Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-02-26
needless of all excuses.

nm, and each praised him III their way.
Mr.. Stendhal admired his open counte-
nance; his wife the modest propriety Of
his manners; her mother, who was very
old and rather deaf, the good natured and
respectful way in which he answered
several questions which she put to him.
The daughter blooming girl of sixteen,
said nothing, but perhaps the look of
pleasure with which she listened to the
praises bestowed by the rest of the family,
was not the least eloquent part of the
panegyric.
lp the course Of the evening, Mr.. Stend-
hal learned that his guests name was
George, that he was an orphan, and that
he would leave Marscilles in five or six
days. He mentioned also the names Of
some of the merchants with whom he had
done business; and one of them happen.
ing to be particular friend Of Stcndhals
the good banker went to him the next day,
to make inquiries respecting his new ac-
quaintance.
Gail know Of him." said the mer-
chant, is that he comes from all old
correspondent of mine, who has recon-.
mended him very strongly to me. He
has transacted business for the gentleman
with several others besides myself, and lie
is generally regarded as clever and in.
tclligent young man. My friend lament
ed in his letter, that he had not the power
to offer him a permanent situation, and
he has asked me to look out for one for
him-but / have not met with any thing
likely to suit"
This was enough for Stendhal, who
was sort of benevolent Quixottc in his
way. He wished to serve George; but
with the delicacy of true generosity, he
desired that the young man should feel
himself the obliger, rather than the OBJ
liged. He told him that he wanted a
clerk; George fell into the innocent snare
laid for him; he offered himself, and was
directly accepted.
Mr.. Strndhal was well satisfied with
the abilities of his new clerk, and not less
so with his conduct: the, only thing that
he wished was, to see in the young man
more Of the gaiety natural to his time of
life, but he was constantly serious, and
even sad, Notwithstanding that his temper
was so sweet, and his manners so mild
and amiable, that he was favoritc with.
the whole family.
Two years passed away and at the
end of that time, George had become,
what Mr. Stendhal emphatically called
his right hand; he relieved the good
banker from great part of the fatigue
which he had till then taken upon him.
self; aud willie he had never relaxed, i'll
the slightest degree, his attention to bust.
ness, he found time to render himself as
agreeable and useful to the female part
of the family, as to the master OF it.
He was Leocadie's language master to
the great satisfaction of Mrs. Stcndhal,
who had no longer any reason to reproach
the dear girl with that disinclination to
study, which had been her only fault.
But what perhaps drew the hearts of
both mother and daughter still. more
strongly towards him was, his unwea'ied
attention to the good grandmother, who
was alike beloved and vcnerated by the
family.
All at once Stcndhal perceived that
his wife appeared unusually serious and
distracted. 1t was evident that she had
something on her mind; but what could
that something be, which she concealed
from her husband, with whom, till then
she had no reserve. After puzzlng his
brains for little time with conjectures,
the banker took what he considered to
be the only right way in these cases-he
determined to como to the point at once.
"Till now," said he, "wc have been
happy: it is evident that you have ceased
to be so: tell me the cause of your un-
easiness-and if tits my power to Danish
it, regard the thing as DONE"
"rhen it is done," cried Mrs. Stend-
hal, embracing him. My uneasiness
arose from discovering Leocadic III love-"
"Iu love !--aud with whom'"
"With George"
$50 much the better-ifhe loves her"
"If, Mr.. Stendhal-!'
elf, Madame Stendlal--1 say, if"
"And say there is no if in the case:
the poor fellow is too honorable to say a
word-but see clearly that he is dying
for her"
h!my dear, mothers eyes are not
always to be trusted on those occasions:
but | will speak to him myself"
And, without any preface, he said to
the young man the following day
George, it is time for you to be looking
about fora wife: what do you think Of
my daughter"
George had no need to reply: his
countenancc told Mr.. Stendhal plainly
that his wife was in the right.
Dwell, WE'LL" cried he, in tone of
pleasure, "you love her, hey9"
cit is true, sir; but Heaven is my
witness, have never dared to breathe a
syllable-"
"Ah, you were very right not to speak
to her; but why did you not tell me your
mind? You know that | despise the
pride of birth, and that | don't care for