Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-01-16
TIE LADY OF LYONS.


and Loire-is second, in point and beau
ty, commerce, and opulence, only to the
great metropolis Of France, ala belle Pa
ris." Not long subsequent to the close
of the bloody drama of the French revo~
luton, which caused all Europe to trem-
ble-that period, the history of which
chilIs the blood Of the modern reader-the
incidents of the following tale occurred.
There resided at Lyons a rich family
named DeschapeIlcs, OF no particular note
other than what their extensive wealth
necessarily gave them. The father was
| still at the opening Of our tale merchant,
although advanced in years. and already
possessing, as one might reasonably sup
pose, enough of this worlds wealth. Yet
he still held on, the pride Of being con-
sidered the greatest commercial house in
Lyons, being too seducing to admit of his
family to enjoy the close Of a long, indus
trious and honorable mercantile lite. lie
still designed to accumulate wealth, and
do extensive business.
Madame DeschaPelles, was a lady of
most unequalled pride, and entirely
wrapped up in the desire to form high
match for her beautiful child, Pauline,
whose extreme loveliness of person and la
dylike complishments had already, while
she was yet but eighteen, gained her the
name of the beauty ofLyons. Pauline was
the constant theme and care of her mother,
and neither care nor expense was spared
TO render her as accomplished in mind as
nature had made her in person. She was
surrounded by all the luxury ingenuity
could devise or. wealth procure. The
mansion of the family was one of unsur-
passed beauty contiguous to which there
were grounds and gardens of the most '2a
viable beauty. The Deschapelles' moved
into the first circles of the society Of Ly-
ons, although in blood they were not no.
BILE indeed, at the time in which we
write, there was no acknowledged nobili-
Ly in France-no lords, no marquises. but
all were simple citizens, for the revolution
had laid the shepherds crook beside the
sceptrc.
One lovely afternoon, Madame Descha-
pellcs and Pauline sat gossipPing in theic
boudoir, when servant announced Mon
sieur Bcauseant, a rich and courted gen
tleman, and only son of the late marquis,
who lost his life during " the reign of
terror" He entered and found the mo-
ther aud daughter together Pauline ad
mirinS and dissccting a most rare and
beautiful bouquet, while her mother Cos
slipped about the ball of the previous
evening. Beauseant was an accomplish
ed and handsome man, besides being able
to boast of gentle descent, which. though
it was not openly encouraged, yet there
were still many to respect, nay, very few
in Lyons, who did not respect the old
houses and descendants of the nobility
Beausant, after complmentiug Pauline
upon her appearance on the previous
evening, on which occasion he had met
her at the ball, frankly declared to her
that she had conquered his heart, and en-
ded by offering his hand and fortune.
Pauline coolly rejected his offer, but
Beauseant was not man to give up his
purpose so lightly. He appealed to Ma
dame Deschappelles-telling her the ad-
vantage of such an alliance, stating that
his fortune was not exceeded by that Of
any person in the province, and indeed
that he should be noble, but that the re-
volution had robbed him of his titles
The mother Of Pauline had formed brigh-
ter plans for her daughter than that she
should marry the son of marquis, and
told Beauseant SO in reply to his argu-
ments-saying she should marry prince.
Beauseant left the house in rage, at
being refused by merchants daughter,
determing to hide himself in his chateau,
for he deemed Alright that the story would
be all over Lyons, the proud Madame De-
schapelles being person who would make
most of such an event. In q frame ot
mind which may better be imagined than
described, he fastened from the house,
and on his way fell in with an Rcquain'
tance, man of gentle birth and a bosom
companion Of Beauseant, and whose prln'
cipal trait of character was an extrava'
gantly foppish disposition. This mans
name was CLAWS: he too, had been re-
} fused the hand of Pauline, not long prior
to the opening of this tale. Beausean'
confded his modification to his friend,
and learned this fact in return, whereupon
both vowed vengeance on the proud girl,
and they sought the chateau to consPlre
on the subject.
On their way they stopped at little
roadside inn, in a village near the city, tc
dine. While at the public house called
the Golden Lion, they witnessed some
games in which a young peasant of noble
bearing won the prize, and whom his
companions called prince, familiar name
they had given him, as he was leader oI
all their sports, and the avenger of al
= their wrongs. He was one who, though
young, they all looked up to on account
ofhis extraordinary attainments, and the
generous and noble spirit that filled hi;
breast and prompted every action.
p Beausant was led, through curiosity, tc
inquire relative to this young peasant