Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-11-22

sell principled brave lad, of fair prospects too,
and the son of brave father, who fell by my
side at Eylau. There is no one with whom I
would more readily trust thy happiness But
thou hast never, think, shewn any open, deei.
ded preference for hint
Never-by ,oords.'
M. Bougainville WINGED but went on to say
That being SO, may tell thee that Monsieur
Paul Fontanes - All. the name shocks
thee-T will speak Of him and his offers no
more
-. Yes y--, dear father, murmured Eugenie.
Ssss sudden, q slight pain; thar oil, Go
on-speak.'
Az thou wilt. Monsieur Fontanes, then, so
licits thee in marriage. If his proposal is ac-
cepted, he will pay all thy fathers debts, pur-
chase Plaisance of that tiger hearted Messeroy
and settle it upon thee beyond his own control. ,
Eugene did not answer, and M. Bougainvlle
added, after a few minutes silence, The case
stands thus. Eugene, Monsieur Fontanes is
rich, generous, young, well-looking, of ire
proachable character, and it is plain loves thee
deeply. I doubt not, therefore, that after
time thou wouldst be happy wife; but it is
for thee to decide and my blessing, beloved
Eugenie, is on thy choice, whether for accept
ance or refusal
For acceptance, then replied Eugenie in
a low voice, the irmness of which surprised as
much as it pleased M. Bougainville; but with
this change in the terms of pur--of the contract
that Paisance be settled not upon me, but
upon you, Franooise, and Marie
N. Bougainville was charmed with this ready
acquiescence; and when Eugene made no objec-
ton to M. Fontanes' request that the marriage
should be celebrated without delay, he almost
persuaded himself that he had been mistake n
with respect to the sentiments she entertain ed
toward Henri Jomard. That pleasing illusion
would have been dispelled had he known that
Eugene passed that night on her knees, weep
ing at first with convulsive agony, but gradu ally
calming grief, before the cruci6x in her bed
room.
The civil marriage was arranged to take place
on the following Thursday, the conditions Of
settlement to be signed at the Office of the nota-
ry, Bertin, on the previous evening. These ar
rangements, at M. Fontanes' urgent request
Eugenie remaining entirely passive, were KEEP,
scrupulously secret and 30 successfully, that
even Henri Jomard had no suspicion of wha
was going on, till the "Wednesday morning
when he CHANGED to overhear some disjointet
sentences of conversation between NJ. Fontane
and the notary's clerk, who had called at th
Rue Dupetit Thouars, which terminated by M
Fontanes replying in low voice Tell, Mon
sieur Bertin will send him the required par
ticulars in writing before two O'clock Aston
ished and indignant at what he apprehended th'
partially overheard coloquy to mean, he, a.
soon as possible, invented an excuse for goinl
out, and fastened to impart the dire discover.
to his sister Adele, who, however, proved obsti
nately incredulous. His Interpretation of tn
sentences he had imperfectly caught was, sh
persisted, that ofan unreasoniug jealousy. M
Fontanes had, her brother knew, a pecuniar,
transaction with M. Bougainville. and it was n
doubt with reference to that tho two were t.
meet at the notary's as the conversation SCENE
to intimate Somewhat calmed by this consol
atory construction of the menacing words, Hem
returned to hiz employment.
There was no one in the clerks Office, and M
Fontsnes was busy writing in his private room
Something presently occurred which rendered
necessary that Henri should speak with him
and as he did so, his eyes fell upon small pill
or package of letters enclosed and directed, bu
not sealed, of which the topmost one was diret
ted to M. Bertin, Notaire- public, Numero
Rue Sablouiere.' Instantly the criminal though
, which only his excessive mental agitation coul
in the least excuse, suggested itself, that il b
could obtain moments possession Of that lie
ter before it was sealed, the doubts which hal
distracted him would be one way or the oth'
: set at rest and the possibility of eaecting h
: object kept him for the next ten minutes in
6 state of feverish restlessness.
f The chance at length presented itself. II
8 presence of M. Fontanes was required in di
: tant part of the warehouse; and his back W,
hardly turned before Henri Jomard darted in
the private cabinet, seized the top letter, and
!. tricated the enclosure from the envelope.
glance at the address showed him that lie hi
: mistaken the letter, the envelope in his band
O ing addressed to Messrs. Smith & Green, Ne
r Orleans. Had he but unfolded the enclosur
> what discovery awaited him Unfortunate
!, he threw it impatieutly upon the tablo, al
}, seized the next upon the pile, which was that
% sought. Could he believe his eyes M. Fo
; tanes, upon reflection, acquiesced in the chan
= proposed by M. Bertin in the marriage contra
% and would be at the notary's Office punctua
n at S o'clock to meet M. and Mademoiselle Be
= gainville.' Henri Jomard had hardly perus
these lines, when the step Of M Fontanes v
r heard approaching. He hurriedly thrust
n letters into their respective envelopes, replat
t, them on the letter-pile, and had barely regain
ID the cursained cencealmeut of the clerks of
Or when the merchant retnrued. In about ten IN
m utes NJ. Fontanes summoned porter, gave b
~ number Of letters, some for the post-of6
10 others for delivery in st. Malo and shortly
terwards himself went out, saying, as he pas
Ill through the counting room, that he should
ly return till the following morning.
o. Eugenie Bougainville, as she alighsed at
o notary's door in company with her father
Fraucoise, her half-sister, looked charming
n though very pale and trembling with agsati
i'm NJ. Foutanes had preceded her; and his resp
tn fully kind and unpretending manner seem
after time, to soothe and calm her spirits,
ng the sweet, grateful, if faint smile with VII