New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-02-12
THE TALIsMAH.l

authorities are able and determined to keep the
public peace at all hazards. @ fiasf
THE TALISMAN.. 5y
1t was after midnight and the bride had long
since retired to her nuptial chamber, when her
young husband at last succeeded to escape from NJ
the supper table, and leaving his guests to take g
care of themselves, he repaired to his wifc's
apartment. a VT si EfYs%ss}et
Come in, SIR" said Ann, in discreet voice,
&c Madam is waiting for you.' gsf8 e&Er
The young husband pushed open the door, and
threw himself at the feet of his wife, who indeed
was whiting for him, seated by the fire, in the
elegant coquettish dishabille of q rich widow,
whose desires have been satisfied by new mar q
riage. f9l sss .s s..ta3aS
g Rise, / pray you, my beloved, said she to
her husband, stretching her hand to him.
60 No, no, Madame" replied the young man,
sezing the hand extended to him, &c no, allow me
to remain thus at your feet, and do not take
away your hand, for fear you will escape
tremble lest all this should prove but a dream.
1t seems that must be the hero of some fairy
tale, and that on the point of being happy, my
happiness will fly away and leave me to sorrow 1
and despair 7tl =ea lss lei s4s
ss Do not fear, beloved. was indeed yester-
day the widow Of Lord Melville, and am to-day
Madame de la Tour, your wife. Danish from
your mind the fairy tale, for the tale is true
story" 5''i SBa sl = fef
Frederick de la Tour might we'll think that
| some favorable fairy had taken the direction OF
his affairs, for in less than month he had be-
come rich and happy beyond all expectation.
| He was twenty-five an orphan, and earned
| hardly enough to support himself, when, one
day, while passing in the Rue St. sHonore, q bril-
liant eeuipage stopped before him, and u charm-
ing and elegant woman called out = 4fsi
| e Sir, Sirt'' ~ - II E-a .ss'
The footman unrolled the steps Of the car
rage, and hat in hand, respectfully invited
| Frederick to take seat by the lady, all dressed
in silks and covered with diamonds. Scarcely
was he seated when the horses started off at
full speed. g{ est
sSir,' said the lady in a sweet voice, :" have
| received your letter, but Notwithstanding your
| excuse will expect the pleasure Of your COM
| pany tomorrow at my soiree." "a
| "Of my company !" inquired Frederick.
| Yes, sir, you. All, beg your pardon"
| exclaimed the lady with surprise. SO / beg your
pardon but you look so much like an acquaint-
ance All, dear me-! what will you think Of
me, sir /; But indeed, such striking resem-
blance! Any one would have made the same
mistake!'' g''
Before the matter was explained, hecarriage
stopped at the gate of a superb mansion, and
Frederick could do no less than offer his hand
to Lady Melville.
Lady Melville was beautiful, and Frederick
was easily subdued. He congratulated himself
upon his good luck which had made him ac-
quainted with this beautiful woman, accepted
her invitations, and soen became one of the
habitues and daily visitors at her house. The
rich widow was surrounded by a host Of adj
mrers, and things went on SO that, before the
end of a week, the happy Frederick was the ae-
cepted suitor of the rich widow, who had even
made the first proposal Of marriage
Frederick placed himself sometimes before the
| o,d yuith 0tf
He was not ugly, but still he could not be called
a beau garcon and as his means did not allow
him to attribute his good fortune to the skill Of
his tailor, he was induced to believe that he was
, | loved for himself alone, or that Lady Melville
was fascinated by spell.
When the marriage day was fixed upon, and
Frederick repaired to his lawyer to sign the
contract, his surprise changed to amazement,
: He found himself worth million! He owned
an estate in Burgundy, house in Paris, ana
h other property he had never heard OF before
: The widow had property abroad. estates IN
Wales, and pastures in Devonshire. 1t was a
!. golden dream from which Frederick dreaded
= | to awake. Every ceremony had been duly per
r. formed, but he could not believe in the reality
4. of his happiness.
'e .sRise, dear Frederick said his wife, once
!; | more sTake chair and let US talk
IS The young husband obeyed, without aban-
= doping the hand which he held, and Madame de
= Ia Tour began thus:
>, There was once
r "Ah,' exclaimed Frederick, &c I knew it was
lr but a fairy tale
u Listen to me, my dear There was once .
: young girl, born of parents who had once been
a rich, but who, when the girl was fifteen years
II old, had only the hard earnings of a father to
!, support them. They resided in Lyons, but the
J. hope Of a better fate induced them all to come
n to Paris. Nothing is harder to gain thnl lost
j fortune. The father of the young girl struggled
I four years with poverty, without being able to
!. conquer it, and finally died in an hospital. 2
!, ' The wife soon followed her husband, and the
: young girl remained alone in a garret, the rent
L of which was not paid, and without a friend in
e the world. If fairy was to play part in my
y story, it would now be time tor her to appear.
4; But there is no fairy.
IS The young girl remained in Paris, without
te parents without friends, without money, asking
|, in vain from strangers for work. which is riches
rs to the poor. Hunger became more and mere
10 pressing and at last drove the unfortunate CIR
W into the streets to beg for charity. She covered
l. her head with veil. the only inheritance sht
Or had received from her mother, bent down *
le initiate old age, went into the streets and held
e, out her hand But her hand was white and deb
RS cate; it was dangerous to show it. and the gar
lie was compelled to wrap her veil around It, as
it had been covered with disgusting sores.
1t 'sThe girl placed herself against the wall ava!
I'd from the light, and when young girl more for
s tunate than she was, gaily passed by, she he'll
I'd out her hand and begged fur cent--e cent \
a. buy little bread, Rnt hep appeal wRr in ysin
An old man eaias leSt sss tap fgeas gill bsaa
=, l@p!oFsa sAassy. hes Wa Vi. ssse u .iss