Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-30

hveS and friends, without saying anSht Oh
her birth or name to any one. She was,
nevertheless, universally loved and admir-
ed. M. de Manleon permitted himself to
be persuaded into visit to the mansion oil
this happy paragon of female lovellness.-
When he was presented to her, confused
idea struck him that he had seen her be-
fore, but he could not remember when OF
where. The idea made him thoughtful land
he retired to the recess of window, where
he for time stood alone.
A soft and sweet voice at his side made
him hastily turn round. "Have you been
lately in Poitou, sir 3"said the Countess d.
Auray, for she it was who spoke.
"Not lately, madam" answered NJ de
Manleon: "our property there was sold.-
Are you acquainted with Poitou, may l
ask -
Il am, sir,' said the countess; and as
she spoke she took bouquet of flowers
from the window, and held them up before
HIM, with smile. A light broke in upon
NJ. de Manleon's mind.
What" cried he, "are you-can you
be-
Poor little Marie, and no other" an
swered the countess. "Ah! was happy
then p
The little incident of the wayside formed
the basis of an immediate friendship be-
tween Nj. de Manleon and the countess,
who remembered him well through the me-
dallion. The last exclamation of the lady
had startled him, coming as it did from one
whom all deemed happy. Afterwards,
when they were better acquainted, he got
an explanation from herself. 81 remem-
ber,' said the countess, "that Pierre was
by side at the time when you saw me on
the rode. That young peasant was my low
er, and though scarcely old enough, you
would suppose, to entertain such feeling
sincerely, yet | loved him also. Two years
rolled away, and our love continued to ex-
list and increase. was fifteen. One day
Pierre and quarreled, and |, thinking he
had shown much hastiness and bitterness Of
temper, would make no concessions to him,
though perhaps myself in the wrong. AT
that very time, young gentleman saw me
by the wayside, as you did, when passing.
He seemed struck with my appearance
indeed, greatly so. The compliments which
he paid me, repeated with triumph to Pl-
erre, and they onl y made him more Jealous.
The young gentleman of whom | have spo-
ken returned, and told me that he could
not forget me. He asked me 10 go with
him, aud he would make me great lady.
You would now say, sir, that stood fear
ful chance of falling into the gulf of ruin
and misery. Not so; the young gentleman
had soul too noble, too honorable, to be
the cause of misery to any one, and his
views for me were in accordance with that
spirit. listened to him with mingled feel
Jugs. | was an orphan: no one was near
me to caution or to counsel. Pierre wa
my only tie to my birthplace, land it was on
his account that | felt distressed. | gave
him opportunities to renew his addresses /;
but his anger and jealousy prevented him
from doing so. Iyield to the pressing SUIT
of the other, and was whirled off in the car
riage from Poitou. Before had gone far,
repented of my conduct, and entreated
with tears to be carried back to Pierre
But my mind became calmer ere long.
My incaution could only be excused in
village girl of fifteen. But | was in sale
guidance. 1t was to school near Paris
that was conveyed by the Count d'Au-
ray, who, as you may imagine, was the per-
son now alluded to. For five years | re-
maiued IN perfect seclusion. enjoying the
best advantages of education. AT times the
count visited our seminary and learned
10 love him fondly. How could it be 9TH
erwi>e: la my benefactor saw the ten
derest of lovers, and most amiatle of men
young, handsome and accomplished. Pi-
erre was forgotten, and became the Coun-
tess dAuray. All Monsieur de Manle-
on" continued the countess, ,"can you con-
ceive after this recital, the cause Of the Sc
cret grief that preys upon me' Pierre is
the cause. Old feelings have returned up
on me. Madwoman that am regret
the hours of flower gathering by the way
side figure to myself the happiness l
have lost as excelling that possessed
dream of being peasants wife, the own
er but of a cot, COW, and little garden !!
These thoughts haunt and pursue me. Yes,
sir, they make me miserable-me, who so
dearly love my husband! What mad
| ness p
As the countess said his she shed abun-
dance of tears Nj. de Manleon pitied her
sincerely: but he said" Madam, this mis-
cry is but the result of an excess of happi-
mass. You are absolutely satiated with
blessing"
"Ah Monsieur de Manleon," continued
the countess, "but think how much poor
PierreeBlllion regrets me Perhaps he has
died Of grief: and 1t was |, too, who was in
the wrong in the quarrel wbich separated
us" Nj. de Manleon continued for some
time to talk and reason with the lady. He
tried the force of ridicule, and painted Pi-
ere, not as the flower gathering boy of heI
fancy, but as coarse, uneducated clown,
whose society would be intolerable to her
cultivated mind, and who lived in state
very unlike the Daphns or MelibGus oil
her Arcadan oream. He would probably
be married, said Nj. de Mauleon, long ago
and possibly was vicious, and beat his poor
wife. All this sort OF reasoning only drew
sigh from the lady. She was sllenced
but not convinced.
In time Nj de Manleon became an init
mate friend and constant visitor OF the
Count d. Auray and his lady. tie saw tha
the latter indeed loved her husband mos
fondly, and in his presence forgot all hel
distress but it returned to her in solitude
One day, while M. de Manleon was seated
with the countess, converSlng upon tht
usual subject of their tete-a-tetes,t s,the Coun
d. Auray entered. pale and agitated. The
countess spruno ED. Her husband embrac
ed her, saying to Nj. dc Manleon-"Be
hold my consolation when am vexedP T.
"What has happened, said the countess