Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-12-15

| one morning, before she had risen, OF which a
glance at the superscription sufficed to assure
her of the signature. Half turning to the place
usually occupied by her husband, she thought,
lssThauk Heaven, Jules is not there r. "My
dear Madame" said the letter, 90 Notwithstand-
ing that our intimacy has suffered long in
terruption, you are still the woman whom es-
TEEN the most, and in whom have most conf
dence. | am very unhappy, and wish to seek
advice and consolation from our lips. Will
you be kind enough to accord an early inter
view to your old frendl LEGRAs.
There was nothing in these few words to a
, larm the most susceptible husband, but it was
the constant care Of Madame to keep even a
shadow of cloud from the atmosphere in
whl.a sac lived, and to give offence TO g hus-
| band whom she adored. Two years before the
period of which we write, she was a widow,
rich, and in the full lustre of a beauty, of which
she possessed the happy art to conceal the ma
turisy. Colonel Legras had sought her hand,
and possibly his good qualities, added to his
fortune and rank, might have secured its pos
session. had not an unforeseen incident decided
otherwise. 1t was her fortune to meet at a
party young man with great attractions; one
of those Celadons and MeIeagus united, whose
empire over woman is certain. III. Lereul,
new to the world, was Suddenly smitten with
the widow, and watched her steps with all the
ardour of first love. He had 10 fortune, nor
- hut o dc
calculations; he vas in love, and perhaps ne
did not think of marriage at all. 1t has been
remarked that the first love of young man Is
often for woman older than himself. And
youth, the quality We possess is often little
thought Of. The widow soon became equally
enamoured with Jules Lereu, and no sooner
felt conscious that she returned his passion,
than she withdrew gradually from the society of
Legras; and without positively breaking with
him, yet managed SO well to keep out of his
path. However it is not handsome to dismiss
an honorable man, whose attentions have been
received, without assigning reason, and the
widow thought it best TO inform the colonel,
when she had made up her mind to marry her
young aslmirer.
madame" said Legras with military frank
cess, 81 am much concerned at what YOU tell
me; ] grieve for the present. as regards myself.
and for the future on your own account"
"For me, Sr,''
ayes, Madame, for you. Happiness is only
1i4io do
part from those conditions, We must expect to
find discomfort, and disappointment. In mar
rage, there should be equality. | am forty
five, Madam, you are forty; we might be happy
together. lion the contrary,you marry man
Of twenty, what will YOU be in FIVE years hence.
what in ten years? you will have completed
half century, and he will just have obtained
the prime Of manhood He will be thirty, and
YOU may possibly be taken for his moher.-
This sort of language could not be pleasing to
woman who had decided on listening to love
rather than reason, and the Colonel quilted her
without having seen Lereul feeling certain
that the day would arrive when she would he
glad to seek him as friend. Not wishing to
remain near the scene of his disappointment, he
removed his household to some distance, where
he soon after learned that the fair widow had
become the happy wife of young Lereul. And
this was the man, who after an absence of two
wears, requested and audience and sought con-
ISOLATION.
allow Legras has been deceived" said the
lady, "Jues is as fond, as tender, as devoted to
me as r;my honeymoon seems not yet past
She glanced towards mirror, placed opposite
to her couch, and seeing herself reflected yet
fresh and fair, her womans pride whispered
that as yet, there was nothing particularly
meritorous in the fidelity Of her husband
Jules was absent; hunting party had drawn
him from Paris, and from his wife: but this was
the natural consequence of her position: one of
those contingencies which uphold the dignity
of married woman. Men do not quit the mis-
tress whose love is to be lost and won at hazard,
and subject to every caprice Of the will. They
leave their wives con6ding in the holiness Of
their affection, and knowing that absent or pre-
sent the pure heart of wife is filled with her
husband alone. But what was to be dOne
should she see Legras,an old admirers declared
rival of Jules, and in the absence of her hus-
band who was, NO doubt, as jealous as herself.
If a woman, who had any claim on Jules should
request an interview with him, would she be
quite content that that interview should take
place unless she were present; and her love for
this young man of twenty-five was that nature
that she felt some alarm at the mere idea OF such
a circumstance. Then, on the other hand, how
could she refuse to admit an old acquaintance
who was unhappy ; or resist the desire which
she felt of convincing the colonel that, though
above forty, she had succeeded in securing love
and happiness. She would see him.
Madame Lereu,, having reformed her toilette
with her usual care, descended to her saloon
The Colonel soon appeared, but he was sadly
T. Il. Il oil