True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-09-29
q. Raglan, Editor and Proprietor.

and beauty, now faded and discolored
with damp and dust. 1t represented
young girl in the dress of some FIVE years
previous, fair and delicate, with soft azure
eyes and tresses Of pale golden hue. 1t
was youthful. bu, not joyous. looking
face. The blue eyes had no sparkle, the
tintless lips no smile, and an expression,
swee! indeed, but unutterably sad, rested
upon the wan but lovely features.
"such was my first wife, Adele de
Villeraye. You may have heard the
report that kille d her, if not by poi
son, by harsh treatment; but the tale is
false. 1t was marriage of convenience
on both, sides. ! never loved her, and
she-she was the broken-hearted and
spectral being that portrait represents on
her wedding-day, and already smi,ten
with consumption, the hereditary malady
of her family. And yet-sud yet"
M. d'Essars paused. His glance wan.
dered 10 the portrait, and then rested upon
the fair face of his young wife, turned
towards him with an absorbed and ear
nest expression Of interest.
"Leonie." he said at length, II love
you, and have sworn to render you
happy. Will you trust me 7"
She hesilated for an instant, then, ex.
tending her hand. said in low, tremulous
tone. II will try"
He pressed her hand to his lips, and
then, rising, he unlocked the ebony cabi,
net, and drew from secret drawer a
small box of wrought tortoise-shell.-
"Leonie," he said, returning to her side,
81 have here a wedding-gifs for you. 1t
is locked. Do not attempt to open il ;
but if you ever find that am rendering
your life unhappy by my conduct (for
| we'll know that am of a violent and
jealous disposi'ion,) send me this box
and you will find it talisman that will
restore you to happiness. Will you
promise to do this :"
T PROMISE" said the wondering girl
and M. d'Essars, placing the box in her
hand, Withdrew.
Left alone, Leonie examined her wed.
ding-gift with some curiosity, but there
was very little to be learned from its ex.
terror. 1t was 7rettly and deliberately
inlaid with gold, and lining, seemingly
of gilt metal, hindcred the eye from pen.
etrating the mysteries of its interior. She
replaced it in the cabinet, and soon forgo
that it was in existence.
Time passed on, not unpleasantly TO
the young bride, who found much tC
please and amuse her in her new abode
Her husband, who continued unvaryingly
kind and tender in his manner, was un
weared in relating to her legends con
nected with the old family portraits, OF
in ransacking the library for volumes
suited 10 her taste. He procured beau
tiful Spanish horse for her, and as she
was a graceful and fearless rider, he took
pleasure in showing hor the noble scenery
with which the surrounding country
abounded. She soon lost her dread o
him, and learned to feel for him an affec
ton which, If not love, was certainly
something very nearly approaching it,
At length the season arrived when M
d'Essars, by virtue Of the Office he hell
in the household Of Louis XVI, wa
obliged to return to the court, then a
Fontainebleau. F lie left the chateau will
reluctance, and his habitual gloom wa
deepened when be observed how lttl
Leonie seemed to regret their departure
II was scarcely unnatural that young an
beautiful girl should rejoice at the pros
pect of beholding the gayes! and mos
splendid court in Christendom. But be
thinking only Of her beauty, and of tn
proAigacy Of the court gallants, felt all bi
jealous fears revive in full force.
The court of Louis was then at tn
height Of its splendor. The king himse
was in the prime Of his youth, and Of
personal beauty unequalled in its day
Marie Therese, his young and newl
welded queen, the queen.m mother, Ann
, of Austria, and the lovely Princess HeI
riette, Madame d'Orleans, had gathere
around them the fairest and noblest of th
, realm. Madame d'Essars was enrolle
amongst the household Of the queel
mother, and, as D'Essars had feared, III
introduction, possessing as she did II
. triple charm Of youth, beauty, and novelt
did not fail to cause some sensation. a
: ecomium upon her charms, uttered b
s Louis himself at one Of the court ball
/, sufficed at once to render her the fashio
: and in short time Leonie found herst
t the object of sufficient fattery and adj
alton to have turned many wiser hea
Her mother had been truly noble wont
b, and though she had died whilst Leon
j was still child, the memory Of her cou
sells and her example still followed h
d with their purifying and protecting inf
ences. Naturally modest and reserve
g not even her jealous husband could Fl
d anything to cavil al in her conduct, a
e for some time, admiredas she was,Leor
10 managed to pass uutroubled through {
> trying ordeals Of her position.
!, The king was at this time violen,
/" enamored Of his fair sister.in.law, Madat
70 Henriette, and had instituted in her he
a or a series Of fstes unrivalled in splend
te and Of which NEUROLOGICAL ballets form