The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-01-20
MISCEL A n E O U S.
Marie de Ia Tour.
ATALC or LOVE AND REVENGE.

Madame de la Tour was the widow
of a,oncs fourishing ship broker in
Rouen, who, in consequence of some
unfortunate speculatieRs, had died in.
solvent. She had opened a small nil
1inery as means of subsistence. Al
about the same time, Clement DerEiile,
her late husbands confidential clerk, a
steady, perseyering. clever person, took
possession of the deceased ship-broker's
business. Close, money-loving, busi-
ness-absorbed as he might be, Clement
DeFSille was a man of vehement i'm
pulse and extreme susceptibility of fe-
male charms.
He did not, however. form any at
taehment; was still bachelor at forty-
Eve; and had for some yeaus almost
lost sight of, and forgotten Madame
de la Tour, when communication
from Jeanne Favart, an old servant who
had lived with the De la Tours in the
days of their prosperity, vividly re-
called old and fading memories. She
announced that Mada@e de la Tour
had been for many weeks confined TO
her bed by illness, and was, moreover.
in great pecaniary distress.
Diantre ~ exclaimed Deryille, 4
quicker and stronger pulse than usual
tinging his sallow cheek as he spoke.
That's pity. Who. then, has been
riinding the business for her :"
Her daughter Marie, gentle pious
child who seldom goes ont except to
church, and,7 added Jeanne, with a
keen look in her, masters ceuntenance.
1.-THE very image of the Madame de la
Tour We knew some twenty years ago.n
"Hap' Nj. Derville was evidently
disturbed, bat not so much so as to for
get TO ask, with some asperity, If din-
Rer was not readyp
In five minutes" said Jeanne. but
still holding the half-opened door in her
hand. "They are very, very badly off,
Monsieur, those unfortunate De Ia
Tours" she persisted. "a huissier
this morning seized their furniture and
trade-stock for rent, and if the sum is
not made up by sunset they will be ut
terly ruined.n ef
Il is a pity" he murmnred; and
then, briskly drawing out his watch,
he: added, sharply: But pray let us
have dinaeE. Do you know that it is
full seven minutes past the time that it
should be served?n .alse
No doubt the prosperous ship-broker
qrcs unusually agitated. The old wo-
mans news had touched achord which,
though dulled and slackeued bv The
heat and dust of seventeen years of
busy, anxious life, still vibrated strong
ly, and awakened memories that had
long slept in the chambers of his brain,
especially one pale Madonna face.
with its soft, tear-trembIing eyes that
--a-14fs Cfel ya he suddenly exclaimed,
as the door opened and gave TO view
the very form his fancy had coniured
up. q Gel lean ii be Pshawn' he
ADDED, as he fell back into the chair
frsm which he had feaped up ; s' you
Rust supposed me crazed, Mademoi-
sells-Mademoiselle de la Tour, I am
quite ceftaia.'
Il was, indeed, Marie de la Tour
whom Jeanne Favart had, with much
difficulty, persuaded to make personal
appeal to IT, DerVilIe
III. Clemeat DerVille had heard and
comprsheaded what was said, for he |
broke an embarrassing silence Of some
duration by saying, in. pleasant and
respectful tone: aTwelve Napoleons,
yon say, Mademoiselle. 1t IS nothing |
here are twenty. No thanks, beg of |
you, | hope to have an opportunity of |
rendering you-of rendering Madame
le la Tour, mean, some real aud last |
ing service"
Four days afterwards, NJ. Dersille |
called at the Rue ST. Antoine, only to
hear that Madame de la Tour had died |
! few hours previously. He seemed
much shocked and after a confused
offpr of further pecuniary assistance,
declined by the weeping I
daughter, took hurried leave.
There is no question that from the
moment of his first interview with her.
". DerViIls had received an ardent |