Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-12-02

greatest difficulty that the rogues could
restrain their laughter, when my wife, al
ter giving them her orders, in careless
and naughty tone, turned 10 me, and with
the utmost Difference asked me the names
Of my different chateaux, the extent of
my domains in Dauphiny, and what were
my rights Of chase and fishery thereon !;
and spoke with complacency OF the riches
Of my mines, which in her Imagination
equalled those OF Peru. While convers.
ing upon these subjects we approached
Montelimart, and turned off into the mar
row, crooked lane. which led to the poor
little hamlet in which my iather lived.
Tho awful moment AT length arrived ;
for, after painful drive of three hours,
over an humble road, our coachman sad.
denly drew up before miserable cabin,
at the door OF which sat venerable old
man, clad in the cnarsest garb OF poverty.
This was my father Believe me, my
dear friend, words are madt quste TO de.
scribe the scene which then ensued. On
one side stood the pale and trembling Pc
rou.rou on the other, the asionished Au.
rora, surrounded by the six insolent young
men, who handed her with mock ceremo.
ny to an old broken chair, amid bursts OF
Insulting laughter, and sarcastic remarks,
best calculated TO express their revenge,
and complete her humiliation. The pre-.
tended coachman, throwing aside his wig
and black patch, stepped up to Aurora,
and with an air Of insolent triumph, and
in tone of derision, said 10 her:
No, madam, you were not indeed
born to become the wife of an engrayer |;
such match would have been too great
an honor for your birth, your fortune,
and your choice poor bellows-mendef
alone could obtain your hand. Behold
the man your discrimination and your
pride have chosen for husband !"
rushed forward TO interrupt him, but
in an instant he mounted his box, the
others threw themselves into the carriage,
and with burst Of merrment and tri.
umph the whole party drove off, and left
us TO ourselves.
knew that the denouement mist be
terrible but | never imagined that it
would be carried to such an extent; for
in pointing out to me the part was to
perform, the engravers we're careful to
hide from me the cruel insults they in
tended to inflict upon my poor wife and
felt like the spectator of play, who, al.
ter dwelling with delight uron some scene
Of enchanment, beholds the curtain fall,
and the whole charm is destroyed in an
instant. | seemed to have awakened
from dream Of rapture to all the stern
realities OF life. My unfortunate Aurora
had suffered but little Of the painful scene;
for, long before the engraver ceased to
speak, she became unconscious OF every
thing around her, and they left her in a
deep swoon.
You may imagine my state Of despair
and az ny, when you consider, that the
new kind of life had led for the last
year and the pains which had been be-
slowed upon the cultivation Of my mind,
had drawn forth new tastes, and suscepti-
bility OF feeling, with which nature had
endowed me, but of the extent Of which
was unconscious until now. Alas when
beheld her whom adored, lying at my
feet like one dead, | shuddered at the
thought of losing her forever, although |
almost equally dreaded the moment which
should restore her to the consciousness Of
her unhappy fate; and while ceased not
to apply every remedy my anxiety could
suggest. almost hoped my Efforts might
be without success. 1t seemed, indeed,
for some time, as if my half-formed wishes
were to be fulfilled, so long was il before
Aurora returned to her senses. A length
her eyes Enclosed and met mine gazing
upon her with intense anxiety. She
and uttered the word "mon-
ster %: sank again into state Of insensi
bility. took advantage Of this RELAPSE,
to dispense the crowd which had collected
around us, and carrying her into the hut,
placed her upon my poor old fathers
wretched pallet, which kind neighbor
had covered with some fresh straw.
then begged we might be left alone, not
wishing there should be any witnesses to
the cruel confession had to make.
When entirely alone, took Aurora in
my arms pressed her to my bosom ]
bathed her cold cheeks with my scalding
tears. At length, she opened her eyes.
and fixed them upon me with look that
made me tremble. The first words she
uttered, were to beg me to leave her a.
lone, under the pretex. that We both so
much needed repose, and 10 defer until the
next day, the details of the dishonorable
plot Of which she had discovered herself
to be the victim. yielded TO her wishes
and retired, leaving her in the care OF the
curate's niece, whose afIectionate atten-
ton she appeared to receive with plea
sure.
Dreadful indeed were the sutferings Of
that terrible night. was suddenly
from a situation Of elegance
and luxury, TO q miserable hovel, and al
most destitute of resources, for had but
a few louis left, and my wife, my beauti-
iul Aurora, in the spring-time OF her life,
accustomed to every indulgence, and all
the delights of a society Of which she had
formed one Of the brightest ornaments,
was at once, by an Infamous deception, re-
duced to state of the EXTREMIST poverty.
and forced to share the wretched cabin OF
a poor old man; and with me, the chief
instrument Of her misfortunes, the wretch
ed accomplish in all the atrocities from
which she suffered. Alas! wha. could
now do /? How hope TO soften her wound.
= ri;nr,9 Nv fervenf attachment