Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-07
A YEARS EXPERIENCE
OR, THE LEGACY LOVE


OR, THE LEGACY CT LOVE. H
A beautiful girl Of seventeen Is in tn,
Convent of st. Agatha: she is, dressed
as novice /; her name is Zelie, There i
a ring at the Convent Bell, and shortl,
after Count Montalen'bert is ushered in
lie had written to the lady abbess, to re
quest an interview with the daughter O
his comrade, dead in the frozen track O
the retreat from Moscow, to whom he has
sworn, upon closing his eyes, to watct
over his daughter during his life with the
love of parent. The Count was fiftv,
and his physicians had warned him that
from his wounds, his death could not be
distant. He was, however, still noble
and commanding-even prepossessine in
appearance. .-.~--- :.
, Il regret, my child" said the Count
g to have been the messenger of the un.
fortunate news of your dear father-my
best friend-but be assured that I oslv
follow his wishes and the dictates Of m,
own heart when offer that protection
which is now impossible for him to give.
and which must be required by one SC
lovely"
The tears Of affliction at the loss of her
parent had already been dried by the
hand of time, and the young novice. true
to the character of woman, blushed deep.
ly at the warm praise that was bestowed
upon her beauty. . A..
Indeed, | but speak the truth" con-
tinued the Count, who had observed the
rich glow that his compliment had pro-
duced upon her beautiful cheek. "f You
are very beautiful but that very beauty
Zelie, will be the cause of your trouble in
this world" ..-.,- ....'-..r
The Count was silent for an instant, as
though from embarrassment, and then,
as if summoning up a sudden resolution,
he said
" Are you, Zelie, attached to any one,
or have you ever seen him whom you
could love and marry 2" G
No, monsieur, replied the blushing
novice, after moments hesitation.
I" But you are likely to love soon and
rashly, once free in the world and that
is one evil against which | wish to shield
you. There is also another which am
only sorry, that need your permission
to aid in averting."
Ielie looked inquiringly.
" Poverty, the grave of love but to
avert this from you, have sacrifice to
demand at your hands,"
Again the Count stopped, as though
embarrassed, and Zelie with difficulty
suppressed her impaticnce. -,s-. -
My physicians tell me-" he resumed,
in tone lower, calmer, THAT my lease
of life is wearing rapidly to cloSe-a
year hence its utmost span. Could you
live in the world without love for one
year, Zelie 2"
Monsieur exclaimed the maiden, in
surprise.
''TEen listen to my proposal II have
a fortune while / live large enough for
your most ambitious desire, but it is left
to me with conditions that forbid my
conveying it through any link save mar
riage, and to my widow only for life
Togiveit you, regret deeply for your sake
to say that must wed you. You start,
Zelie, daughter of my dearest friend: but
do not answer me yet; leave you to re-
solve this in your mind till tomorrow.
Remember, l shall not trouble you long.
and the name of Montalembert is as noble
as your own, also that you require year,
perhaps more than year, to recover
from your first dizzy gaze upon the world.
1 shall put no restraint upon you, and
have no wish bat to fulfil my duty to my
dearly beloved comrades in arms, and TO
know after my death you will be happy.
Adieu ~
The Count quilted the young girl alb
ruptlv, and, overcame with the sudden
ness Of the communication, she contin-
ued wrapt in thought till the. refractory
bell rang for dinner. rv.
1t was an evening of June, the Court
were assembled at Versilles, and amidst
the fairest Of the flowers Of the French
nobility was one who was marked of all
for her grace and loneliness. She was
young, and, apparently, as yet unused to
the way of the gay and giddy. throng
by whom she was surrounded. The
young beauty was none other than the
Countess of Montalembert, just blooming
through the close of her first year OF
wedleck. -. - - -, - - -.
The Count stepped with her from the
shades of the orange grove, and then
again fell behind unperceiyed, that he
might keep his eyes filed with the grace
of her motion without seeming to wor-
ship her before the world. The Count
had forgotten that he must die. The
year allotted to him by. his ply ysicians
had passed, and Ear from falling gradu.
ally in his deom, bis figure had straight
enei and his step grew firm. He had
drunk life from love. The beautiful