The Southern journal., 1846-07-25

Meivll was fascinated. when, the
marriage was settled, when the future
spouse was before the notary, his as
tonishment redoubled. They declar.
ed his property to be over a million.
He owned property according to the
contract, farm in Normandy, house
in Paris, in the street Saint Honore,
and other real estate which he had
never before heard mentioned. She
had farms in Wales and pastures in
Devonshire. All was for Frederic
golden dream, and he longed 10 awake
from it. The mayor and curate came
to sanction this union; but neither the
marriage solemnItv nor the law was
able to dispel all his doubts, and he
did not leave his wife's feet, but gras-
ped in his hand the embroidered mus
lin of her night dress, through fear
that the dream would vanish.
"Rise, Frederic" said his wife a.
gain, ''come to this armed chair Of
mine, and let US converse. -"
The young man at last obeyed. tho
yet unwilling 10 release his hold Of his
wfe's hand, and Madame de la Tour
commenced as follows:
"There was once on a time
"There," said Frederic, $50 | was
not deceived. 1t is in truth a fairy
tale"
"Listen to me-, my friend. There
was once on time Il young girl, born
of parents who had formerly been
wealthy, but who when fifteen years
Of age, had to subsist upon tie indus
try of her father. They resided at
Lyons, but some hope of better for
tune brought them to Paris. Nothing
is so difficult as to recover a lost for.
tune, or to regain lost rank. This
young girls father found it so; for four
years he struggled with misery, with
out being able to vanquish it, and at
last died in an Hospital.
The mother soon followed the hus-
band, and the young girl was left a.
lone in an attic, for which the rent was
unpaid. Its only furniture was two
beds. lfthere were fairy in the
tale which | am relating, this is Ger.
tainIy the moment when she would
appear; but there is none in it. The
young girl remained at Paris, without
parents, without friends, without pro-
tectors, without aid, having incurred
at Lyons debts which she was unable
to pay, and in vain seeking for labor,
the wealth of the poor. Vice it is
true, stretched out its arms to her, but
there are pure souls which pass by
vice without suffering themselves to
be sullied by its breath.
Meanwhile life was necessary: the
hunger of the day redoubled at night,
and the misery of the night was ad.
ded to second day passing without
food y You rise from a table
groaning under its weight of dainties,
where wine, too abounds 10 safety,
and although it is but since yesterday,
Frederic, that you are rich, you have
no idea of the misery l speak OF, and
you wonder that, in the midst of the
luxuries which surround you, upon this
armchair of gold and silk, where
am sitting. l can paint 10 you such
a picture; but listen to me farther.
Hunger compelled this young girl to
beg. She covered her head with her
mothers veil, the only heritage she re,
ceived; she inclined her body to imi-
tate age, and went down into the
street. There she held out her hand :.
Alas! that hand was fair aud white
and there was danger in showing it;
that hand was then wrapped by the
young girl in the thick cloth Of the
veil, as if it had been eaten by hid
eous leprosy.
The poor child took her station a
gainst post not far frem the lamp,
and when young girl OF wealthy ap.