Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-08-07

greys, successfully astonishcd them. II
amused myself with their surprise for a few
hours, and at last undeceivcd them. They
praised the ability which, they said, l had
shown. No; l had merely turned circum-
stances TO account.
had another visit about this time from
NJ. Felix, an old friend of mine. lie was in |
moderate circumstances, and had known me |
from childhood. III paid you no visit, my
dear Jean, said he, "whilc | believed that a |
golden shower had fallen upon you. But
call upon you now, to say that it is time this
farce were put 70 an end. Wherever 90,
hear it whispered that you have lost your
senses, or are willingly lending yourself to a
monstrous cheat. What every one says
might have believed; but poor Louisc--you
she is certain your principles are not cor
rupted, and that if the whole matter be
cheat, as indeed it seems to be, you are more
deceived than deceiving. Give over this
matter monchcr Jean. If you want money
to settle yourself in the world in an honest
way, will lend you what can spare, and in
few years you can retrieve your character
as an honest man."
"And dear Louise does not believe any ill
of me ~
"No, indeed" said M. Felix. "At first,
when we heard that you had become rich,
she wept bitterly, and said, "Thcn we shall
sec no more of M. IIcrvicn he will forget his
old friends. But when she heard, as every
one has heard, that you we're not rich, she re-
covered her spirits and said: ave shall have
Jean with us again, when he is poor, he will
be certain to come back and visit us as he used
TO do" dom, think should have called
on YOU to-day, mon pauvre enfant, if Louise
had not desired me. She babe me tell you
that, hear what she may, she never will be-
lieve Jean IIcrvien, whom she has known
since they we're children together, could do
an act of dishonor."
did not regret the aspersions upon my
character, since they were the cause of show
ing me that Ihad one sincere friend at least
One of the uses of adversely is to try and
prove regard. 1t was due to II. Felix that J
should undcceive him as to the real state OF
the question. He was much surprised, as
well he might be. "Louise will be so happy
said he, "for she insisted that you were SLAM
dered. But hope that Monsieur Hcrvicu
will not forget us because he is rich, after ALL
My dear FRIEND" said 1, "you must still
call me your "pauvre JEAN" as you used to
do when you heapcd kindness after kindness
on the orphan, and it will go hard with me il
do not convince Louise before long that
she is not one whom Tam likely to forget"
A few days after this visit from NJ. Felix
the bubble burst. No one knew what to
make of the whole story. The very exis.
tence of Jacques Hervicu became doubted
the old scamen who had seen him embark
> at Marscilles declared it was somebody else
Some people thought me crazy. NJ. Bonnie
said, "a splendid hoax! it cost me fttcer
thousand francs" AT length the storm
burst; my creditors came in body to dun
me. Charles Bcrget, (whom had mad,
my steward,) paid all their accounts, ant
> then gave them a splendid entertainments
Public opinion vecred round in my favor
Jacques Hervieu has not yet appeared, ant
people remained undecided whether Ireall,
obtained the Martinique wealth, or merely
turned the chapter of accidents to account
The only man in Lyons who does know, il
J, Louis Boyer, to whom I lent lew thousant
franc, with which he has Joined a CONNER
> cial firm, and will, probably, make fortune
hot quitea rapidly as 1 did.
I. This is my story, Monsieur. l take m,
place in society as man of forty thousant
annual income, and people call me Million
airc. am wealthy, simply because people
would have it that was rich-though pro-
tested was not until became so.
i have no more to say. Let us drink tc
) the memory of Jacques lIcrvicu
ut is strange story said |, 'and it is ;
pity that, to give an air of romance to Il mar.
. rative which is literally crowded with francs
bankers accounts, investments and spccula
) tons, it does not wind up-as all true tale.
do-with love and MARRIAGE
"Precisely So" said IIcrvicu; "and there.
fore. let it not surprise you if in fortnight
from this very day, you receive an invitation
to attend ceremony which, while it vii
change the beautiful Louise into Madame
tlcrvieu, will still leave her Fclix--n every
thing but name ~