The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-05-25
(For the Cecil Whig.)


"THE BETROTHED"-Fo on fact.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
BY z. RUDOLPH.
at was in the month of April, 1915,
some political events came to change in
France the form of government, and to
replace upon the throne the exile Of the
island Of EIba. Everything presaged
certain and unhappy war; but The French,
blinded by the love of glory, or rather
lead away by that martial arGour SO suit
ed to the nation, forgot the danger, and
ran to arms: they saw only their chief,
and believed HIM already the arb,er of
that continent which single reverse had
ravished from him.
was party to one of those corps Of
infantry carried upon the frontiers oil Bel
GUM, Immediately after the return of Ma
polean. The regiment in which served
took up It's cantonlngs in the neighbour
hood Of Bouchain; and the company that
commanded occupied very picturesque
village, situated in the midst of fertile
meadows, upon the banks of the Escanl
Lodged among brave men. very soon
became the friend of them. My host
without being iavoured with the gifts Of
fortune, enjoyed an honest ease, and last
ed happiness along with wife and three
children, whom he cherished and by
whom he was cherished.
Ordinarily | passed my days with my
companions in arms; but at night-iaIl, re-
united in the society ofmy hosts, and all
ranged around the domestic hearth, we
cheated the length of the evenings by
scngs of war or Of love, or much by the
recital of some simple or mourniul hslo-
ry.
Two months were thus passed away,
Perraull and Florian, and the old legends
and popular traditions had all in turn
charmed, affected, allrighled my good vii
layers. Each one of US had taxed his
memory. and all, with the exception of "a
single old man, had brought our reck on-
ing to the pleasures OF the rendezvous. |
was astonlshed at the sileGce of the old
man, aud still more, because no one SEEM
ed to be so bold as to engage him in our
conversalIo on. His venerable air, grew
hairs and lime-whtened beard. the re-
CARDS, The respect that people testified to
At length banishing the timidiiy that his
aspect inspired me with, and desiring to
hear the new narrator, addressed him
thus:-"Venerable old man." said | to
him, syou, who seem to have taken plea
sure III our conversations, will not you
deign also, by single recital, to satisfy
our deslresP'-A tear came TO wet his
eyeIid, and taking me by the hand he
said,-"Y our request is just; ought to
participate in the contributions of these
agreeable evenings;"-and without any
further preliminary, he commenced thus
his sad history
ernest was born in Marques, a little
village tina, you behold from Paris, on the
Cambray road. His birth was stamped
with wo, and carried mourning into his
family. His mother died in giving life TO
him: at the age of twenty four, she bore
10 tie tomb the affection of husband;
the esteem and regrets Of all those who
had known her.
The interest Of his son engaged the
ldtuCi vi LinCst NV w Coilu dCt ScCouU
marriage. Ernest made his studies at
Cambray, and at the age Of seventeen
he returned to the home OF father who
adored him, with the necessary mental
requirements, not to shine, but to be able
TO appear in the world
A friend of Ernest's father dwelt also
at the little village of Marques A watch
full and sweet wife rendered him happy
Julia and Cecilia were the only fruits of
this union. Idols of their parents, they
meriled by their good nature all the al-
feclion that these bore to them Cecilia
was the elder; she renamed by the side
of the mother, whilst Julia, afar of, after
six years from the paternal mansion, re-
ceiyed near one of her aunls, in the bo-
som even of Paris, more elaborate edu-
cation.
Julia came to attain her sixteenth SPRING
time; her parents recalled her home. She
arrived in Marques, and soon as this event
was known to Ernest, he felt eager to 60
10 see again the friend of his infancy. lie
was already, after some lime, before her,
1.-The events of this narrative are founded upon
fact which happened ina village of French Elan
ders few years before the Revolution