The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1858-12-23

VI
managed 10 secure the next house, which
happened to be quite empty, and havin. it:
garden adjoining hers. The next da' he
furnished it richly. brought number Q ser
wants, bought fine carriage and horse and
under the name Of Richie he settled down tC
notice at his leisure the movements Il bis
neighbor He chose al of his private ooms
on that side Of the house which overlooked
hers
/ The first time that he saw her was Il the
garden. She looked still handsome BIZ very
sad and pensiye. tie wondered if it vas for
his loss, or her late husband! He son be-
came satisfied that she lived a very etired
life: that she had little company. an kept
early hours II was early Spring. but e had
plenty Of flowers AMI fruits in the grpenou Sc,
and he seat some for her acceptklc, with
Mr. Ritchie's compliments. Again apcagain
he re peated the gifts and each Gm5 18th a
selection that marked a delicate taste Hor-
tense was charmed with her new neghbor
whom she had not seen.
The flowers had been sent several times,
when he added to them Re uest tat he
might call on the lady. She refined a
favorable answer, and under cover of the
twilight hour, he found himself in tht room
with Hortense. The sound Of hisyoe filed
her with indescribable emotion, beouse i:
resembled that of her first husband; ht she
persuaded herself that It mux he fame. She
found her neighbor agreeable and aentive.
He did not neglect any opportunity being
with her. They rode together. and ten his
voice would thrill through the soul Hor-
tense, Ike a remembered lay from soc far
off land
msensibly she was becoming inter,ted in
him. He had told her much that VS. true
OF his past life, and openly mourne, some
being who he said was lost TO him-ae did
not say by death-but Hortenee say it in
that light. More tender grew theirinter-
course. for the lady seemed utterly todisre-
gard his scars, until she was scarce, sur
prised, and certainly not offended, ateceiv-
ing an offer Of his hand.
She was alone in the worll. she Id no
one TO consult: no one had any right teblame
her for trusting to one of whom sh knew
so little. It was her own risk and ae ac-
copied hiu; frankly telling him how ell she
loved him who had gone from her sin and
that she would try to love him with te same
constancy.
NJ Valentin exulted greatly in this nsTer,
and came near discovering himself; out he
had desired to delay it to a certain the, and
lie CItCht0 IillllstII L ne NeIOiug aV was
fixed, and everything was in readhss for
the occasion. In exchanging rings Brtense
looked fxedly at the one which the bride
groom gave her. 1t was the YER ring
which NJ Valentin had given her their
first wedIine She tainted on th, spot,
and he began to think that he had carried
matters too far. He hung over hr with
an anxiety such he never knw be-,
fore. If she died now by his owr folly
what would become of him! He exeracted
his scheme and repented even with te.rs that
he had been led to pursue it.
But Hortense awoke to life, awoketo the
new JOY of his presence, to AK his brgive-
ness for the past, and inspire new hooes for
the future. There had ever been al mex
plicable attention towards him on her part.
from their first interview, and as she COATES
Sed this, her husband was quite inclined to
be satisfied, and to forget the apparent dis
respect which he fancied she had paid his
memory.
As NJ. Valentine predicted, the inhabitants
of Montreal, as soon as they found out his
wealth, were happy TO make lis acqeain-
tance. and remembered him as an old frend
With the true spirit Of an honest mau. hek has
li1uidsted his deb: to the last t4ri1ring; and
now. with his still beautiful wife he IS travel
ing through Europe. happy as any couple
can possibly be, on their bridal tour.