Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-03-02

will induce him to cherish virtue, and whose
companionship will make all his duties agree
able Madame de Palmene recognized in this
description the portrait of her own daughter
but when she reflected upon the extreme dis
proportion between her own fortune and that
of the Count, she could scarcely persuade her
self that he really entertained such intentions
towards Eugene.
Two years had now elapsed since Madame
! de Palmene's residence in Paris, and Eugene
had reached her eighteenth year, when one
evening the Count entering their house, asked
| permission to preseut to them his son, who
had just arrived; at the same moment appeared
an interesting looking young man, who ad-
vanced towards Madame with an eager and tim
| id air. which added grace to his natural at
fractions. The Count and his son remained
to supper. Leonce spoke little, but every
word evinced desire to please, and Madame
de Palmene observed that his eye constantly
rested on Eugenie The next day the Count
returned with his son. Is
| MY dear friend, said Madame de Palmene,
6 | must remind you that have made an ire
vocable decree against admitting young men
of the age of your son.
But, Madame, replied the Count, it is in
the highest degree important that you should
find out whether he is acceptable to you
How what do you meant
'Ah Madame, do you not see that his hap
piness and mine depend on your appreciation
Only give yourself an opportunity of knowing
him, and if he has the fortune to please you,
all my desires will be fulfilled This was in
deed, to speak intelligibly Madame de Pal
meme expressed to the Count her grateful
sense Of the compliment to her daughter but
she would not yet make him any promise
She wished to consult Eugenie's feelings, and
to make some inquiries concerning the charac-
ter of Leonce
The result Of her inquiries only confirmed
the desire which she already experienced to
choose him for her daughter and the Count
pressing her again for decisive answer, she
hesitated no longer. As soon as the necessa-
nv arrangements could be made, the marriage
contract was signed +; and the day after, Leonce
received with transport, the hand Of the amia-
bic Eugene. The newly married pair retired
10 charming country scat belonging to the
Count, about ten miles from Paris. Ii was
how the spring time of the year, and it was
1pPldpi hat hpY,ld IN tbo
during the summer and autumn Madame de
Palmene remained with her children duRng
three months at the end Of this time she was
obliged to leave them. Wishing 10 establish
herself permanently in Paris, the arrangement
of her affairs required her presence for time
at her estate in Touraine.
Although her mother was to return in
few months, it required all Eugenie's frmness
ness after the departure Of her mother render
ed her still more interesting in the eyes Of her
husband. In the fear, however, Of paining
Lconce, she concealed from him, as far as pos
sble, her sorrow; but she gave way to it
without restraint before Louise, the compan-
ion of her childhood, who still lived with her
as an attendant Her sweetest consolation
was to speak Of her mother and TO write long
letters to her, containing a detail of all her
feelings, her occupations and her pleasures
Already nearly two months had elapsed, since
this Time Eugene had not once visited Paris.
She had nothing TO desire but the return of
her mother she was all in all to her husband,
and each day he became more dear to her
Often as they walked together in the woods and
fields Eugene would question Leonce about his
travels, and would receive both pleasure and
instruction from his replies. AT other times,
seated together upon the banks of some wood
land stream, Eugenie would sing some simple
ballad, accompanying her voice with guitar.
Her sweet melodious voice drew around her
Shepherds and reapers, from the plains and
harvest fields around, who forgot their labors
and their fatigue, in listening to her singing
One evening Eugene remarked, among her
rural auditors, an old man of apparently more
than seventy years, whom she had never be-
fore seen; attracted by his venerable aspect
and flowing silyery hair, she inquired his
name. He was an old peasant, she was told,
named Jerome, remarkable in the village for
his devotion to poor paralytic sister, and five
little orphan grandchildren, whom he main
tanned by the labor of his own hands,
Eugene had little command of money. Her
father-in-law was wealthy and liberal, but
wishing to give his children habits of order
and economy, he had the wisdom and courage
to forbear from yet sharing his fortune with
them. When you have proved to me, said
he to his son, that you know how to make
good use of money, we will have common
purse. In FIVE years, for instance, if am sat
lsf1ed with your conduct, l will ioyfnlly de-
Prlve myself in favor of son. reasonable, and
economical but would never give to a dis
slpated or extravagant spendthrift, fortune
which | owe to my own prudence, and of
which have a right to dispose of at nv own
pleasure
: All my dear father, said Leonce. ! n
giving me Eugene have you not already given
me everything!' .e am73
Eugene, on her part, desired no larger al
lowance than she already had with Judgment
and economy very moderate sum was suffi-