The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-08-20

rest. Her footsteps, though guided hv
the most careful calculation, continually
diverged from the tight, aud the disap
pointed young lady was saluted will ,hc
ions. q =
Mdile. de Navarro tore the handker.
ehief from her eyes with an air Of mort
hed PRIDE; then turning to the newly ere
a'ed Bishop of Condom, who was stand
ing at little distance, and gazing a, !.er
WITH an expression Of sadness mingled
with regret-"Monseigneur," said She,
DOUBTLESS your wisdom can throw light
on this mystery. Pardon my ignorance,
monseigneur aud pray explain to me why
1t Is impossible TO do thing apparently
so easy as TO walk blindfold in straiohi.
line from one end Of the Tapis Yer. to the
other"
"Mademoisellc de Navarro" replied
Bossuet, in low tone of voice -" when
a lady is young, beautiful! and mdiscrect,
she should not venture 10 walk on the
lapIs Vert, or any other carpet at Court,
either with a bandage on her eyes or a
passion IN her heart"
"Why moi ?"
"Becausc she is likely to move at haz-
a'd-to deviate from the right Enc--pcr.
haps 10 fall, never to rise a"ain."
" Your pardon, monscigneur; DO not
understand YOU"
Louise" pursued the dignitary, in a
tone expressive Of the kiudest feeling.
"comc with me to the terrace; | have
something TO say to you. Shall | offend
you, ii call back to your recollection a
story which may, perhaps, be interesting
to you Some day or other YOU will,
hope thank me for having directed your
thoughts TO it,"
"Speak, monscicncur | shall listen
with profoand attention." said Louise, rs
she followed Bossuct up the steps Of the
terrace.
Msdemoiselle," resumed the bislop,
" the story am about to narratc TO Won
is of recent date. Only very short time
ago, young lady OF noble birth and
great beauty came from Eer retired pro.
vineiH! home, TO lie presented at tie Court
OF Versailles, IN quality of mail.ofhonor
to the English Princess recently united TO
Monsieur, his Majesty's brother"
You allude TO Mademoisellc dc la Val
liere."
No; but, like Madamoisele de Ia
VaiIiere, the lady's name is Louise-I
speak of Louise de Navarro e
"Of c!" exclaimed the young lady,
eoloiing deeply, and bargiug down her
head. Boss"ct, without needing her con-
fusion, thus continued--
AT the happy time, when | first had
the honor Of knowing Mademuise.ic Lou. q
de Navarro in the quiet home Of her mo-
rhcr, she as no more than fifteen wears Of
age. though richly endowed with talent
and beauty, she was even less remarkable
for those qualities than for excellence Of
heart, and above all, for drvout pieiv.
In the habits OF her mundane life, Louise
might be said 10 he Mt once proud and
humble. She was indu!gcnt to every ono;
severe only 10 herself and her own faults.
Her manners were natural and unaflec.-
ed; her dress, simple and elegant. She
was deyout, without hypocrisy; witty,
without Immature; charitable, without
oStenta,ion; liberal, without proAigalitv.
In short, she was Young lady whom !
looked upon rs nearly approaching TO
mortal perfection !"
4" fou judge me too favorably, mon
seigncur."
"Sray, Louise, hear INC cut; have not
yet sad all. Notwithstanding these excel
lent qualities, Louise had two great faults,
which seldom fall 10 the lot of Young wo
men Of her age, and least Of all when they
are poor and pious. Those faults were
towering pride and boundless ambition '"
"Oh monscigneur, spare me-"
"You said just now, judged You too
favora5Iy. But hear ne to Tie end. Ome
evening, the courtly circle assembled in
Madame's drawing room were listening to
one Of the company, who was readiug
aloud some passages from tie writings OF
the prince Of Latin poets. At every
pause Of the rcader, Louise gave utterancc
10 her admiration Of the marvellous beau
ties of text which she was not expected
to understand. Atleng;h, the reader lay
ing down the book, and turning 10 the
fair admrer of Virgil, pretended to express
astonishment at her perfect knowledge Of
the Latin tongue. 'Oh = replied Louise,
IN a tone which plainly betrayed offended
vanity, | have not understood all YOU
read ; but what | did not understand,
guessed p"
=" do not remember the circumstances,
monseigneur."
" Then have done wcl to remind you
Of it. There is another lil;le incident
am desirous of recalling to your memory
One day the learned NJ d'Hozer had The
courage 20 tell I4onse whether in Jest or
earnest, it matters mott that her family was
neither very ancient nor very distinguish
ed" ..
" Well" replied the ambitions lady, "if
am aot great, must Try 10 rise--and |
will rise !"
There a brief pause mtervcncl, and
then Bossuct continued as folows;-
Among the visitors who used to be
most constant in their attendance at the
little, quiet, nnpretending parties given hy
the Countess dc Navarro, there was a gen
tleman, very rich, but very plain in person.