Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-09

young man uelnS Iull OF OHe 'Ho"o".i
ed continually about it, and omitted none
of the details in relation to it, as well pass
ed as future.
With tins sort of conversation, the young
friends journeyed on together to Paris On
their arrival, they went to look Tor lodg-
ings at the Hotel d'Angleterre, In the rue
Richelieu. They had scarcely taken rooms
there before M. de st. Andres friend was
seized with an attack of cholera, wich IN
spite of all care and attention, brought him
to the grave in less than two hours time.
Deeply distressed at the sad fate OF his
young companion, NJ de st. Andre turned
his attention at once to the duties devolv-
ing upon hun in consequences knowing
that the young man was anxiously looked
fer at his father-in-law' residence, ne took
possession OF all papers found in the pocket
and portfolio of the deceased, and direct
ing his steps thither, with the intention
of delivering these papers and advising
them of the melancholy disaster.
So far all went on very well, and the
right order of events would not have been
interrupted had il not been for circum-
stance which caused M. de St. Andre to
forego his good resolutions. On reaching
the house Of the intended father-in-law, the
servants, who we're instructed to expect
the arrival of the bridegroom, on seeing
this young man, took it for gtanted that he
was the person expected. They accord
ingly announced him as such to the master
of the house, who ran to meet him with a
cordial embrace, and, without giving him
time to speak, took him to his wife's room,
and presented him as her son-in-law, and
to his daughter as her future husband.
M de St. Andre could not resist the idea
of passing himself off for the person he was
supposed to be, and played his part accord
ingly to perfection. He handed the let
tiers with which he was provided 10 the ia
ther and mother, and being fully prepared,
answered all the questions they addressed
to him. He succeeded especially well With
the young damsel herself, who, at glance,
was struck with his fine person and ad-
dress. Dinner was announced, M. de st.
Andre was placed next to his bride; the
parties gave themselves up to full enjoy
ment of'.he happy event. The young la
dy was reserved, spoke little, scarcely an
swered word and blushed continually.
Nj. de st. Andre was attentive and devoted
to her, as we'll as to her parents, maintain
ing very composed demeAnor, and yet
gay and lively in his conversation.
Dinner over and coffee brought in, the
conversation took more serious turn
They began to talk of the arrangements to
be made, and OF all the details of the new
establishment In the midst (which, as
M. de st. Andre rose and took his hat, and
was preparing to leave, his father-in-law
asked him:
''Bet why do you leave us?"
Il have business, he replied, (which re-
quires my attention"
How What business can you have
in a city where you are for the first time,
and where you are entirely unacquainted? ??
True all true; but it is no less true that
| mast positively take my leave Of YOU"
'Ah, well, see how it is; you are gong
to your bankers. Ifso, in the first place
you may rest assured would not let you be
in want and that what | have is at your
service. And then, if you really must have
business with your banker can send some
one who will attend to it forvou.'
No., be said that is not it. 1t is mat
ter which absolutely requires my personal
attention.
So speaking, NJ. de St. Andre went to-
wards thedoor. On reaching the anti cham-
Der, whittier his father-in-aw had led him,
Now tlat we are alone, he continued,
and canrot be overheard by the ladies, /
will tell you that an accident happened to
me this rnorning soon after my arrival. |
was seizet with an attack of cholera, which
carried me off. My funerals fixed for six
o'cleckS you see | cannot fail TO be there
and being stranger here, if failed to be
exact in keeping my engagement, | shoa!d
gain a reputation for carelessness which
might injue me.
The establishment with which the ord
gentleman listened to this disclosure, may
be easily imagined. Perhaps he did not
think the notion of burial particularly
pleasant fancy. The whole thing, however
appeared 50 extravagant that he came into
the room again, laughing immoderately
and with difficulty restraining himself so as
to tell the story to his wife and children.
While taking over the joke, it struck six
O'Clock then seven; they began to wonder
at the young mans absence. AT half-past
seven. the father-in-law growing impatient,
sent to the Hotel d 'Angleterre to inquire af-
ter his son,in-law. The servant charged
will, the message, having asked for him un,
der his true name, the people at the hotel
told him that the gentleman arrived at nine
O'clock ia the morniag, died at eleven, and
was to be buried at six in the evening. 1t
would be difficult to describe the coaster
nation caused by this reply, when it was
told to the tather-in-law and his wife and
daughter.
Here the story ends, and does not inform
us whether the family made any further in
quiries, nor in what they resulted, nor is it
of any importance to the reader.
The story, however. says Besenval, has
moral. If at the present day-that is to
say, in his own time-a young man were
TO commit such an act, he would lose his
reputation for ever; although in those days
society, essentially corrupt, wore rigid
mask of hypocrisy and of high respect for
prejudices, which only tended to dlssimt-
late wee, and conceal crime and extrava-
gance. But in the reign of Louis XIV the
adventure was regarded as very amusing,
and the whole world considered it very
good joke.
vs. Robert Burns, the Ayrshire poet and
pioaghman, who died neglected and an
fnended is likely in his defendants TO min
gle with the aristocracy of Britain, we see,
by our late English files. Major Burns
or COlonel-at Dresont bolJ;no a hiuh Situ.