Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-01-14


of the evening Ernest was in love. A
French novelist would tell us that he had
met his destiny. At all events, he con-
sidered himself fortunate to have fallen in
with so charming person. who joined
to great beauty and accomplishment. a
taste for his favorite subjects of thought
and talk.
Ernest and Louise met continually, and
each day they renewed their Intimacy
They talked together, they danced to-
gether, and before the end of three months
the young man scarcely missed an eve
ming at the house OF Nine de Lastange,
where she resided when in town. People
at last began to intimate to the old lady,
that the friendship of the young people
was rather warmer than should properly
exist between student in medicine and
rich heiress. A few days after this Err
nest missed Mile Louise de Redonte from
the evenings of Nine Lestange, who,
without the least change in her manners
towards him, informed him that she was
gone to the country to her uncle's where
indeed she spent the greater part of the
year. She was kind hearted woman,
and by this separation simply wished to
spare both the pain which she thought
must ensue if their affections became en-
gagged. Ernest felt very dull; the charm
of the soirees was gone. He did not
cease to go, however, because it was pro.
bable that he might again see her there,
but his visits became less frequent, and
thus the season ended.
During the long summer months that
ensued, Ernest continued to study his pro-
fession. He wrote to his mother that he
should not come to the country, because
his disgust at his neighbors was SO great
he could not bear to meet with them
Besides, he wished to continue his studies,
which would suffer by interruption. But
he did not now devote himself to his books
with half the same zest with which he
had begun. His thoughts were far away
in that country region, wherever it was,
where Louise resided, and he thought the
summer never would end, To distract
his attention he varied his reading, added
novels, poetry, and history to his scientific
books, and thus, with many yawn and
many longing and many weary hour
the time passed, and when the salon of
Nine de Lastange again opened, Ernest
presented himself the very first evening.
Louise de Redonte was there, more
/ lovely than ever; and she welcomed the
young man as he eagerly advanced to
meet her with smile that filed him with
rapture. Nine de Lastange looked on
with some alarm. Louise was in mourn
ing-she had lost her uncle nearly six
months, and she was rich in the extreme
She was surrounded at once by perfect
host of admirers, but she gave encourage
ment to none. Ernest still continued her
fayorite companion, to the great annoy
ance of the mass of young men about
town who would have been delighted to
have given her their name and to have
spent her hundred thousand francs of an
nual income. Still no one looked upon
the intimacy of Louise and Ernest as any
thing likely to end seriously. The crowd
of suffers who filled the salons of Nine
de Lastange, supposed that the young la
dy was clever person, and showed a
preference for the conversation of the
medical student-an individual she could
not marry-simply that she might look
round unobserved and unsuspected, and
choose for herself,
MY dear Louise said her friend one
day to her, 'how much longer do you
mean to keep the men in suspense. There
are more than dozen dying for love-
'Of my chateau and cash, replied Lou
Use laughing, but am quite sure shall
see them all as rosy as ever next sea-
son.
do you not then mean to select your
future husband before you again bury
yourself in your gloomy castle?' said
Nine de Lsstange in an alarmed tone.
Ny dear Madame, l am rich, am
young. l have time and independence.
/ shall not choose husband until have
found a lover whose affection is real, and
whom myself can like
Nine de Lastange mentioned several
of her suffers with high praise, but Louise
shook her head and found fault with all.
Il have no patience with you,' cried
the. good lady. You encourage that
young student so much that you have no
time to Judge the merits of others. have
great mind to close my doors against
him.
Ny dear de Lastange,' replied Louise
gravely, If you cease to receive my pro-
Eege you will make my evenings very dull.
I l shall run to the country month 500
ner.'
Nine de Lastange sighed and turned
away, but she studiOusly avoided letting
Ernest notice her annoyance still, when
the friends were together she looked an
noyed, and almost began to agree with
those who supposed Louise to have some
secret object in encouraging the medical
student.
/ Where do you intend settling on the
completion of your studies? said Louise
one evening.
In Paris. or some other large town,
replied Ernest.
In town! 1 thought you preferred