Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-11

Even vice, In her sight, assumes the dignity Of
virtue, II she can ascribe its committaI IN the
power of love. So it was with the gossips at
whose seif-constituted tribunal JACQUES was
trled; and from that time many a sly Joke was
leveied at Madeline, till the damsel's head was
almost turned with thinking of the-of course
much magnifed-riches which were boarded by
ner admlrer for her to spend some day She
fet she was beloved, for il is not hard to divine
when one is the dearest of all earthly objects TO
a pure and honest heart; but, in spite of her
! convictions in this respect, the conduct of
jacques was sad puzzle to her.
lie is never so happy as when by my side, -
she would often say to her mother; " that any
one may see but do not think he cares to get
me for a wife" The mother would bid her be
patient, and all would in time turn out we'll ::
but Madeline thought there should be limit
to the expected patience; SO she would pout her
cherry lips, and give Jacques short answers
Still, though she evidently succeeded in giving
him pain, he seemed as far from declaring his
sentiments as ever
The crisis, however, came at last Madeline
had cousin Marie, who was not only a near
nelgh5or, but also a sort Of rival beauty. There
had been no slight jealousy between the girls
on the subjects OF love and marriage; but Ma
rle had at last triumphed, and, the day for her
own wedding being fixed, she openly twitted
Madeline about her laggard lover. This was
sad blow to the vanity Of the poung girl Ma
rie's fance came from what was in those days
| thought great distance, and neither grudged
spending time nor money in visits to his be-
trOthed while Madeline, with her lover almost
at the door, seemed likely enough to remain
single. Oh, it was too much for any maiden's
patience.
The wedding-day came, and she of course was
one OF the guests, together with Jacques; and
the girl, bent on furnishing her tardy admirer,
coquetted with others by his very side. But
she did not stop at coquetry only The brother
OF the bridegroom, gay and handsome fellow,
now at Marseille for the first time, was smitten
with her charms, and after the wedding. found
or made many excuses for visiting the town
which contained Madeline. Jacques, it seemed,
would not be piqued into submission, and she
was not inclined either for a spinter's life or q
longer silent wooing so, after some hesitation
on the part OF her parents. who still leaned to
their young neighbor, partly from old associa-
ton, and still more because of his reputed
wealth, Madel' n, was betrothed to the stranger
Madame Guyot often sighed, and said in her
son s hearing that it was pity two of the pret-
tlest maldenS In Marseille should be carried off
oy strangers; for she had long since made up
her mind that since Jacques would needs mar
ry soon or late, it would be we'll to have a
daughter-in-law whom she had known from
babyhOOd. I'll her hints might have been uu-
heard, for any outward effect they produced on
her son but when the marrage-day came he
remained shut up in his little chamber Neither
food nor drink passed his lips; but could he
nave been seen by any one, a mighty mental
conflict would have been revealed to the watch
er-it was the last great struggle with human
passion The last bar to his deyOting himself
to one great object was removed
TO BE CONTINUED.