling seeming to have completely taken
possession of him, and it might also he said
that, like the bride, he was a mere passive
actor in the scene ; his age might be about
twenty in person he was remarkably hand.
some, and he was just united to Elise Ber-
thaud, the only daughter of one of the first
mobiles of Brittany, and the most celebrated
beauty of the province. but the bridegroom
felt that he was only Henri, Lenoir, the son
of Count Berthaud's Steward.
The mighty events which were then Ia
king place in France had destroyed all dis
tinctions in society. and the highest and the
lowest were then equil. Count Berthaud.
a few months before this strange alliance had
taken place, had seen himself stripped by the
Revelation of all his wealth. and he had also
seen his own steward become the purchaser
of his estates. Moreover, he had to feel that
at the moment of the greatest peril, even
when the scatFolds were deluged with blood,
the steward had at the risk of his own life,
saved that Of his master. the humble but
honest steward, who disdained to be a mig
gard, in his generosity, had offered to the
Count the restitution of all his property,
merely requesting that the only daughter of
the Count might be united TO his son. The
Count had not hesi;ated what course to pur-
sue, he saw that such a step was still neces-
sary for his own preservation. though the
steward had not said as much his daughter
gave her hand where her father commanded !;
and the Count, previous to the ceremony, in
token Of the degradation he could not help
feeling, had covered over the portraits of his
ancestors with black crape-for the course
of its nobility was ended.
An hour after the ceremony, all was silent
in the chateau-no reioicings marked the
event i, might nave been a funeral that had
taken place, Judging from the air Of solemni-
ty that hung around. Elise was in her own
room, she was seated near the window, her
head resting on her hands, and she no longer
strove to conceal her feelings, for the tears
chased each other rapidly down her cheeks /;
the door opened and Henri entered.
You are weeping. he exclaimed with a
voice rendered tremulous by emotion.
At the sound of his voice, Elise started,
but quickly recovering herself, her features
assumed an air of calmness and dignity.
You are in grief, replied Henri, when |
would have given my life to spare you a sim
gle moment of anguish yes-yes, Elise, |
can see it all ; it is not such 4 marriage as
you have contemplated in your day-dreams !;
had you been free, your choice would never
fallen upon the humble Henri Lenoir.
Sir, replied Elise, | have obeyed nv IA
theirs commands, and from me you will ne
YER hear one word Of complaint nor re-
proach.-
No mo! Elise lit is not that but
you are suffering, deeply suffering. | will
be all to you that man can be /; your every
wish shall be my most anxious care my
whole life shall be devoted to you. You
turn from me |! alas, it is true, then, you love
another.
Sir!
81 1t must be true ; but l will not question
you and yet one word from you would
make me the happlest of men. Elise, ] have
long loved you, and heaven knows how tru-
ly nay, do not turn from me thus. tell
you so now, tomorrow l cannot. You have
ever been the brightest object of my wish
es before me by day, present at night in
my dreams /; and oh I! what pictures of hap
piness have l not painted. in which you
were most prominent /; and now the most
darling object of my heart is attained-you
are my wife !