Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-02-28
Husband I'm a Hat.

The following story, the incidents related
% which took place before the French Revo-
,.,;or. is from the columns Of the N. Y. Ame-
iran. A French tale is always Pquant and
stirring, whether witty or wise, and we doubt
-, that the very title of this one will secure
;,s beng read for amusement:-
uThe Marquis Of Coutinge was still living
-. charming rOue Of the Regency of Louis
yV-who had supped with Voltaire, lived
,nib Sophy, Amould, and fought a duel with
Richelieu; universal man. The Marquis
,ras not old-forty-6ve only; but his life of
settlement had burnt like wax candles carried
.bout and which are rapidly consumed by
constant movement. He was complete man,
for whom nothing further could be made-but
husband or some other magnificent thing.
"Coutinge was rich-well, that at the court
rassed for clever, for he had for five years had
man Of letters for his secretary, and so aduIa-
ton everywhere awaited him. All marriage
able damse!s experienced tender emotions at
his appearance; the mothers praised; the ia
Tiers, brothers, uncleS were charmed with him.
Ofthe cousins only did he seem the personal
enemy.
"Coutnge understood all this perfectly;
and he had for some time been thinking Of
settIing down. In the midst of festivities and
enioyments, infrmities were overtakng him
-eleuant and perfumed infi1mities which he
riil concealed under black velvet-but which
admonished him of the need he would have of
ne tender care of wife. The difficulty was
n the choice. The Marquis knew the world
.vsU enough to understand that a young per-
ann uho uarrics an old man, only marries d
II fl1nE no Enn
The choice was determined by the fortune and
the marriage outfit, and the husband IS mere
ly included as surpi"sage-an inevitable IN
convenience. He thought Of all this. and Of,
ten scratched his head, and was lost in refec
tiou. But time passed. Delay but increased
the dificulty-for the security OF the husband
Is precisely in the reverse ratio Of his years.
"At last the Marquis came to his resolution
Il was to leave the matter to chance. Chance
had often favored him; at any rate there was
originality in the scheme. He went to bril-
liant party al the Princess de Lanhale's. AL
that was beautiful and noble was there assem-
bled; NJ. de Coutinge was announced. HI
entered graVeIy-his eyes upEifted-hls swort
pointed upwards-in short. with an air of lie
kahn in Ores,eS. A general burst Of Iaughte
aatuted him. Nothing Disconnected, he said
Il come, ladies, to consult Destiny. Herein
are an existence and the heart Of a man. ant
he partially opened his folded hat, which wa
allied with tickets. Herein are an income o
100000 francs End a dowry; but single on
of these tickets is marked, and it is to be tn
winner; approach, ladies, and draw
The young persons entering into the jok
and unsuspiciouS Of the nature Of the lottery
surrounded him and each drew a ticket. Tn
marked one was drawn by MademoiseIle d
MereDoix, handsome brunette of twenty
FIVE.
"Mademoiselle," said the Marquis seri
ousy, 'what you have won is husband.
put myself and my fortune into this hat; &C
cept the one and the other, for both belong t.
you
AT ftst there was laughing, but it was see1
the thing was in earnest; and Mademoiselle
who vas not rich and had not sighed for SOM
time, swooned with delight.
"''Three years afterwards, the Marquis wa
an emigrant in Germany, and his wife was il
England"