The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-10-28

- II her house was rich, received a certain mar
riaso portion, and was made a sort Of hoo
whereby TO attach the family to which she be
onged 10 some other family rs nearly OF IN
same rank as possible. The younger sons wer
= indscrminately pushed into the army or in
TO the church. whatever might be their yoca
d, ton, talents or inclination. and the whole al
n fections, hopes, interests and property OF tn
race, centered in the eldest son. This was q
, course the more remark able in those instance
where there was very little of any kind TO sve
, and such was the case in the family OF th,
r Seigneur de Provins. whose only daughter
, from the moment Of her birth, was doomed to
+ a life Of monastic seventies.
Her mother, indeed, a lady by mind and
T character, aiieeiionate in heart with consider.
able talents, great beauty, and certain spice
of romance, had entertained some hopes
which certainly were the most romantic posi-.
ble--lhat her daughters lpveliness, accomplish
ments. high principles, aud graces. might per.
haps attract the attention and gain the love
OF some man, whose fortune placed him above
the consideration Of dowry. The very circum-
stance, however which perhaps may explain
the secret OF the spice Of romance which we
have just mentioned, might perhaps be one of
the causes why her castle in the air was not
built up. Madame de Provins herself was not
Of the highest blood in France, though her
family was respectable among the robieSM de
Ia robe; and her brother, Monsieur Dodun,
who had at first been President dur Enqucies,
and had afterwards filled various subordinate
situations in the government, was much loved
and esteemed by all who knew him. though he
was now out of Office. and had been so for n
considerable length of time. As long as her
brother had continued in employment she
had not lost hope of his finding some suitable
match for her daughter OF whom he had al
ways shown himself extremely fond. But
when at length, some five or six years before
among The many changes Of that day. he had
been left entirely without Office, and had beta
ken himself to foreign countries. either TO A.
muse his mind or to shelter himself from ap.
pretended dangers, Madame de Provins would
have fallen into despair, aud would have sof-
iored her child 10 be consigned at once TO the
ulonotomy Of convcntual life, had it not been
for the attentions in the first place, and the
evident, ardent love, in the second place, Of a
young officer, who had served with some dis.
tinction in Spain, aud whose father was high in
the favor Of the prime minister, tho Duke Of
Bourbon. jules mother suffered the growing
attachment between tho two to proceed, ill at
length Monsieur de Prorins, thinking that the
father OF Philip de Moville must be conscious
Of his sons affection, thought Gt to demand
his views upon the subject aud the letter az
ter producing some loud laughter at the court
Of the debauched and imbecile Duke OF Bour-
bon, was answered by an inquiry as TO the for
tune OF Mndemoselle de Provins The reply
was, what il was well known it must be and
the father, angry with his child for having been
the innocent cause Of correspondence so un-
pleasant declared that she should be sent to
the convent at La Fere without farther delay,
and babe her make up her mind accordingly.
Poor Julie de Provus had like her mother,
given too much way 10 hope and expectation !;
all the best feelings of young and afeclionate
heart had been engaged by Philip de Merille,
and, hopeless despair taking possession Of her
began TO withcr the rose upon her cheek, and
dim the brightness Of her eye with tears
Moreover, her fathers high Indignation was
moved, because he found that she could not
cast away her affection aud her hopes with the
same Indifference that he would cast away a
faded bouquet from his button hole and when
1t was discovered, moreover, that the lover still
fingered in the neig hborbood of her hs loved.
Monsieur de Proyips became ten times moro
angry with his daughter and sent her off, rs
We have seen, with but scsniy attendance, TO
the place OF hsr long and hopeless exile.
To return TO the little inn. howeyer-Julie
had been sitting in solitude, pondering over her
fate, while the horses were fed f; and the old
servant found her with the refreshment which
had been provided for her untssied before her.
There we're the traces of tears, too IN her eyes,
and. she was much loved by the few ser
wants Of her fathers household, tho old man
endeaSoTed to give her such consolation As her
situation Afforded crying up the comlsris and
.ublIniies Of convenru3l life in words which
fell very Cat and duh upon the ear Of poor Julie
dc ProTIDs.
While he was pressing her to cat, which to
some persoBs is the highest Of all qualifications.
and Was esteemed as such by hun figure was
seen to pass acrsss the windows Of the inn. aud
sn elderly gentleman IN dusty riding suit,
with large Wig and hat well powdered with
dust, dismounied from las horse, entered tb.
ian. looked 10 at the door of the room, IN which
Julie wassisnJing aud then passed on IN search
Of lhe landlord ur landlady- part Of the furpi.
ture Of French inn not sl~sys easy TO be
found Julie refused to eat, bot as she heard
the new conner talking With the lsndlsdy. and
-. t.t'.y siyin. . Ii.,oYv 9th note. ,,d obssr.