Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-04-25


A light knock at the door interrupted the
conversation /: Anna cast a look of inquie-
tude at her mother, for since the loss of their
fortunes no visit had broken their solitude.
Go and open it, said the lady. With a
smile she obcyed, and the opened door gave
emit to IA man, whom she Immediately
recognized as the stranger who had assisted
the poor old sufferer.
The countenance of Madamoisclle Revival
at once assumed a grave and severe express
sion.-ller mother perceived the change,
but before she could make an inquiry into
The cause, the stranger advanced and salu-
ting her with respect. said, Madame, you
are, | presume, the mother of this young
avg
Madame Revival made a sign Of assent,
and pointed out a chair to the stranger. He
took it, and continued, 'chance this NOR
nlng brought Madamoisclle and M self to-
gelher in aflording assistance to an unhap-
Ply
oh MOTHER interrupted the young
girl, whose neck and face was covered with
bushes at this ~allusion to the mornings adj
venture, Il have not had time to tell you
about it.. Do you remember the poor old
man who generally took up his station at the
door of our hotel formerly He always
wore "A green bandage over his eyes, to cons
ceal his face from the passers.by, and held a
snail basket of matches in his hand
YES interrupted Madame Revival in her
turn,''I remember him well ; your father
always dropped some money into the basket
when returning from the Boursc. You al
ways used to call him your pear old man ;
and you, as little as you were, delighted in
giving him every thing you could scrape to-
geiher.'
well, since our departure from the hotel,
we have asked each other a hundred times
what could have become of him.
Yes said Madam Revival, with evident
interest.
sWell, mother, | found him to-day, AT
last, bat in such IA wretched safe that was
really shocked. Stretched on the snow,
diving, absolutely, of cold and hunger; and,
without the kind assistance of tins gentle.
man, he must have persisted where he lay
Say rather without YOURS said the young
man earnestly. Il could do nothing for
had lost nv purse. TO YOU, and you alone,
is he indebted for life But continued he
in a different tone, seeing the color again
mounting to Annals face, lit is not for the
purpose ofdlsclosing to this lady the secre
of your good actions, that | have followed
YOU here; it is to request you to take the Irou
bic of buving a bed and some other little
ncccssalies for this poor child of misfortune
Here are IA hundred francs that you will hav'
the Kindness to employ iorthis purpose.
nrav Won to believe that if | was not "A stran
ger az Paris, aad on the point of quitting i
this VERY evening" would not take the libert,
with persons to whom | am unknown.
trust that you will excuse my request
There is no necessity to offer an apolo
gv,' said Nadine R-vial, 'on the contrary
we ought to thank you for having selected u
to complete "A benevolent action
Now, Madame,' added the young mar il
a hesita,ing and ,imId manner, 1T only re
mains for me to inquire the name of m.
young sister in this work of Kindness
Madamoiselle Anna Revival
A cry of establishment broke from tn,
stranger-'The daughter of NJ. Revival O
Bordeaux, who lost his fortune by %trustin,
in a friend, and died of grief!'
ALAS YOU have but too truly stated tn
case. How does il happen that you are &C
auaintad with these factsT
am Jules Barsac,' said the young maj
in a voice scarcely audible.
Anna grew pale, and went and place.
$ herself near her mothers seat. A mourniu
silence succeeeed for "A short time, and il wa
r Jules who broke it.
sOh Madam said he, suddenly rising, {
perceive that | yesterday sent you my re
? nnncia,ion of life of happiness. This let
: ter he repeated, as he slightly touched
3 with the finger Of his right hand with "A loo
y Of disgus,-'permit me to destroy it, and I
! forget that it was ever written Lookin
e from one lady to the other and seeing n
sign of opposition, he tore it down the mid
die, and threw the portions into the fir,
r He watched them until the flame had Sc ize
u on every part; and then, as if content lh'
o il was wholly and irrevocably destroyed, h
n approached Madame Revival. and bent h
y knee before her, as he regarded alrernalel
o with the utmost satisfaction, her dauehte
and him whom she would have chosen f
her SON in. law, if the choice had been n ht
power.-'Or if the memory of this unhap
letter connoi altogether pass away, and if
n must still remain in your rcmemberanc
think only ofthe words, which say, If 20,
: daughter and myself had been acquainted
We are acquainted, and know each olht
10 already as if we had never been apart.
3 Just now called Mndamoiselle by the nan
of sister; let me call her by another nam'
no less kind, but more sacred-that of wifi
| have no fortune to offer her, but | feel an
mated by double courage and hope. F.
her--for you, Madame, who will never gu
. US, | will work with energy and delermina
e ton, and | feel that | shall succeed in m
efors. Oh, Madame, deign to answer me
4" Blu, you weep-you give me your hand --yc
consent to my request
ST Aud you, Anna, what do you say 2 aske
Madame Revival, as she held Out the other
y her daughter.
'llave | ever any other will than your
dear molher!' and she pressed the hand
her lips.
a You, consent. then, Madamoiselle 7 saI
Jules 'then you will allow me to preseI
you this ring as a mark OF our engagement,
lie handed her a little ring set round Wi
e turquoises.
r 1T is Annals ring ! said Madame Revia
10 with surprise.
I. Yes, MOTHER said Anna, quite confuse,
e, Il was obliged to sell il to replace the none
re | had received for my embroidery
he III was in purchasing i, that | discovers