Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-09-25
LOVE BEFORE FIRST SIGHT.
BY EDGAR WAYNE.
CHAPTER I.

indicated frankness, spirit, good sense and
generosity, and his character supported
this promise of his face. If an anecdote
was related of some act of benevolence,
the door of which closed to maintain con-
cealment it was at once imputed TO Claim
vile. If an improbable story was told,
and, the hearer expressed doubt, the mar
rator had only to say "but had it of Claim
vile" TO procure immediate credence. He
enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him.
and with very moderate fortune, relieved
the necessities of the poor on the one hand,
and found his society courted by the rich
and powerful on the other
Near Granville resided Madame de
Mazeres. She dwet in retirement, having
passed her eighteth year, and supported
with virtuous resignation the inconvenien-
ces of age and of poverty. She lost, by
the Revolution, splendid fortune, and a
brilliant position in society; but she met
with bereavement at the same time, which
was immeasurably more affective than any
pecuniary reverse, or any ostracism from
fashionable position could be. Her only
daughter married to one of the prescribed
noblesse--the Comte de Verlac-hed into
Punishment with her husband, leaving their
only child, Sophie, at the age Of three
years, in the charge of her grand. mother.
The end of marriage which took place
under the happest auspices was the death
of husband and wife, away from the land
of their birth, and the recipients of the
scanty charity of strangers.
Madame de Mazieres, charged with the
precious trust delighted to trace in the lin.
eaments of the child the beauty of the
only daughter whom she had so fondly
loved. Through her infancy she was
most devoted parent to the orphan, but her
own advancing age had at length taught
her that she was no longer competent to
guide the education of the charming child
in whom all her hopes, and all her affec-
tons were centred. The parting cost
child and guardian infinite pain, but con-
WINGED that the best good of both deman.
ded separation, Madame de Mazieres en-.
trusted the orphan to the guardianship of
a tried friend, whose position and charac.
ter made the charge most eligible for So
phie; and the orphan girl was taken to Paris,
for the benefit of that metropolitan educa-
ton without which no French woman is
parfoite.
Poor Madame de Mazieres! She had
thus with commendable selfdenial robbed
herself of that which might have made her
house delightful, and her solitude agreeable.
Her souvenirs were gloomy companions
for if she had some memories Of pleasure.
there were enough of grief TO etface them
all. Still Granville was her consl ant visitor,
Why' you will ask What could young
man seek there? He sought what Claim
vile sought always and everywhere, the
luxury of consoling the unfortunate. He
T sought to convince madame that the whole
world had forgotten her, and there were
still in it, good and generous souls, who
vrtuous unfortunate fit companions.
The natural pursuits and cheerful engage.
ments of vivacious youth had prevented
Clainvie from paying his accustomed al.
tentions to Madame de Mazieres for more
than week. Ashamed of his negligence,
he made haste to repair it. He found his
aged friend absorbed in deep and evidently
painful thought, but she awoke with a smile
, from her reverie at his appearance. and
playfully reproached him with his long alb.
scence. But" she added, cheerfully, 1--WE
old women cannot pardon young people
, who forget u.s. and must receive the mo-
| ments they give US, without rigidly count
ing what we get, or exacting more
MADAME" said Granville, 81 assure you
, that have never forgotten you--l-"
81 readily believe you" interrupted the
old lady. "The goodness of M. de Claim
ville's heart would never permit him to for
, get the unfortunate"
| As she spoke, in spite Of her assumed
gaiety tear escaped her eyelids Claim,
vile regarded her few moments in si-
lence, and then tenderly enquired, chow is
this madamel has any new calamity over
r taken you?"
! mo, monsieur"
3 "And why then, these tears"
81 weep not for myself my dear young
friend"
allow, madame? Has any misfortune
f overtaken the grand-chld of whom have
, heard you speak SO often2"
81 uas thinking" said Madame de MAJ
, ieres, "of her fate. 1t is true that her mis-
fortunes will be in future-but that uncer-
e tain future is already at the door,"
2 "What mean you. madame?"
e "Poor child! In few days, she will have
e no longer mother"
3 How say youl" asked Granville. anx-
iously.
f AT my age" said the old lady," is folly
|, to strive to deceive ones self. In a year.
. in month"; week-a day. may be no
Y more. My little grand child--my dear So
! phie will be alone in the world, without
e support, without a protector, without for