The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-17

who brought the Spanish succours TO King
Charles my brother, and returned with great
honor and additional reputation. This meeting,
so honorable TO me, and so much TO my satisfac-
ton, was damped by the grief and concern oc-
casioned by the loss of Mademoiselle de Tour
non, whose story being Of a singular nature
shall now relate 10 you, agreeable to the promise
made in my last letter
Madam de Tournon, lady Of my bed-chamber,
had several daughters, the eldest of whom mar
RED Mons. de Balenson, governor for the King
OF Spain, in the county Of Burgundy. This
daughter, upon her marriage, had solicited her
mother TO admit of her taking her sister, the
young lady whose story am now about TO re-
late, TO live with her, as she was going to a coun
try strange 10 her, and wherein she had no rela-
lions. To this her mother consented and the
young lady being universally admired for her
modesty and graceful accomplishments, for
which she certainly deserved admiration, at
uacted the notice Of the Marquis de Varenbon.
The Marquis was the brother of M. de Balenson
and was intended for the church but being
violently enamoured Of Mademolselle de Tour
non (whom, as helived in the same house, he had
frequent opportunities Of seeing, he now begged
his brothers. permission to marry, not having
yet taken orders. The young ladys family, to
whom he had likewise communicated his wish,
readily gave their consent, but his brother re-
fused his, strongly. advising him to change his
resolution, and put on the gown.
Thus were matters situated, when her mother,
Madame de Tournon, thinking she had cause to
be offended, ordered her daughter to leave the
house of her sister, Madam de Balenson, and
come to her. The mother, woman of violent
spirit, not considering that her daughter was
grown up, and merted mild treatment, was
continually scolding the poor young lady, so that
she was forever with tears in her eyes. Still
there was nothing TO blame in the young lady IS
conduct; but such was the severity of the mo-
theirs disposition, the daughter, as you may well
suppose, wished to be from under the mothers
tyranncal government and was accordingly de-
lighted with the thoughts of attending me, in the
Journey TO Flanders, hoping, as il happened that
where on the road, and that as he had now
abandoned all thoughts Of the church, he would
renew his proposal Of marriage, and take her
| from her mother.
| have before mentioned that the Marquis de
Varenbon, and the younger Balenson, joined us
at Namur. Young Balenson, who was far from
being SO agreeable as his brother, addressed him
self to the young lady, but the Marquis, during
the whole tine we staid at Namur, paid not the
least attention to her, and seemed as if he had
| never been acquainted with her.
| The resentment, grief and disappointment
occasioned by behavior SO sighting and unna
tural, was necessarily stfed in her breast, as de
4 corum and her sex's pride obliged her to appear
az - cha disregarded it I; but when, after taking
,eaVe' an OF them left the boat, the anguish Of
her mind, which she had hitherto suppressed
/ could no longer be restrained and laborinp fo
vent, it stopped her respiration, and forced from
her those lamentable outcries which ] have al
ready spoken Of Her youth combated for egh
| days with this uncommon disorder, but at the ex
piration of that time she died. to the great grie
of her mother, as well as myself; say of hel
mother, for though she was so rigidly severe
over her daughter, she tenderly loved her.
| The funeral of this unfortunate young lady
was solemnized With all proper ceremonies, and
conducted in the most honorable manner as she
was descended from great family allied to
the queen my mother. When the day Of inter.
ment arrived, four Of my gentlemen were APP
pointed bearers, one Of whom was named La
Boessiere. This man had entertained a secret
passion for her, which he never burst declare, on
account of the inferiority of his family and sta
ton. He was now destined to bear the remains
of her, dead, for whom he had long been dying,
and was now as near dying for her loss as he
had before been for her love.
The melancholy procession was marching
slowly along, when it was met by the Marquis
d Varenbon, who had been the sole occasion
of it. We had not left Namur long, when the
Marquis reflected upon his cruel behavior towards
the unhappy young lady and his passion (won-
derful to relateD being revived by the absence
of her who inspired it, though scarcely alive
while she was present, he had resolved to come
and ask her OF her mother in marriage. He
made no doubt perhaps of success, as he seldom
failed in enterprises Of love, witness the great
lady he has since obtained for wife in opposi-
ton to the will of her family. He might besides
have hattered himself that he should easily have
gained pardon from her by whom he was be-
loved, according TO the Italian proverb che la
fOrza d'dmOre non Tfgudrdd al deHtto,-
!" Lovers are not criminal in the estimation of
one another" Accordingly, the Marquis solicit
ted Don John TO be despatched to me on some
Grand and arrived, as said before, at the very
instant the corpse of this illfated young lady
was bearing to the grave. He was stopped by
the crowd occasioned by this solemn procession.
He contempates it for some time. He observes
lon train of persons in mou ming and remarks
the coffin to be covered with a white pail and
that there are chaplets of flowers laid upon the
coffin. He inquiries whose funeral il is The
answer he receives is, that it is the funeral of
young lady. Unfortunately for him this reply
fails to satisfy his curiosity. He makes up to
one who led the procession, and eagerly asks
the name Of the young lady they are proceeding
to bury. When oh fatal answer Love, will
ling to revenge the victim of his ingratitude and
neglect, suggests a reply which had nearly de-
prived him of life He no sooner heard the
name of Mademoiselle de Tournon pronounced
than he fell from his horse in a swoon. He is
taken up for dead and conveyed to the nearest
house, where he lay, for time, insensibe his
soul, no doubt, leaving his body to obtain pardon
from her whom he had fastened to apremature
grave, and then TO return TO taste the bitterness
of death second time.
Having performed the last offices to the re-
mains Of this poor young lady, was unwilling
to discompose the gaiety of the society assem-
bled here, on my account, by any show of grief.
Accordingly, ! joined the bishop, or, as he is
called, his grace, and his cannons in their enter
tainments at different houses, or in gardens, of
which the city and its neighborhood afforded a
variety. ! was every morning attended by a
numerous company to the garden. in which | |