The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-01-10
From the French
The Hump.backed Cousin.


The Hump.backed Cousin.
Behold an extraordinary occurrence of the
latter days. Ii it were not an extraordinary
occurrence, one need not relate it.
A father Of family nhabiting the Rue de
Michodiere, received last summer, a letter
from his nephew, who was in the employ of
Hyder Abad. The letter concluded thus:
i have received The portraits of my two
cousins, Marie and Margaret have never
had the pleasure of seeing them, as have lived
nth Hyder Abad since my youth, but am
sure that these portraits are resemblances. L
will arrive at IIavre by the ship Ingos Ego,
about the first of October, and on my re-
turn am determined to marry the beautiful
Mar
The breaking open of the letter had destroy.
ed the rest of the name. 1t is impossible to
tell if The cousin asked Margaret or Marie in
marriage. The two sisters united previous
to this time, have commenced to live in miSun.
derstandings, each of them positive that it was
breaking the seal.
The father employed his eloquence in calm.
ing the anger Of his daughters when servant
sent in advance, arrives from Havre, unnnun-
ciug that his master went to Paris with the
evening train.
The servant overwhelmed with questions.
replied that his master was ruined, and that
he had, moreover, on his left shoulder the hor
rid prntuberance which caused, according to
Palanude, SO many misfortunes to Esop the
Phrygian.
~ 49, 81 g,
gle forever, before marrying a cousin, hump.
backed and ruined.
As they took this oath for the twentieth time
in twelve hours, the cousin arrives. The uncle
warmly embraced him, the cousins make po.
lite bow, and turn away their eyes. The un-
Gle then explains the incident of the torn letter
and asks the intentions of his nephew.
1T is my cousin Marie whom came to mar.
ry' he replied.
:Never-neverr screamed Marie, am con.
tented with my condition, and shall remain in
it,
'Mademoielle,' said the nephew, Customs of
the country where have been educated.-
Read the customs of Hyder Abad, in Traver-
nier. There, when young man is refused in
marriage, he withdraws himself from society as
useless being
He kills HIMSELF exclaims the good Marga-
ret
He kills HIMSELF replies the nephew, in the
tones ola man about to commit suicide.
'lhis poor cousin said Margaret, weeping
ito come from such distance to die in the bo.
som Of his family
/ know said the nephew, that my deformi-
ty affects the sight of women, but in time the
eyes of women become habituated to all things.
know, also, that my commercial prospects
are not prosperous Thrown very young into
the diamond business, the only employment of
Hyder Abad, lost there all the fortune of my
father, but had acquired experienced am
young'actve and industrious. These are rich.
es in themselves
yes, yes, hump-backed and ruined, mutter-
ed Marie aside, in Il bantering tone.
Poor young man. and she aids, my cousin
am refused, and you pay no attention to it,
'And by whom refused z inquired her cous.
in.
But to your cost, by you, since you prefer
my sister to me-
'Eh bien said the cousin, will you accept
me if ask you in marriage from my uncle?'
Il will engage my father to let my cousin
live
WHAT exclaimed the hump back, do YOU
consent my lovely Margaret TO-
Save the lite of relative Indeed, I'll not
waver moment
This is very we'll Of my daughter said the
uncle, affected by the scene. 'Remonstrances
have not spoiled you. have very small in
come, but | ought not to abandon the son Of
my brother in misfortune. | will keep him
here as kindred, for where there is enough
for three, there is, for four
The cousin threw himself at Margaret's feet
saying:
You have saved the life of an unfortunate
man.
At little distance, Marie uttered to herself,
MY sister has courage. AS for me, would
let hump. backed cousins die
Uncle said the young man, "allow me to
make slight toilet before breakfast
He pressed Margaret's hand, bowling to Ma.
rie and left to change his travelling attire.
The uncle and his daughters were at the ia
BILE and awaited their guest.
The servant announced the cousin of Hyder
Abad.
The two girls uttered two screams, but on
different keys. They see enter a charming