The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-03-08

sieur dc st. Nalaye before ] retilc,
The tear that was just sparkling in nClcm-
encc's eye, must, Fear, have proclaimed
her child still, when voice behind set.
tied the matter for her, and made her
swallow her tears with the bost grace
she might, by saying My niece will
have much pleasure in dancing with yor,
Monsieur and then turning to the queen.
Richelicu excused her bashfalness on ac-
count of her secluded education
Clemcncc did not dream of disoboying
her uncle she arose from her spot. and
NJ. de St Nalayc touching the tips of
her little fingers with his, icd her to her
place in the dance. Diamonds glittered.
and rich silks rus,lcd as she moved a
long, and began to dance. timidly indeed
but not uugracefully. and the queen was
in the act Of expressing her admiration
in answer to sone remarks of Richcicu's.
when, alas for poor Clemence in the very
act of performing deep reverence, she
stumbled and fell, the cause of her dis
astcr displayed itself at the same time
in the shape Of so enormously high
heclcd pair Of shoes that it was mar.
vel the poor child could even walk in
them they had been given her to ill.,
crease her height. No motives of kind
ness or good breeding could restrain the
laughter of the SPECTATORS as VI dc ST
Nalaye raised her the tears. which for
some time had been lurking near. burst
forth. for She hrd hurt herself much fall.
ing on the hard 30rqua floor; but her
ear caught the sound of one mockine
laugh high above the rest. and. looking
towards the place whore the Due d'Eug-
hien stood She saw :hc sharp glance Of
contempt and dislike he threw ut her
The poor girl shuddercd, and put her
hands on her eyes Then recovering her
self with strong effort, She turned to
her partner, gently apologized for her
awkWardness. and insisted on finishing
the dance. which she did with much grace
and self-posscssion.
Bur the praises which Anne of Aus
tria bestowed on her when she returned
to her seat were unheard. That mock
ing laugh and that deadly look were
present to her Imagination, haunting her
like frightfrl vision of impending evil
for many long day.
1t was two years after the marriage of
the youthful Clemence and her reluctant
bridegroom, that large family party
was assembled in the Hotel de Conde. to
meet the return of the victorious Due
d d'Enghlen from the successful campaign
of Rocroy. Clemencc was there, but
sitting unnoticed in one of the deep win.
dow recesses, for her powerful uncle was
dead, and the proud family of Condo had
no longer au induccmcnt to treat with
any distinction his orphan niece.
She was taller than when we saw her
last even when she had the aid Of her
high-heelcd shoes, though still rather I'M
der the middle height and her sweet in
tellectual countcnauce was animated by
more tender expression than ever, ms
she gazed on her child, an infant of three
months old, who was lying ON her lap.
He, fair young check was iingcd with
flush of excitement she was waiting the
moment when she should place her child
in the arms Of his father, and be able to
read in lis eyes the hope that for his
sake he would give her the love size had
SO long sought for in vain.
She had borne with patience his cold
indifference before he left her she was
still so much child as hardly to know
or value her rights of affection but the
birth of little Henri had opened to her
thoughts and feelings she had not before
experienced. She had learned with
heart throbbing with pride, of her hu..
bands victories and his glory and sh
now hoped to gain the affection of the
hero, and to be ablo to offer IN words the
sympathy her heart felt SO deeply, She
longed to be to him all that ho was to
her, forgetting, in her inexpcrienco poor
child, that the love which is the sole OBJ
jcct OF woman's life, makes but very
small part of the hopes and cares that
throng the busy brain of man.
A distant huzza was heard in the
streets, then the sound of wheels aud
horses feet and accompanied by his
father and brother, and greeted by the
enthusiastic shouts of the population, the
young Due d'Enghien rode proudly into
the courtyard, and in few moments en-
tered the saloon.
One by one he greeted his assembled
relations and, last of all, Clemenco, hav.
ing placed her child in his nurses arms,
came forward alone, with her dark blue
eyes cleaning through tears of JOY, and
endeavorcd to take his hand and put it
on her lips He drew it almost roughly
away and turning to his infant son. ca
ressed him, and spoke of him with eyi-
dent pleasure to his mother and sister.
Still not a word to his poor wife the
whole of that long evening, not even
kindly glance
1t was my fault, thought Clemence
it was so silly in me to cry; he must
have thought mt baby still. will try
and speak to him.
So she waited till the guests were
gone. and then coming up to him, as he
stood leaning against the lofty chimney
piece, she said:
Louis, am the only one who has not
congratulated you in words on your tri-
urnphant return; but, believe me, no one
has felt 1t more than l. Every time
heard you were going to attack the enc
my, how my heart trcmbled with anxiety
how earnestly | entreatcd God to pre-
serve you unharmed and then when l
was told of your triumphs was so happy
i felt so proud of being the wife Of
1t must be novel sensation, should
imagine interrupted the Due Enghien,
for bourgeois to have anything to be
proud of; but it may diminish in some
degree your triumph, Madame, to know
that, had it in the least degree depended
on me, you would never have had the