Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-09
THE OLD MANS SECRET.
RANGE HISTORY DURING TnE RaERcR nav
rtRinnr Al, 100

Jean Baptiste Veron, native il was under
stood, OF the south Of France, established him
self as merchant at Havre-de- Grace in l7SS
being then widower with one child, young
boy. The new comer's place of business was
the south quay, about hundred yards west OF
custom-house. He had brought letters Of
h recommendation from several eminent Par.
80 firms; his capital was ascerained to be large
soon, moreover, approving himself to be Q
oil keen mercantile discernment, and meas
peremptory, answering business habits
not surprising that his commercial transac-
speedily took wide range, or, that, at the
A. pf about fifteen years, NJ. Veron was pro-
need by the general consent to be the wealth
nerchant of the commercial capital of north
France. He was never, albeit, much of a
Hite with any class Of society: his man.
e'was too brusque, decided, unbending-hi,
bYesh too curt, frequently too bitter, for that
.a he managed TO steer his course in very diff
sTYlmes quite as safely as those who put them
.uls,;' to great pains and charges to obtain pop
-bny, tie never xpressed-publicly at least
or ~ references llor>soyalism, republicanism,
IRE Imperialism; for heur-de-fis, bonnet-rouge,
or tricoiore: in short, Jean Baptiste Veroa was
nstern, taciturn, self absorbed man Of business
and as nothing else was he universally consid-
cred, tillthe installation Of quasi legitimacy by
Napoleon Bonaparte, when a circum stance,
slight in itself, gave clearer significance to the
cold, naughty, repelent expression which play
ed habtEllly about the merchants gray deep
set eyes, and thin, firmly compressed lips. His
newly engraved private card read thus: 81. B.
de Veron, Mon Sejour Ingouvlle." Mon Sc
jour was charming suburban domicile, situate
upon the Cote, as it is usually termed--a sloping
eminenct on the north OF LIE Havre, which it
commands, and now dotted with similar residen-
ces, but, at the period we are writing Of very
sparselybu upon. Not long after this aEsump-
tion Of lie aristocratic prefix TO his name, it was
discovered that he insinuated himself into the
very narrow and exclusive circle of the De Me-
rodes, wlo were an unquestionabe fragment Of
the old wblesse-damaged, it is true, almo ST ir-
retrievaHy in purse, their modest establish
ment on he Cote too plainly testified; but in
pedigretas untainted and resplendent as in the
pallniesilays Of the Capets. As the chevaier
dc Merde and his daughter, MadamoiseIle
Hen rse Del phine-i Chasse
Loup Merode--described as tall, fair, and
extremel meagre damsel of about thirty years
Of age-yere known to be rigidly uncompro-
missing mall matters having reference to ances-
try, it wa concluded that Jean Baptiste de We
ron hadben able to satisfy his noble friends,
that althogh de fdcfo merchant from the sad
necessitit Of the evil time, he was de jure en-
titled to ke rank and precedence with the
illustriouthough decayed nobility of France
II might !, too, as envious gossips whispered,
that any light flaw or break in the chain of De
Veron's lirician descent had been concealed or
overlookt in the glitter Of his wealth, more es-
pecially lit was true, as rum or presently be-
gan to cculatc, that the immense sunni
French es and ears--of 300 900 francs Gl2,
OOO) waso be settled upon Madamoisole de
Merode al her heirs on the day that should
see her uted in wedlock with Eugene de We
ron, by thtime fine-ooking fellow Of one or
two and tenty, and, like ninety in evey
hundred che youth of France, strongly pre-
iudced aglst the pretensions ofmere birth and
Observation-Disclosures.
Rumor this instance was correctly inform
ed, Eune," said M. de Veron addressing
his son in usual cold, positive manner, and
at the samime locking his private escrutoirc,
the hand ohe clock being Just on the stroke
of five, thtour for closing 81 have matter of
inheritance inform you of. All differences
between wnd the Chevalier de MerOde rela-
tive TO younsrriage with his daughter, Made
moiselle dderode, are"-
"Hem !jaculated Eugene, suddenly whirl-
ing round on his STOOL and confronting his
father. '':m ~
"All dbnees, say" resumed NJ. de We
ron. with uulled camness and decision, "be-
tween mvs and the chevalier are arranged
/ amiabis, d the contract of marriage will be
ready for yr and Madcmoiselle de Mercedes
signature, Monday next, at two precisely"
"Mine Mademoselle de Merode J. re-
neated thestounded son, who seemed hall
doubtful wther he saw or heard Alright.
"Yes, wonder you are surprised. 80
distinguish connection could hardly, under
the circunanceS, have been hoped for; and It
would hav0een cruel to have given You any
iptimationl the subject whilst there was
chance ohegociation issuing unfavoraby.-
Your wifad you will, for the present, at all
events, "a up your abode at Mon Sejour and
must cosqlently look out for a smaller, or
more baclor -suiting residence.
"My ie and me !" echoed Veron junior
with the ae air Of stupid amazement as be-
fore-'N wife and met" Recovering lit
tle. he add: "Confound it, there must be some
n mistake fe Do you know, mon Pere, that this
Mademoille de Merode.is not at all to my
taste Fould as soon marry"-
"No fS, Eugene, if you please" " Interrupt
g ted NJ. dNsroS. "The affair, as have told
you, is deded You will marry MademOisehe
y de Merod or if not" he added, with an iron
inhexibilf Of tone and manner, "Eugene de
& Veron i, Sely to benefit very little by his faith
er's wealh which the same Eugene will do
we'll to reeinber is of kind not very difficult
. Of transfeince beyond the range of the law OF
inheritanc which prevails in France. The lep-
rosy of tn revolution" continued M. de We
q Fsq, rs heose to put on his hat, "may indeed
be Nd to ave polluted our very hear:hs, when
\we knd obldren setting up their opinions, and
tk!rgS, AM disikings, forsoOth against their
lsthefS' deition, in a matter entirely within
kle Naren.al In riS diction % that of n son or