The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-12-30
BLOOMSBURY, COLUMBIA COUNTY. PA" WEDNEsI

anne d'Abrantes was therefore much sur.
prised, on the eve of her departure for Ar
ras, 10 see valentin enter the apartment with
an air Of deep agitation. His counenance
was pale as death, and when he attempted
10 speak, his voice fallered, and it seemed as
though he could not utter word. Unable
TO conceive the cause of his distress, Mad
anne d'Abrantes said, in a soothing tone ::
al hope, valeniin, You are not vexed at be-
ing left behind in Paris; you know it can't
be helped; the Duke and chose you for
this pos, on account Of the unbounded conf
dence we place in your integrity"
"Oh, no, Madame, II is no, that" faltered
forth the poor man; 81 know that it is rsh,
that should stay; indeed, I should have
asked leave 10 say, even If your grace had
not commanded me 10 do So II is not that;
it is tha, peoIle say my lord and lady are in
disgrace with the First Consul, just as my
poor old master was in disgrace with The
Neapoltan court, and my lord and lady are
going TO take The children with them; il will
be an expensive journey; and just al this
moment the general has had such heavy ex.
penses, this must take him by surprise. In
short, Madame, forgive me, but have been
10 M. TrIcard, the notary, and asked him
for my money, without telling him my rea-
son for wanting il; and here it is. Ifmy
lord and lady will only be so good as 10 use
it just as though il were their owu."
"Never," excIaims Madame Junot in her
Memoirs-"never can forget this moment;
i, is craven upon my heart rather than upon
my memory, and time can never efface it,
Had needed the money, the recollection
that Valentin was my own servant would not
have caused me to hesitate for a moment in
accepting his generous offer. fell that his
noble condnct through life had raised him 10
an equality with myself-lo the highest rank
in the social SCALE"
Junol himself had entered the apanmen,
while this conversation was going on be-
tween The faithful Valeuiin and his mistress
He listened in silence TO the generous offer
OF this noble hearted man: who was not
even aware Of his presence. But when Val.
entin laid upon the table lhe four bags, con-
tanning his 3,700 francs-his little earthly all
-,he kind hearted General could no longer
contain himself, but, stepping forward, clasp
ed the worthy valet TO his heart, as though
he hao been his own brother. To Valen'n's
great sorrow, however, M. and Madame
d'Abrantes declined the poffered sum, oil
which, in fact, they did not in the slightest
degree stand in need. He seemed, however
so deeply panied BY their refusal of his offer
that at last Junot exclaimed: "WeIl, valen
tin, will late your money, but only on one
coDditior-my man of business shall pay
you 10 per cent for it so long as you live."
This condition was faithfully fulfilled; buI
upon the death of the Duke, Valentin, know
ing his masters property TO be incumbered
with debts, insist ed upon mol receiving more
than per cent. interest for his money
Madame d'Abrantes knew him loo we'll to
grieve his faithful heart by pressing the mat.
ter any further in this her own hour Of dis.
tress; but, on the return of the Bourbons, she
told his history TO The Duchess Of Angoulsme
who bestowed upon him pension Of ESQ Q
year, in consideration OF the service he had
rendered to the Queen Marie Antoinelte in
l791.
About this time Valenlin's health becom
ing enfeebled, he retired from the service o.
Madame d'Abrantes, and settled at Beliville
Here he lived 10 good old age, beloved ant
respected by all who knew him, and having
noby earned, in The course of his evenfu
life, the honorable title OF "good and faith
ful servant"