Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-19

Somewhere out of town. don't 90 so far
now, l. am SO old. think it is Bloomsbury
. Place, West Terrace" ~.
To paint NJ Valentin's feelings would be a
hopeless task. Hortense married, but still free!
a painful reyulsion took place in his mind, and
he resolved as all seemed to forget him, that he
would not yet discover himself That night he
visited the neighborhoOd of Hortense, read
Stanbury" on the door and managed to secure
the next house, which happened TO be quite
empty, and having its garden adjoining hers
The next day he furnished it richly, brought
number of servants, bought a fine carriage and
horses, and under the name of Richie he set
/ tied dOwl to watch at his leisure the move
ments of his neighbor. He chose all of his
private rooms on that side af the house which
overlooked hers
| The first time that he saw her was in the gar
| den. She looked still handsome, but very sad
and pensye. He wondered if it was for his less,
or her late husbands He soon became salts
fed that she lived very retired and quiet life
that she had little company, and Kept early
hours. 1t was early spring, but he had plenty
OF flowers and fruits in the greenhouse, and he
sent some for her acceptance with Mr.. Ritchie's
compliments. Again and agaiu he repeated the
gifts, and each time with selection that mark
| ed delicate taste. Hortense was charmed with
uCA AOM ncl8uDOI N1Otu she udu nOL seen.
The flowers had been sent several times, when
he added to them airequest that he might call on
the lady. She returned favorable answer, and
under cover of the twilight hour, he found him
self in the room with Hortense. The sound of
his voice filled her with indescribsble emotion,
because it resembled that of her first husband
but she persuaded herself that it must be fancy
She found her neighbor agreeable and attentive
de did not neglect any opportunity of being
with her They rode together, sung together,
and often his voice would thrill through the
soul of Hortense, like remembered Law from
some far-off land.
Insensibly she was becoming interested in
him. He had told her much that was true of
his past life, and openly mourned some being
whom he said was lost to him-he did not saw
by death-but Hortense saw it in that light
More and more tender grew their intercourse,
for the lady seemed utterly to disregard his
scars, until she was scarcely surprised, and GER
tanly not offended, at receiving an offer of his
hand.
She was alone in the world; she had no one
to consult; no one had any right to blame her
for trusting to one of whom she knew SO little
1t was her own risk, and she accepted him;
frankly telling him how well she had loved him
who had gone from her sight, and promising the
she would try to love him with the same con-
stancy.
NJ Valentin exulted greatly in this answer,
and came near discovering himself; but he had
desired to delay it to a certain time, and he
checked himself. The wedding day was fixed,
and everything was in readiness for the occasion.
In exchanging rings, Hortense looked fixedly at
the one which the bridegroom gave her 1t was
the very ring which N. Valentin had given her
at their first wedding! She tainted on the spot,
and he began to think that he had carried mat
ters too far. He hung overher with an anxiety
such as he never knew before If she died now
by his own folly, what would become of him
He execrated his scheme and repented even
with tears that he had been led to pursuei it.
But Hortense awoke to life, awoke TO the
new joy of his presence, to ask his forgiveness
for the past, and inspire new hopes for the fu-
ture. There had ever been an inexplicable at
traction towards him on her part, from their first
interview; and as she confessed this, her hus-
band was quite inclined to be satisfied, and to
forget the apparent disrespect which he fancied
she had paid his memory.
As NJ MValentin predicted, the inhabitants of
Montreal, as soon as they found out his wealth,
were happy to make his acquaintance, and re-
membered him as an old friend. With the true
spirit of an honest man, he has liquidated his
debts to the last farthing; and now, with his
still beautiful wife, he is travelling through Eu-
rope, happy as any couple can possibly be on
their bridal tour.