Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-08-12
A Tale for the Chimney Corner,

they had bidden temporary farewell To
the friends who were present Ut the cer-
epony. For a short time, while their
equipage was preparing, they found
themselves alone.
The newly welded husband took one
of his brides hands IN his own. "Allow
ne", said he, "thus 10 hold your hand,
for drepd lest yGu should Quit nr, !
tremble lest tins should he Nh illusion. ~
II seems 10 me that am the hero OF on.
Of those fairy tales which amused my
boyhood, and which in The hour of hap
ppess, some malignant fairy slept ever
~ to throw the victim into griei aud d"s
pair"
"I.c-nssure yourself, ny jonr Freder-
c." said lhe lady-"I was yesterday the
widow of Sir James Melton, and o.dny
| am Madame de Ia Tour, your wife
Banish from your mind The idea OF The
fairy. This is not hciion but history"
Frederic de In Tour had indeed sono
reason to suppose lha, his fortunes were
the work OF a iairy's wand; for, in the
course ol one or two short months, NY u
seemingly inexplIcable freak Of fortune.
he huC been raised 10 happiness and
wealth hevoDd his desires. A tfiendl"ss
orphan, twenty five years old he had
been the holder of clcrkship which
brought him II scanly livelihood, when
one day, as he passed ihe hue st. Ho'
more a rich cquIpngo stopped suddenly
before him, and Young anG elegant
woman called from It 10 hun.
"Nlonsieur," "MonsIeur,o o,snid sho. -
At the same time, on s,gnni given, ih"
iooiman leaped down, opeued the car
riage door, and invited Frederic to enler,
lie did SO, though with some hesitation
and surprise, and the carriage started ID
at iull speed.
81 have received your nnte, SIR" said
the lady 10 NJ de la Tour, in n very solt
and sweet voice, land in spite of your re-
lusal, hope yet TO see you TO morrow
evening at my party"
"To see me Madame" cried Frod.
eric.
yes, sir, you-Ah thousand
parduns," continued she, with All air nj
confusion. {" see my mistake. FOR,
give me, sr-you are 50 like n particular
mei Yet the resemblance is so striking
that it would have deceived any one"
OF course, Frederic replied politely To
these apologies. Just as they were ter
minated, the carriage slapped at The
door OF splendid mansion, and thr young
man could do no less than offer his arm
to Lady Melton, rs the iair stranger
announced herseltto be. Though Eng-
lish in name, tho lady, nevertheless, WAS
of French origin. Her extreme beauty
charmed Nj. dc la Tour, and he con-
graduated h,nstlf upon the happy arci,
dent which had gained him such an ac-
quaintance. Lady Melton loaded him
with ciyllillcs, and he received and ac-
copted an invitation for the party spoken
of. Invitations TO other parties followed;
and, to be biief the young man soon
found himself an established vistant al
the house OF Lady Melton. She, n rich
and youthful widow, was "nclrcled by
admirers. One by one, however, they
disappeared, giving way TO The poor
clerk, who seemed to epgross the lady's
whole thoughts. Finally, almost by her
own asking they were bpto,hed. Fred
eric used to look something's nj The liule
glass which hung in his humble lodgings,
and wonder 10 what circumstances he
owed his happy fortune. lie was nai
i'll looking, certainly, but he had not ihe
vanity 10 think his appearance was mag.
nhhccnl and his plain and scanty ward.
robe prevented him from giving the credll
10 his tailor. lie used TO conrujr his
medllalions by the reflection that assured.
~ the !nyely widow vas fulfilling son,n
unavoidable award Of destiny. As for
his own feelings the lady was lovely,
young, rich, accomplished, aud noted
Tor her sensIbilty and virtue - could he
hesitate?
When the marriage contract wss
signed, his astonishmeni wns redoubled,
for he found hImselt, through the la(v'a
love, the virtual possessor oi large prom.
erty, both IN Eng land and Francn. Thc
presence ut friends had certified and
sanctioned the Union, vet, os has becp
stated, Frederic tell some slrangr lears,
~ spite of hnnself, lest all should praye
an illusion, aud he grasped his hndc'-
hand, ss ITO prevent her from semg
spirited away from his view.
. "Ny dear Frederic" said the lndv
snlimgly, "sit down beside me, and lei,
nc say something to yop,"
The young husband obeyrd, bu, did
not quit hct hand. She began-"O
! on tme"-Frederic started, AID
half seriously exclaimed; "Heavens j
is a fairy tale ~ Listen Ia pe, lpvlish
boy," resumed the lady. "There wae
once . girl, the daue liter of parents w II
| born, aud ai one tine rich, but who dp-
! cl,ned sadly ~ circumstances. Until heF
fifteenth year the Ian,ly lived ~ Lyons,
depending cu,lrcly Tor subsistence upoi
the labor "i her father. Sumo better
hopre sptapc up, ond induced them 'p
coinr 10 Pails- hut II II difficult 10 stop
~ The descent dawn the path "f n'slor-
tune. For three years the lnther sirug-
glod hard against pove,iy, but Of last
dird ~ hospital
II The mother soon followed-aDd tho
young girI was l.ft alone, the occupant
ofn garrpi of which the rept wns not
j mud ihsto Wefa amy fairy connected