Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-05-30

for malrimony, and yet, no one per-
ceived all these good qu ,lities of hus-
band which this honest youth possessed.
The good husband was lost sight of un-
der the envelop of the bachelor, and
Leon, Notwithstanding his personal at
fractions, his six thousand livres income,
and his great desire of marrying, was
still single at twenty-eight.
AS rash as he was difident, Leon ad-
dressed himself at first TO a young wild
ow, whose coquetries he repaid by a
very frank and formal proposition of
marriage! The widow. who was not
expecting this, was much surprised to
have been taken in earnest but she ap-
preciated widowhood too well to be will
ing to renounce that happy state She,
therefore, thanked her respectful adorer,
and gave him the mitten.
Leon was disconnected by this event,
and from that time all his advances to-
wards the fair sex were made with sus
picion and woeful want of skill. When
he had been stranded three times, his
defeats became subject of remark, and
the families with whom he sought alli-
ance were distrustful of him. ''He had
been refused" said one, by Madame
H, and the Misses l. and
W. 1t must be that this young
man, under good appearances, cOnceals
some great defects" Indeed, his dis
comftures afforded gossip for the whole
community, and gave rise to strange and
/ terrible conjectures.
Two or three years thus elapsed, and
Leon, overwhelmed By so many de-
feats. finally sank into profound dis
cOuragement. Fortunately, his uncle
Lombard came 10 the rescue.
Monsieur Lombard had been travel
ling agent in his youth; and having be-
come rich, and partner in an opulent
commercial house, he had reserved that
branch of the business which requires
travelling to himself, in order that he
might indulge in his early and cherish
ed habits. For thirty years he had
travelled over France, and had required
the reputation ofhaving fat des passions,
in every department. For the rest, he
was sufficiently handsome man to jus
tify this gallant cosmopolitan. A grea
advocate of celibacy, which he indulged
in as an amateur, he had, still, never
sought to combat the inclinations o
Leon. Frankly liberal, it was princi
pie with Monsieur Lombard never to op
pose the taste of any one.
At the moment of starting upon ;
long journey, he had said to his neph
ew =" Do not despair, my boy. l en-
gage to find for you an accomplished
wife in Provence l will arrange the af
fair, and you shall have nothing but to g
there and be married. You can rely
upon me, for 1 have happy faculty o
arranging matters of this sort. In on,
month ycu shall hear from me-"
Monsieur Lombard had kept his word
three weeks after his departure he wrot
to his nephew =
"MY DEAR FRIEND Il have the pleas
ure to inform you that, according to NJ!
promise, l have found you a supert
match. 4 young person, beautiful a
an angel, with blonde hair, magni6cen
blue eyes, and the only daughter of
, widow who possesses fifteen Thousand
5 livres income in good stocks. The dow
ry will be hundred thousand francs
L hope you will not complain of me-
Set out as soon as you receive my letter
and hasten to be married. cannot as
e sist at the wedding, being obliged to g
t without delay to Marseilles, and 10 spen,
S two months in Provence. On my re
turn, I shall take true pleasure in find
ing you at housekeeping, and until then
/; accept my very sincere wishes for you
e happiness. Adieu. Yourdevoted uncle
"IsIDoRE LOMBARD.
f ''P. S.-See the name of your futur
wife MademoiSeIIe Euphrasie DuIiffOi:
: at Madame Dutillois, in Bonij, nea
/. Montargis.
II This letter overwhelmed Leon wit
II joy. He set out, as we have seer
light hearted, full of hope, and dream
ing of a happy fuinre.
1t At Fontainebleau the diligence STOP
ped, and the driver allowing the passer
y gers twenty minutes for dinner, the
=, sat down at the table. In another room
t, the passengers of diligence from Ly
/, ons had just finished their repast, an
d were preparing to re enter their carriag,
5, when some gems d arnes presented then
n selves and demanded their passport
Ie which they examined with care, f,
Is there had recently occurred a conspir;
n cy of some sort. After having gor
lie through with the customary iormali lie
a the geaS-d' 'armes, made the circuit of IL
m two tables, and each passenger answe
y ing to his name received his passport.
a. While Leon was on his way to MOI
a. targis, he was the subject of convers
u tion at Bonij.
I'd Euphrasie Dutillois merted the eulo
r ium that Monsieur Lombard had pass,
s, upon her beauty. She was, indeed,