The weekly ledger., 1857-09-12


fully out at the small rays of sunshine which
made its way between the nearly meeting
house-tops and played at her feet.
"What a beautifully innocent face to meet
in such place as this!" was my exclamation
as we touched our hats and went on.
A few words on the queerness of the Incl
dent, and George changed the subject We
were to start for the country the following
morning. Late that evening, when all my
preparations were completed, received
note from my friend, expressive Of regret that
he would be prevented from accompanying
me. but asking me, as favor, to proceed on
my journey, and promising perhaps to join
me ere its completion
had to go off alone, which, to stranger
in France, was not SO pleasant. But after
all, it mattered little. Your true Yankee
is at home under all circumstances-and
profess to be of the truest Yankee blue
George did not join me- loitered away
the summer and autumn pleasantly enough,
and returned to Paris but few weeks be-
! fore Christmas The first news | heard
when once more established in my students
chamber was that my friend George La
We're, had married, and that the bride was an
heress.
] lost no time in hunting him up, to learn
the particulars of so unexpected an affair."
1t appears that George was struck with
the lovely face we had met in our promenade,
and had determined to make its acquaintance
He returned the next day to the dark street
and not finding the fair Marie at the head of
the stairs, incontnently picked his way down
the steps towards the glimmering lamp, where
| he found the object of his search arranging
| her fathers accounts. The old man had gone
out. George made some excuse for his in
trusion, and having stumbled over heap Of
broken glass; at the entrance to this cave
found his curiosity greatly excited as to the
nature of the traffic carried on by the occu-
pants.
Marie answered his questions with an in
genuous modesty that completely charmed my
friend When he had exhausted his powers
of questioning and felt impelled to take his
leave he expressed a desire to make the ac-
quaintance of Maries father, and announced
to the blushing maiden his intention of calling
on the morrow for that purpose.
What need of further detail? George call
ed on tie morrow, and made the acquaintance
of the rag-seller called the day following to
talk to Marie; the day after on some other
excuse; and was shortly established as a reg
utar visitor at the warehouse of rags. The
old man gave little heed to his visitor, and
Marie was left alone to entertain him-a la
Dor of love which she did by 10 means seem
to object to.
Until one day. as George was picking his
way across the floor towards the steps, the
old man walked up to him with the abrupt
query, "What was the aim of all his visits!"
To which George made answer that he
loved Marie, and desired to make her his
wife, if her father had no objection.
II have no objections to make,0 was the
answer; "but you have parents. and must i'm
mediately acquaint them with your wishes"
Now Georges parents were wealthy, and
looked to their sons making an alliance "suit-
able to his condition and prospects in life."
Imagine their CONSERVATION when Master
George one morning after breakfast, commu-
nicated TO them the story of his love. The
father broke out in unmistakable anger, and
the mother declared herself too much out
ragged even to faint But George had all the
obstinacy of an only child; and having VOW
ed to marry Marie consent or no consent, at
/ last brought the parents to at least think of
the matter as possibility. In secret, they
were both, however, determined to prevent
by every means so disgraceful match
The best way to do this seemed to the old
folks 10 be, to invite the proposed bride and
her father to their house, to meet party of
friends Here, thought they, George will see
the folly of uniting himself to people whose
appearance must inevitably bring ruin upon
him. Accordingly, at the appointed time,
| Marie and her father made their appearance.
A select party of Georges friends had been
invited Among these the queer velvet jack
ct and the knee-breeches of the Auvergnese
rag-seIler excited no little bit Of amusement;
but then the sweet, innocent countenance of
his daughter caused also mol little surprise and
remark.
The party were shortly seated at table;
and now the host began his before-concerted
play upon the old mans ignorance Of civilized
/ life. He, however, made up in shrewd moth
er wit and discreet taciturnity for any pos
sible ignorance, and on several occasions turn
ed the laugh against his host.
"This will never do" thought Madame La
| We're.
So with the dessert, she opened what she
intended to be the final battery upon the old
man.
"You do not intend to bring your daugh-
ter here into our family, do you Monsieur?"
said she.
"With your kind consent, madame, it would
give me great pleasure" was the answer.
"You see, however, the propriety Of ma
king some inquiry respecting the brides dow
er, sir. 1t is not usual for people to let their
only child marry without looking little to