Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-26

tSL pftSeHls- peHFl HeckIaceS, 8OlQ CnallS, SILK
dresses, French gloves, perfumed handkerchiefs,
and all the ornaments which had been destined
for Madame Labedoyere. He spoke to her of
the extent and commodiousness of his house,
the size Of his plantation, the number of his
slaves and the bales of cotton and the pounds
of indigo he raised to the hand and wound
up by assuring her solemnly that at his death
he would bequeath to her his whole estate
Perceiving that she listened to him somewhat
more attentively he seasoned his discourse with
a little calumny against Richard, so Door and
SO incumbered with family. He insinuated
adroitly that the accident which had made him
the happiest of men, could not have happened
without some aid on the part of Richard -
Then he represented Richard in the arms of
the rich widow, forgetful Of poor Therese, whom
he had sacrificed for the sake of fortune. His
manner was SO sincere, SO submissive that
Therese began to regard him with an eve of
favor. She placed the gold chain upon her
neck, clasped the gold bracelets on her arms,
and little by little consented to share with Nj.
Dulac the banquet he had prepared Seated
at his side, she held out her glass for the cham
pagne, and drowned her nose and her sorrows
in its sparkling foam.
In the meantime, Madam Labedoyere, now
Madam Richard, was rapidly borne to the cab
| in of her spouse on the mettlesome courser
that Richard had brought from tie Avoyelles.
Although the dwelling of Richard was further
off than that of Mr.. Dulac, yet owing to the
rapidity of the pace she made the passage in
the same time as Therese, and arrived Just as
the day was breaking. Her surprise was
greater even than that of the young girl The
room into which she was led had floor of
roughly hewn and badly jointed planks the
bare beams of the loft were blackened with
smoke; an entire cypress log was blazing
brightly in the huge fire-plae a few old chairs,
a dozen of stools, and two large arm chairs,
| constituted the whole of the furniture.
Into this room the widow was introduced
No slave was present to receive her. A white
headed girl assisted her in taking of her
mantilla. When she stood before them, in all
the blaze Of other jewels, and her robes of
rustng silk, the two old folks who had risen
up to welcome her-the one an old man of
sixty years, with white beard and buckskiu
pair of pantaloons, the other respectable
matron, some ten years younger, with large
cotton bonnet and coarse wOOlen dress-with-
drew their hands stretched out to embrace
their daughter, and bowed themselves to the
floor in respectful silence.
"What handsome dame !" said the old
woman to her husband
What wife for Richard !" whispered the
blonde who had taken off the mantilla.
Madame Labedoyere cast upon the proup
and cabin looks of bitter disdain. Her ewes
black and naughty, flashed fire as she spurned
the miserable chair they offered her Her
moustachc, which had sprouted up anew ,bristled
on her curled and sneering lip
90 Whora o,n 7 2p ohn avolo;nad IN n,Lo,o
house, and with whom ? This is not the home
of my husband"
"Where is my wife ?" said Richard, enter
ing at the same moment, his face radiant with
joy. Where is my wife, that may embrace
her 2" Then seeing the widow, What woman
is this 2" he asked, in tone of voice disturbed
and anxious, he could hardly tell why
1t is the woman, replied one Of his friends,
:" it is the wife the priest gave US for you"
And beautiful dame she is" said Richards
mother "a handsomcr one, I dare say, is not
to be found in all the Avoyelles
But am not your wife !" exclaimed the
widow, in a furious voice." | am not your wife.
Let some conduct me to my husband. 1 will
not stay moment longer in this wretched
cabin"
You speak truly" replied Richard "You
and, thank Heaven one much prettier than YOU
-Therese Paccard my lovely Therese. There
is some fatal mistake here, which must clear
up. You must remain as u hostage until find
my Therese. Unless Therese be given up. you
shall not leave this miserable cabin as you see
fit to call it."
Ah," said Richards mother, struck by a
sudden idea, "you sec that all this has happen
a1 fho ErI -i,rl+ +oFD l@l, Il.
has given you this unlucky dame by. mistake
" In that caSe," answered Richard, =" it will
be necessary for Balthazar to find and restore me
my wife. What right has he to cheat me out
OF her anothers advantage? Why has he Civ
en- me this naughty woman who is old enough
to be my mother But will go to see Baltha-
Ear, that he may restore me my dear Therese
In the meantime keep strict guard upon this
woman and detain her till l return"
Having uttered these words he rushed out of
doors, Notwithstanding the rain, which was now
falling in torrents His mother called to him
in vain. Mounting his horse, he rode at once
to the village of Adayes. He had long in
terview with Balthazar Polo. The good priest
tried to persuade him that mistake was i'm
possible !; he felt sure that he had given the
rings to the proper persons, and the brides to
the friends of the husband. But all the worthy
priest could say only increased the fury of Rich
ard. He asked Balthazar if he thought the
whole world was as blind as himself-if he i'm
agined that he (Richard) could not distinguish
between woman of forty and pretty girl of
sixteen. At last Balthazar inquired if he knew
the name of the man who had knelt by his side,
as it might be that his betrothed had been car
ried off by him. Struck with this thought,
| Richard knew not what IN saw In hiS eycita.
ment he had not learned even the name of the
woman he had left at his home 1t was neces-
sary to get this information from the widow,
and he therefore prepared to return. He was
unwilling, however, to quit the village before