The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-11-14
MISCELLANY.
THE MARCHIONESS KORDO
NAN.
Translated from the French for Holden's Magazine

Translated from the French for Hoden's Magazine.
TIE Castle of Kordonan, situated between
Rennes and Wire, belongs, to-day, to ;
wealthy manufacturer, member of the Cham
Der of Deputies and chevalier of the legion o
honor the noble mansion of the Marquis o
kordonan has undergone strange metamor
phosis, and is now mandatory Of lamp OF
and brown soap, in traversing the halls o.
this residence, which time. improvidence ant
industry have sadly impaired, the proprietor
of whom ! speak scarcely suspects the dram;
of private life, the real tragedy, which is che
subject of this narrative, and which was for
mcrly enacted on the mysterious stage of the a
partment which he inhabits.
In $50, the owner of Kordonan had turnet
this magnificent abode into genuine famll,
prison, in which they concealed from all eyes
the secret griefs of their private life; many
persons, many inquisitive visitors, tried daily
to obtain admission into the castle, but thel
knocked in vain at the portal of that inacces
sible retreat, of that inhospitable mansion; NJ
one was ever permitted to enter the cabne
of the Marquis or the saloon of the March.
ioness.
Two domestics only sufliced for the service
| VI INC cdSlle All SCINdIl.
and a young peasant girl, called Nanette
Philip was the factotum, and incorruptible
guardian of the house Nanette was the cham
bermaid and discreet conidant of her mis-
tress.
If, when the old servant went, by chance
to Wire or TO Rennes he was asked
"Master Philip, is your noble master en-
tirely lost then to the life Of this world Is
I. 1 1
. lie is not dead, God be thanked" the old
man would reply; 'no, BY no means-out he
is still little ailing"
calling And what is his ailment? The
govt or PRIDE"
1t is an aiIment which is not precisely an
aiment. NV lord the Marquis was formerly
extravagantly fond of all the human sciences
for example, he would pass whole days in his
library, studying books on heraldry and alche-
my well, he has grown very melancholy on
account Of his having learned so much: in Il
word, he is i'll, because lie has too much knowl-
edge"
Too much knowledge, master Philip
Before his marriage, the Marquis was so little
what they call man Of sense, that he could
scarcely Stammer the service, as he turned the
leaves Of his missal when passer-bv saluted
him in the country, be would leap like kid
when friend spoke to him in the street, he
would gesticulate so strangely, that every
schoo-boy laughed in his face"
d" 1t Is very simple The Marquis at that
time occupied himself with the sciences Of her
a'dry and alchemy"
They sometimes asked Nanette in her ram
bles about the environs of the castle
"Nanette, why is your mistress, as they say.
so sad and lonely ?"
Because she has been acquainted with q
! good many tiresome people,"
Why docs she persist in living alone in
the country :"
Because she abhorS the society Of the
city
For what reason ?"
She declares that wherever men assemble
together, there are always fools or rogues a.
mong them"
THAT is very fattcring to her friends
| Why does she never 90 TO court as she Is en-
titled TO do by her rank p
Because she remembers her family, which
was of humble origin
"They say in every-body's cars, that not
withstanding her youth and beauty, she usual
ly wears nothing but black
Ii Is true; she wishes to wear mourning,
as long as possible, for the Marchioness dowa-
GER of Koricnan, her rmer benefactress."
a. And old master BIondel-do you see him
often at the castle ~
VERY often; he is the only one among
our neighborS who is permitted to enter the
house at all hours. to remain there, to eat and
drink at his pleasure, and TO depart whenever
he thinks fit
This old Blondcl was formerly 4 notary in
Wire he was sixty years of age, enjoyed a
great reputation for honesty and very tri
fling fortune; the brave scribe loved but one
person and one thing in the world-to wit, the
Marchioness of Korlonan and the collection
of the customs of Brittany.
Sill Blondel had reason, or ut least, he
thought he had, TO complain Of that dear The
reese, of that lovely Marchioness, of whom, rs
he well remembered, he had been the guar
dian, the counsellor and the friend; as Nan
cite said, when Blondel Knocked at the castle
gate, it was opened to him at once, at the first
word of the modest man; he was permitted to
walk at his pleasure in the park, the gardens,
the saloons of the mansion, but he sought in
vain after a happiness which was his daily
hope; he asked from God but single glance,
a single word from the MarchioneSs, and the
Marchioness continued to be invisible to Blon-
del, as if she classed him with the mportune
and prying visitors of thr neighborhocd.
The poor notary of Wire endesTored TO
console himself for the mysterious absence of
his pupil, by going 10 prattle with Therese's
portrait; he would glide into little ante
chamber; place upon table silver goblet
and bottle of choice wine, and gaze at the
Marchioness, who smiled upon him in her
picture, painted upon pannel of the VAIN
soothing he would say to her with glass in
hand
"Yes, there is always excellent wine to be
found in the buttery of the cas- tie of Kordo-
nan; but the generous hand which offers it, or
which sends it, why does it conceal itself from
the eye? Alas, it is invisible to me, as to all
the world! Let the Marquis shut himself up,
from morning until evening, in his cabinet
let HIM disdain me, despise me let him scorn
my miserable person-it is all very well-he is
noble and am commoner; he is some
thing and ] am nothing most certainly, am
not so foolish as to complain of his pride; but
complain of you, madam Marchioness ]
cOmDaln of yOCr cOldness of xour ;norat;tudai