Washington telegraph., 1855-09-26
FiEial Affection Rewarded.


Nowhere in the world, one would think.
Is romance so intimately interviewer with
the realities of everyday life, as in La
Belle France The following charming
little story is one of the many that is being
enacted every day and hour in the gay me-
tropolis
In modest apartment in the Faubourg
St Germalne, young man of about thirty,
and an old White-haircd man, whose wan
derlng eye reveals that his mind is not quite
steady, have dwelt for several years. This
young man. whom we shall designate simply
by the probeniatical letter X, for fear of
being indiscTeet, is an engraver on copper.
and shares his dwelling with his father, who
fell into his dOtage ten years ago. from the
loss of all he owned The poor old mans
insanity consists of sort of restlessness
for which he cannot account, even to him
self, and nothing but The presence of his
son can calm him in the least degree. on
which account the young man tends the af-
flcted parent with the tenderness and solici
tude Of a mother for her child The neigh
bors are sometimes moved almost to tears
BY the lovely picture they occasionally see
through the open windows, of the good SON
supporting the white head of his poor old
father on his shoulder, where it rests with
the confidence and happiness of child
However. this affection of the artist for
his father, did not prevent his youthful heart
from asserting its rights, but it imposed the
most rigid silence upon the expression of
thus inward sentiment, for he feared lest his
bride should find the old man burden. and
fail to bestow that tenderness upon him to
which he was accustomed. Therefore, in
order TO deceive if possible this necessity Of
loving which he felt SO painful, Monsieur
x would watch for hours AT a time, a
charming young maid which appeared at one
Of the neighboring windows, abandoning
himself fearlcssly to the pleasure Of nour
ishing this passion, since it was utterly im-
possible he should ever win lis object. as
the lady was the daughter of his own land
lord, and would have dowry of some 200
600 francs. while he had but his burin She
was then but ;he ideal creation which every
artist calls up in his dreams, and in all the
young mans productions shonc forth her
lovely features.
Matters had been in this state for some
time. when finding himself in arrears for
two quarters rent, the young artist sought
bis landlord TO beg farther delay. until the
pay for some work then due should enable
him to meet the debt
In the FIRST place, young man. replied
the proprietor kindly. Il have never asked
you for the money. and request you will
not distress yourself about it in the next
place. why do you not marry You misL;
readily find wife with handsome dowry.
and money never comes amiss."
Monsieur. replied the young man, Il
have long determined TO remain single, fear
ing that Il wife would regard as a trouble
and embarrassment that poor old man to
whom l feel more Ike the father than the
son but to speak truly, | have discovered
a maiden for whom would answer as for
myself, so much of sweetness and angelic
goodness is there In her whole appearance
but never hope to win her, for she is rich
and L have nothing"
What, nohingo Have you not your
talent Besides, what man millionaire
though he might be-would hesitate to give
his child to the care of one who would watch
over her with the devotion with which you
attend your afflicted father Fear nothing.
then, but speak for her, be she whom she
may
But. sir, if I we're to tell you that your
daughter is the one love ~
by heaven, sir. you would tell me glo-
rious news. Do you believe | have forgot
ten, despite my fifty years. the eyes with
which a lover regards his fair one %
\ few days only have passed since Mons
X witnessed the realization Of what he
had regarded as an impossible dream, and
the old dotard feels with surprised satistac-
ton the kisses of young woman, beautiful
as an angel. mingled on his wrinkled fore
head with those of his beloved son