Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-10-12
A Romance of the Paris Exhibition

The day on which the Queen of England visited
the Exposition for the second time, considerable
number of ladies were, by special favor, seated upon
the divaps which surround the central fountain In
the great nave Gentlemen had been banished from
this privileged spot. They were compelled to re-
sign themselves 10 the pain OF sitting alone within
the Enclosure along which the Imperial and Royal
cortege had TO pass thus they were isolated IRON
wives sisters mothers, daughters, auns ana fnenos
and in some cases flom those whom some of them
loved more than all together BY this means an ell
DERBY English lady, of noble and arisocratc appear
ance, found herself side by side with a charming
young French lady, whose simplicity was most beau
tiful and elegant.
The arrival Of the august visitors was anXIously
expected A thousand observations occurred to the
two neighbors and some incident soon arose which
led to of those interesting conversations which
in many cases only commence with some common
place about the weather. Soon, however, they
passed to other topics, on which they discoursed
with sympathy that speedily became reciprocal.
The old English lady learnt from the talk of her
| fair companion that the young Frenchwoman had
not long been married, that her husband was some
where IN the crowd, and that he had compelled her
to accept the place she then occupied though it had
been given to himself by the Viscount de Ronvile,
director of The Industrial Palace.
The manner in which the young lady told these
and other things won the esteem of the old dow
ager that they soon gained each others confidence.
The cOrtege passed, and perfect tide of feathers,
ribbons. lace, flowers and silks filled up as it WERE
the track OF their Majeses Carried away by this
sea. lmpelled little by curiosity, and moved perhaps
by the excitement which occasionally carries ladies
away in such circumstances of pomp and grandeur
the old English lady and her new friend got mixel
up with the SUITE and Us ii mlossble for then
10 separate, they took each others arms among tn,
wives and daughters of the high state functonarie
who formed the escort of the Queen of England anc
!; of Her Malestys imperial host into the superior
galleries.
Hitherto neither of the two ladies knew the name
the rank of the other but in this way they
two full hours together, protecting another from
the pressure OF the crowd mutually offering each thu
best places they could obtain and conversing quit
intimately upon thousand little things arising gu
of the circumstances of this rather unexpected prom
} enade. What a charming young woman !" sail
Lady v to herself 81 wonder who she is;
shall certainly not leave her until | have inquired
Q her name :" The promenade at last was brought t
4 close. and the Queen left the Exposition grea
crowd again collected at her departure. How eve
shall find Edward in such multitude ~ exclame
= the young French lady. All replied the Englis
peeress, "is your husbands name Edward - 'Ou
f ma chere Madame"
J. The old dowager for a moment had a msgvin
: about her own son, who bore that name, and who
C she had refused to for more than year becaus
j. he ran away from England, where she had wit
: infinite care arranged a great match for him, al
II married French girl whom nobody knew, wihol
e a shilling in her pocket She would never allo
e d" All! there he Isl" suddenly cried the young lad
ashley arrived at the foot of the great staircas
= " what lucky chance that we have met" ''W VIVA
it Pauline, rejoned the young lord, " in company wit
Re my mother! What has happened:" The peeres
l. in agony, uttered shrek of surprise, and fainte
r She had been overcome with emotion, and had to
d rested upon chair in the midst of the crowd whic
e still encountered the sortle.
re "Oh, Edward y! when she came to herself she e.
ID claimed :. Is this the girl you have married again
Of my wish 2" 'Oui, ma chere mere," the your
l. lads answer, sc and you to get very we
3, together" Let US go: let 20 immediately" 81
n replied, and the carriage was called. "The who
lie three of US, Mother 2" inquired the young ma
= Yes all three was the And then takir
1t the hand of Pauline, she proceeded Yes, come
10 dear girl he who would have said this mornir
2 with whom | should visit the Exhibition, and who
l. | should afterward take home. would have asto
le shed me much more than all Europe is 10 see tt
is Queen of England visiting tomb removed from S
le Helena 10 the vaults of the invalides."
1t IndeDendGnce Rplop