The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-11-14
!, "kneel Frederic ! it is

ted, so trembling that she sank upon 4 seat of
green sward, saving to Blondel, the kind pro-
tector of her youth
"You have recognized me, then, my god
father? All, it is we'll! imagined that YOU
would not know me at the first sight; look at
ME WE'LL my friend, and tell me, does the
MarchioneSs of Kordonan resemble your
charming ward? Oh, no! she was SO young
and am so old She was so blooming, so
brilliant, and am so pale, so faded She
was always gay and laughing, and l. weep
necessarily Oh, my friend, how happy was
YOUR goddaughter-an how unhappy am !
Blondel you have more kindness than my We
netian glass; am still the same in your heart;
| am sadly changed in my mirror"
Blondel, who was a friend. replied with
tears; the Chevalicr, who was lover, replied
with reproaches.
The Marchioness did not seem to hear the
amorous complaints of the Chevalier; she rose
proudly, with her hands crossed upon her
breast and her eyes raised to heaven, heed
less of the jealous anger Of the Chevalier, she
murmured-
"Blondel, and you, NJ. de Marangy, if YOU
still love me, follow mer'
The notary and the Chevalier followed the
Marchioness TO the apartments of the castle :
they entered with her into large, cold, gloo-
my chamber, which was illuminated by lamp
that cast pale, solemn. almost sepulchral
light upon surrounding objects Therese gent
ly closed every door OF the apartment. She
listened for distant sounds, for confused voices,
which she seemed TO hear; she then said to
Blondcl, pointing to little door half concealed
by fold Of tapestry
He is there !"
"Who, madam?
"My husband!'
They took their seats beneath the vast man
tel of the chimney. Frederic dropped his
head, and commenced trimming the fire, as if
DESTROYS to avoid the chances of his faithless
mistress; Blondel, on the contrary, gazed
long and earnestly at Therese, like man COM
pensating himself for lost happiness, when it at
last dawns upon him again.
This is, in truth. fearful day for me ~
said Therese. II have had strength and conr-
age, when it was necessary to suffer and be
silent; / have none, alas, when it is necessary
to remember and to speak Listen to me,
then, Frederick, and judge. Do You recog-
nize the features of this woman, SO express
i've and life-like, upon the canvass of this
painting 2"
d" 1t is the portrait of the old Marchioness of
Kordonan."
at is the portrait of my former protectress
you know this-the Marchioness drigned to
receive me with maternal kindness into her
noble house; she lavished upon me all the
tenderness of a MOTHER all the affection of
friend; at every hour, at every moment, she
took delight in increasing the already heavy
debt which she had laid upon my friendship
and my gratitude; proud, naughty, even with
her equals, the Marchioness was, toward me d
lone, simple, confiding, almost familiar; l soon
forgot the obscurity of my name; it seemed TO
me as if were truly the Marchioness' daugh-
ter, and / returned her affection with a
warmth, an ardor, of which she had given me
the most charming example
L" The Warehouses of Kordouan in spite of
her great name and her immense fortune, was
far from being happy; her indomitable char
acter had alienated the affection of her entire
family her sole love, her sole Joy and hope
in this world, was her son But God punish
ed her for her pride'in the person of this
child strange melancholy, an inexplicable
feebleness, affected the mind and the body of
the young Marquis; the most skilful, the most
celebrated physicians in France were consult
ed-and this was their terrible answer BE
fore six months the Marquis of Kordonan will
be maflacT
Madness, the most horrible death-that of
the heart and intellect-this was the sad future
in store for a young man of twenty years
His wealth and his person would fall, sooner
or later. into the hands of greedy relatives
who had never ceased TO pursue the old March
ioness with their unrelenting hatred; noble
dame, n despairiug mother, beheld already,
from the borders of the tomb which awaited
Lar I'll -fraataA III nl0fbo1 Ill foI
wretched, confined alive in the sepulchral cell
of a mad house
"There was but one means to reassurc the
Marcbioness, and to secure her son against so
terrible lot. No one as vet suspected the
condition of the poor maniac it was necessa-
ry to find a woman sufficiently Welding to ut
ter false vows to religion and the law, before
God and before men-a woman sufficiently
kind, sufficiently devoted, 10 consent to es-,
pouse a mailman, that she might have the right
to protect and defend him
''Thc Marchioness was at my feet, Frede-
tic had seen my mother breathe her last,
and it seemed TO me as if she implored me by
her mouth ! cast myself weeping into her
arms; stifed with my tears your name which
seemed ready to escape fro.n my heart / rails
ed the suppliant. and l said-'Madam, behold
YOUR daughter On the following day, at
a priest received US in the chapel of
the castle; the Marquis uttered word that /
his mother whispered in his ear, and Therese 4
Quimper became Marchionessl
" Oh, my friends, God only knows what .
have suffered for these last three years A
lone, night and day. with this man, with Juy
trembling, terrifed-what
days and what nights Often in the hong
winter evenings, when old Philip yields to
slumber, the Marquis pushes back his arm
chair in silence and rises he looks at me, and
points with a strange smile to his keeper, who
has fallen asleep; then he places his hand in
mine, and gazes upon mel would fain cry
but but stood silent, motionless, chilled be-
Meath the glance of the maniac, which fills my
'oul with terror A hundred times / have
wished for DEATH A feeling of duty has sus-
aimed my courage, and now, Frederick, can
brave all griefs sacrifice and martyrdom have
proved me !"
My daughter ~ cried Blondel kneeling at
he Warehouses feet, Il have accused you,
nave misjudscd you, have vilelycalumniated