True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-09-29

IN EXCELLENT TILE.
The W Wedding Gift.
BY HELEN HAMILTON.

Jain pris pour moi la tombe. ct te laisse lie jour
J'expire. LIE sort to venge.-VIcroR HUao'
In The south of France, almost within
shadow of the Pyrenees, stood the old
chateau d'Essars. Built in the days of
feudal power and Of feudal warfare, its
frowning turrets. narrow windows, and
walls of preternatural thickness combined
to render it gloomy and prison.Iike
abode. No less sombre was the aspect
presented by the interior. Long lines of
family portraits frowned grimly from the
walls; and faded tapestry hangings, mas
sive and antiquated furniture, and rusty
armor, formed the principal decorations
of the lofty and illlighted apartments.
In the month Of April, 10, two per-
sons were seated in one of the small tur-
ret chambers Of the chateau. 1t had been
fitted up in the style Of the day with much
care and some taste. Hangings of crim-
son damask clothed the walls, paintings
hung here and there, and the furniture,
with the exception Of large cabinet of
carved ebony, was new and carefully ar
ranged. Against the heavily carved man.
telpiece leaned the Marquis d'Essars, a
handsome, but dark and saturnine-looking
man of about forty years Of age, wearing
plain riding.suit Of dark cloth without lace
or embroidery, His large and gloomy
eyes were fixed upon his companion, a
young girl scarce eli ghteen, who sat gazing
listessly at the blazing fire. Never before
had the grim walls Of the chateau d'Essars
frowned upon so fair vision. The glow
ing freight shone upon face possessing,
in the highest degree, that peculiar and
piquant charm which, though deeply felt,
is indiscribable. Eyes of rich chestnut.
brown, with restless and mocking CLEAN
in their sunny depths; a little mouth,
curved, rosy, and prominent; a complex
ion like day in early spring, half snow,
half sunshine, and profusion Of wavy
dark hair escaping in picturesque disorder
from her small plumed riding'hat, COM
bined to form picture Of rare and win
ming beauty. A closely fitting riding
dress Of dark gray cloth defined to ad-
vantage the outlines Of her slight, grace
full, and elastic form, and ruffles of delicate
Mechlin lace shaded the small hands.
which lay. clasped and lstless, in her lap.
A few days ago, before, Leonie de Thon'
nerins had given her unwilling hand to
the Marquis GEssars. The daughter Of
a noble but impoverished house, she had
been destined to convent from her birth,
fate from which her unwelcome suitoI
had rescued her. Leonie would have
much preferred the veil TO becoming the
wife of the gloomy widower, whom report
accused Of having hurried his first wife tc
the grave, by i'll usuage it by nothing
worse; but parenta! authority was a5so'
lutte in France in those days, and at the
time our story opens the Marquis hat
lust arrived with his bride at his anoestra
chateau.
After a long interval, D'Essars broke
silence. "Leonie."
His young wife started and turned TO
wards him. From the cleaning depth
Of her dark eyes flashed forth look
half Of deGnaucs, half of fear. The Mar
quis bent over her and took her reluctan
hand.
"Leonie, you do not love me-"
"You knew that when you married me
monsieur" was the cold, half scorntu
reply.
A strange expression Of pity crosse
his sombre features.
.Poor childp he muttered, dropip
her hand and turning away, "why di
she ever cross my path 7 "why did tn
indomitable will Of the E'essars bid N
win heri Was not one enough Z"
He came again to her side and sat dcwI
"Leonie," be said. "look above you.
She looked up. Over the mantelpieC
hung, dimIy revealed by the freight,
portrait once radiant with the hues Of III