Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-02
s&lett&0 Gale.
Charlotte De Montmorenci.
TALE OF THE FRENCH CHRONICLES.
BY AGNES STRICKLAND.

It was the second morning after Charlotte
de Montmorenci's first ball but the enchant-
ments with which that memorable evening had
been fraught still foated before her youthful
fancy. She had thought of nothing but the
Louvre and its glittering pageantry all day ;
and her pillow had been haunted with dreams
of Henri Quartre and the gay and gallant no.
bles of his court who had We'd with each other
in offering the most intoxicating homage to her
charms Charlotte de Montmorenci was the
most beautiful girl in France, and the sensa-
ton produced by her first appearance at court,
was enough to dazzle the mind of damse on
ly Just emancpated from the sober restraints
Of a COnycntual education. She had danced
the mroa* with Henri himself, who had been
lavish, on that occasion, of the seductive fiat
terry which he was so well skilled to whisper in
ladys ear Charlotte had found this incense
only too agreeable ; but the pleasure with which
she was disposed to listen to the compliments
ofrO!alty, received something very like check
from the lmpertinent espionage of a pair of pene
tratng dark eyes, which, whenever she raised
her own, she encountered, fixed upon her with
looks expressive rather Of reproof than admi-
ration.
How dared any eyes address language so dis
pleasing to the reigning beauty of the evening,
especially when her adianced lover, the spright-
!! heIr Of Bassompierre, appeared highly gra-
uhed with the brilliant success that had atten-
aod her presentation at court Bassompierre
was The hahdsomest and most admired of all
me peers of France. He stood very high in
us iayor OF his sovereign and so generally
irresistible was he considered by the ladies, that
"Scnoce Of Mademoiselle de Montmorenci had
gi'''ied her to the envy of half the females of
Ia. ,.e court, who had vainly cndeavored to fix
Dis rowing heart.
I,lIarotte, IN accepting him, had driven hun
~Yi lovers to despair for the beautiful and
sSG,''y daughter of the most illustrious peer
VI france, from the moment she quilted her
ya'ent, had been surrounded by suitors. The
ro,'0klng r.., dark eyes, whose impertinent obser-
,@.I .@"gS mad annoyed and offended her in the
,S! ,S!4 ;aSon de danse did not belong to any of
#m Grse ocklcss galants. 1t would have been
a+su perhaps, for any lady, however fair, to
sr, ~ SoareSses Of man with such pair of
r.. ;.1 'ner owner had rendered them as elo-
.r. a,,n' Ill ImpaSsioned pleading as they were in
,or r1o'' These unauthorized monitors, too,
4, ,a.lcu .a not to the grave and stately Sully,
r,]! the elder worthless of the court, whom
10 'ouI virtue, and mature years, might enti-
,5ou % pay the moralist, but to pale, melan-
% ,! osS s..riplng, who engaged the attention of
ooa one IN the gllttering circle but the neglected
d iE ,sn.a W lth her he appeared to be On terms
NJ a1d dDS.Ilonate p.t confidence and it was from be-
VI ssioL neF CHAIR that he directed those glances
Ae a fa;. s%:ted the surprise and dispIeasure of
II Of be;,s "a Preston of those eyes, to say nothing
,sr how singular beauty, haunted Charlotte af-
Il q ond return to the hotel de Montmoren-
Il B,''lou -Iu she regretted that she had not asked
'oP''r'c who the person was that had