Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-02

| circumstance that was notifying to her self
love. She fell asleep with the determination
OF amusing Bassompierre, when he called to
pay his deroar to her the next morning with
whimsical description of the pale dark-eyed
| boy trusting that her powers of mimicry would
elicit from her sprightly lover the name of the
| person she sketched, without betraying her Gu
riosity
The following day. at as early an hour as
courtly etiquette permitted, the salons of the
Duchess de Montmorenci were crowded with
visitors of the highest rank, all eager to offer
their compliments to her beautiful daughter.
lie of the mysterious dark eyes and Francois
Bassompierre were however not among the
visitors. Charlotte was surprised and pqued
at this neglect on the part of her lover and re-
solved to punish him by a very naughty recep-
ton the next time he entered her presence but
! he neither came nor sent to inquire after her
health that day.
The next morning the Duke de Montmoren-
CT, after his return from the kings levee, said
to his daughter =
Charlotte, the king has forbidden your mar
riage with young Bassomperre"
Very impertnent of the king, l think =
| What reason does he give for this unprecedent-
ed act of tyranny ?"
That you are worthy of more illustrious
alliance"
Il wish King Henri would mind his own bu-
sness, instead of interfering in mine" said Char
lotte, angrily.
"My dear child, you are ungratefu to our
gracious sovereign, who has expressed his in
tention of marrying you to his own kinsman,
| the first prince of the blood"
And who may he be r'
"The young Prince de Conde, the illus
trious descendant of line of heroes, and, af-
ter Henri's infant sons, the heir-presumptve to
the throne of France. Think of that, my daugh-
ter !"
IL will not think OF any thing but Bassom-
! pierre" replied Charlotte, resolutely "It is
very barbarous of the king to endeavor to sepa-
rate those whom love has united"
Love !" repeated the duke "Bah you
cannot say that you seriously love young Bas-
sompierre
think him very handsome and agreeable
at any rate and | am determined to marry
him, and no one else All comprehend the
reason of his absence now. He has been for
hidden to see NE by that cruel Henri"
" You are right, Charlotte it is in obedience
to the injunctions of the sovereign, that Bas-
sompierre has discontinued his visits to you.-
GU Will see him no more"
Have | not said that / will not resign
him ?"
Yes, my daughter, but he has resigned
you"
Resigned me y exclaimed Charlotte start
ing from her chair with burst of indignant
surprise Nay, that is impossible; unless, in
deed, you have told him that l am faithless or
that wish him to sacrifice his happiness in
order to contract a nobler alliance"
" On the word of Montmorenci he has
been told nothing except that it was the kings
pleasure that he should relinqush his engage
ment with you, and marry the heiress of the
Duke d'Aumale."
How, marry another? But know Bas-
sompierre too well to believe he will act so
bascly."
I" Ny poor Charlotte, you are little acquain-
ted with the disposition of men of the world
and courtlers, or You would not imagine the |
possibility of your hand being placed in COM |
petition with the loss Of the royal favor Bas- |
s0mpierre instead of acting like a romantic |
boy and forfeiting the kings regard for the
sake of pretty girl, who cares not whit more
for him than he docs for her, has cancelled his |
contract with Charlotte Marguerite de Mont
morenci, and af1ianced himself to Mademoseile |
dAumale"
"The heartlcss minion y cried Charlotte,
with flashing eyes 'wOuld that | had some
means of evincing my scorn and contempt for
his basencss ="
"The surest way of doing that, my child, |
will be to accept the illustrious consort whom
the king has been graciously pleased to provide
for you"
think so too" replied Charlotte, after a
pause ; but what sort of u man is the Prince
de Conde ?"
He is said to possess great and noble
qualities" said the duke; but be is at pres
ent only in his minority, and is withal of a re-
served disposition. There is, however, no doubt
but the companionship of wife Of your brilliant
wit and accomplishments will draw out the fine
talents with which this amiable prince is endow
ed, and render him worthy of his distinguished
ancestry"
"I,confess," observed Charlotte, " that l
should prefer a man whose claims to my respect |
were Of less adventurous character | should .
like to be the wife Of hero"
So you will, in all probability if vou marry |
Henri de Conde. He is the last representative
of line whose heritage is glory, and Of whose
alliance even a Montmorenci might be proud;"
returned the father
lie then hastened to communicate to the |
king the agreeable intelligence that his daugh-
ter had offered no objections to a marriage with
his youthful ward and kinsman, the Prince de
Conde.
1t is WE'LL" replied the monarch; " / will
myself present the Prince de Conde to his fair
bride, and the contract shall be signed in my
presence this evening"
The Duke and Duchess de Montmorenci |
were charmed at the idea of an alliance that
offered to their only daughter no very remote
prospect of sharing the throne of France. AS
for the fair Charlotte her pride alone having
been wounded by the desertion of Bossompierre,