The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-30
THE OLD MAN WITH A YOUNG WIFE,


TRANSLATED FROM The FRENCH MARIE AYoARD 49,
1t was little after midnight when NJ de Ian
geais entered his wfe's apartment.
6 You here, at this hour " exclaimed Madame
de Langeais, with an expression of establishment
mingled with terror; " are you i'll, sir ~
6 have never felt BETTER" replied NJ. de Lam
geais.
Have you received any unpleasant news, them"
said the young dame.
:" No, madam fortunately have no i'll news
Besides, you know that if | had, my affection for
you would induce me to conceal it,"
As he spoke, M. de LaDgeais seated himself in
armchair and by sign, directed his wife's wait
his sixtieth year he was a small, meagre old man,
somewhat infirm in health, but still active and
sprightly, intelligent and kind. His small eyes had
not yet lost the fire of their YOUTH and it was with
shade of irony, quite common with him. that he
said to his wife
Perhaps disturb you, madam | have chosen
an untimely moment to enter your apartment
Pardon me-you have been so seriously occupied
during the day, that thought l could not come
more opportuneiy"
Madame de Langeais did not reply. At her hus-
bands request she took seat near him, turning
red and pale alternately circumstance which
M. de Langeais did not fail to remark and as he
contemplated the young and beautiful face before
him, as he remembered his rights, his age, and the
advanced hour of the night, he understood, as he
prise and disquietude.
8" | ask but an hour, madame-an hour of CONVEX
satioD-no MORE he FASTENED to say, with kind
ness. You are twenty-six years of age madam, -
he added, and might easily be your grandfath-
er my marriage with you, ridiculous in the ewes
of the world, is not in the opinion of those who
are acquainted with the motives which led to it
and you know them better than any one else, Gle
mence.'
"Oh, sir ~ murmnred the young wife, casting
dnxx hpr SO ,ayo araIo y,Ioiy
or regret"
"Ah know it, my kind friend,'' cried the old
man neither is there the slightest reprodch in
tended by my words; you the best creature
that have ever known, and if ! recall these re-
membranes, 1t is because they sweet and pre-
cious TO me. 1t Is now ten years-yOu then
scarcely sIxteen-snce your father first spoke TO
you ofespousng me. He was al that time suffering
under the fatal malady TO which he fell victim,
and his circumstances were greatly embarrassed.
You ignorant of these two facts, and you learn
them, for the first time, to-day. Is it not so, ma
dame ~
Sc How" said Cemence-" my father was not
rich"
I" He left nothing but some debts, which have
discharged" said nj. de Langeas, "a and still, at
your fathers proposal, you leaped for joy-you
seemed delighted at the thought of espousng man
whom you had known from childhood and whom
you called your good friend. had an interview
with you then. told you that loved you with all
my heart and that | should be delighted to give
you my name but, at the same time, placed be-
fore your eyes the certificate of my baptism, show
ing you how much older ] was, even, thar your
father and, as you were ignorant of your true pO-
siton--for you thought that you were still wealthy
1T was freely, and of your own choice, thai you
became my wife. Your father knew that he was
his end, and, in giving you TO me, he left this
world without anxiety for his only child. You
loved me, and you were happy in marriage,
which would have alarmed any other maiden, even
less beautiful and less young than you then were.
looked upon you with an emotion which would
have terrified me, if | had not been convinced of
your friendship and your love. To these circum-
stances united Clemence, | owe ten years of hap
piness-- the ten most pleasant years OF my life.
SO All, sir what is the matter +" cried Madame de
Langeais, in great agitation why thus recall the
past1 DENY nothing, sir | remember all
"Permit me, madame, - iDterposed the husband
Z" it is TO thank you for your love, that / have
come here nay, ii is even to excuse myself for
fault he added, with slight smile of bene
violence.
You, sir-you culpable towards me. All, no,
no, sir never,'
Yes, culpabe towards you madame and your
entire fOrgetfulness of your own interests is the
greatest proof of 1t. am rich, and when your ia
ther gave you to me, 1t was that this wealth mignt
one day revert to you; this is the avoWed or tacit
condition of every marriage between young girl
and an old man. | have engaged 10 enrch you,
not by any contract, not by any pronIse-lor your
father was a man of too much delcacy to demand
ANYTHING like that-but am pledged to do so by
honor. Well, this condition has, until yesterday,
been left untitled and what would have become of
YOU if death had suddenly surprised me- My ia
miv would have seized my entire heritage, and, as
in our marriage contract had assigned you no
dcwry they would have driven you from this
sion; they would have despoiled You of my lands
of my personal property; of your jewels, even. De
Langeais' widow, poor and destitute, would have
sued in vain for amony. This is my crime, ma
dame; crime which your natural generosity has
prevented you from suspecting, but OF which have
not the less been guilty.
nj. de LaBgeais then drew from his pocket a seal
ed paper, and placed it in his wife's hands.
g There, madame" he said, +" that is for you; it
is my will--let not this word alarm you-such
precauton has never yet caused the death Of les
tator. appoint You my sole heiress--in the first
place, because it is my duty, have just told YOU
next, because, even if owed you nothing, even if
you were wealthy an your own right, would still
give you this mark of my esteem and gratitude-for
you love me, and love but you in the world"
M. de Langeais rose, approached his wife, and
pressed kiss upon her forehead; that forehead was
cold as Il it had been of marble.
"What is the matter, madame" exclaimed he
" are you i'll I"
TIE old man was about 10 touch The beIleord !;
his wife prevented him, and cast herself q. his feet
Alb, sir,' shs exclaimed. "you do rot kca~ 70