New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-29

tious 70 their union. Baptiste was poor and had
an aged grandmother to support out of his earn
lngs. annette's relations on that account OPP
posed their marriage for several years, till her
lover had, by his frugality and industry, saved
little money, with which he purchased that
| cottage you see peeping out from among the
trees. All objections being then removed, he
was on the point of being married to Annette.
when he was drawn as conscript, and was
forced to join the army, leaving his intended
wife and poor old grandmother in the create II
atfliction. | can assure you it would make your
heart bleed to have witnessed their separation"
f' But why did not Annette accompany her
intended husband % inquired.
GO She would gladly have done 80, but then
there would have been no one to take care of his
grandmother, who is quite blind, so Annette
had given up all thoughts of accompanying Bap-
tiste, and has gone to reside with her during his
absence. As she must lead a very solitary life
there, we are on our way to pay her visit, and
give her all the news of our village"
The friendly intention of their Journey raised
these kind hearted damsels very high in my es-
timation, and made me determine to accompany
them on their visit. A few minutes walk
brought us in front of the cottage, the approach
to which was shaded by row of fruit trees,
around which the jessamine and honey-suckle
were intertwined in gay festoons, while the ten
drills OF the spreading vine covered the walls
with their brilliant verdure, and almost hid the
small latticed window, which could Just be seen
peeping through the green curtain
The door was opened by Annette herself
whose beauty was certainly worthy of the high
encomiums had heard bestowed on it. Her fig
ure. though small, was of the most exquisite
symmetry. Her long dark hair was not con
fined by the same formal starched head dress as
that wore by her companions, but flowed in
graceful ringlets down her shoulders, and shaded
ed with luxuriant curls, face of the most ex
pressive sweetness. The grief which had chased
the rose from her check, and dimmed the lustre
of her rich black eye, gave an expression of ex-
IRENE softness and delicacy to a countenancf
which, if lighted up by the fire of animation.
and the glow Of health, would have been deemed
attractive even in country more distinguished
for female beauty than Touraine. Her cheeks
were not darkened with that sunburnt hue which
generally spoils the complexion of the peas
ant girls in the south Of France, but, pale
and delicate, seemed to denote that her constitn-
| ton had been too feeble, and her frame too weak
! to permit her to join in the laborious exercises
of her more healthy companions
Seated beside the window, and engaged in the
monotonous task of turning her noisy wheel,
was her lovers grandmother, over whom the
| young girl seemed to watch with even more than
filial tenderness She was an interesting old
woman OF about seventy years of age, whose sill
yer lochs still clustered in profusion over fore
iieht iuilohe't pS VI tlllit anu IuiSiOf-
| tune. As the company entered she raised her
sightless eyeballs towards the door, till recog-
nizing the well-known voices of her female Wis
| ltofs, she called them to her, and, assuming all
| the sprightlness and vivaeity of youth, began to
| join in the conversation which ensued regarding
| their mutual acquaintance. In the mean time
| was not neglected. I was introduced in due
| form to Annette; a chair was given me to rest
my wearied limbs: some dried fruit and bot
tie of rin du pays were set before me, while An
nette hustled about to get ready cup of coffee
| to complete my repast.
As had now got far into the good graces OF
the company, they began 10 indulge their curio-
sity by numerous inquiries regarding the
fashions, gaieties. and amusements of my native
land, on all of which points gave them the bes
information in my power. My answers seemed
to afford great entertainment to all the party
and was happy to see that the shade of melan
choly which had clouded the face of Annette
gradually wore off, and the old grandmother be-
gan in her turn to give me an account of the
scenes Of horror and bloodshed which she had
witnessed during the Revolution in which she
| had been great sufferer. She was one who
had evidently seen better days, her manners
and language bespoke an education superior to
her present humble sphere, and gave additional
interest to her tale Of past misfortunes.
Meanwhile time flew rapidly away. The stars
began to twinkle in the blue vault of heaven, re-
minding me to make use of their lustre to guide
me to Tours. seized my hat and cane, gave a
| salute to each of the damsels, two to Annette
who already began to be a great favorite with
me, and after promising to repeat my visit in
the course of few days, slipped a small pre-
sent into the hands of the old lady, and trudged
forward on my way to Tours The shades oi
night had now veiled the beauties of the sur
rounding landscape The former busy scene
was exchanged for the most tranquil silence
Moth, Ine = Al.
stars bespangling the smooth waters of the
Loire, and the dark mass of the cathedral raising
its huge turrets above the surrounding gloom
Nothing could be heard but the gentle murmur-
ing of the stream, and the solemn tones of the
cathedral bell calling the pious to their evening
prayers, pushed forward quickly as pos
sible, crossed the bridge, reached my hotel, and
on the down bed of mine host of the Boule dor,
soon forgot the fatigues of the day, and fell
asleep to meet again in my dreams the dark
eyes and interesting features of the lovely An
nette.
When an Englishman first arrives in Tours,
he has considerable difficulty in convincing him
self that he has not by some circuitous route.
again found his way back to his native land
every thing there being quite 7 .fnglaise,
The town was at this time crowded with British
emgrants, and it certainly displayed no small
degree of good taste on their part, that they
had fixed upon residence as much distin-
guished for its architectural spendor as for the
advantages of its situation. The broad waters OF
the Loire, interspersed with numerous little
islands, from northern boundary, and afford
an easy mode of conveyance to the delightful
scenery in the neighborhood, while gardens
orchards and vineyards, filed with the choicest
productions of a generous soil, cover the gently
swelling hills which bound the view in every
direction, and compose the verdant amphithea
tire in whose peaceful bosom the town appears tc
repose.
With the assistance of a few letters of intro
duction, was soon quite at home in Tours, and
my time passed very agreeably in the enjoyment
of the various amusements which the town If
forrled, In the morning played cricket with
the English, golted with the Scotch, or rode
stceple chases with the Irish, and [ was a CON
stant visitor Mt the &c Cafe Anglais,' where a Sc
lection of English publications, and mixture
of society from all parts Of the united kingdom,
served to divert me during the evening.
The promise of revisiting Annette was almost
forgotten, till the tempting appearance of a fine
afternoon reminded me of it. ! was soon on my
way to the cottage, where, on my arrival |
found her and the old woman enjoying the fresh
ness Of the evening breeze on Il seat before the
door 1t was not long ere was seated on the
grass by their side A hearty welcome spoke
their pleasure at my visit, and tancied that
the bright eyes of Annettee sparkled with al
/. additional lustre as she held out her delicate