Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-05-07

Make up to his forlorn and desolate heart
The forfeited affections OF his kind. "-MLsAS.
The following narrative is borrowed from
the interesting work of NJ. Maurice Alboy, on
the convict prisons Of France -
+" Itjs now some years." says this writer,
s'since passed several months in the town
of Rochefort. 1t became my daily habit to
walk in the gloomy avenues of the public
garden, and there used to watch the con-
victs as they worked in pairs, carrying heavy
burdens, and gladly purchasing, by the per-
Torrance of the most laborious task, the IA
vor of being allowed to escape for few hours
from the pestilential atmosphere of the prison.
had remarked young girl who passed be-
fore me several times, casting an anxious and
longing look towards the building in which
the ropeworks were carried on. The young
girl wore the Vendean costume. She seated
herself upon bench under the trees, and re-
manned apparently lost in thought. APP
preached and recognized her. had seen her
the preceding evening at the house of the
gatekeeper, and had then been informed of
the object OF her journey. The young girl
was engaged to be married, and her father
was in the convict prison. EUROPE, the
peasant to whom she was betrothed, was &C
quainted with the guilt of his future father
in-law, for the same village had been their
home. He was conscious how much he might
lose in the esteem Of others by marrying the
daughter of convict but Tiennette was be-
loved and Eutrope's affection for her made
him shut his eyes to the possibility that any
painful result might arise from their union.
''He wished to marry the companion of his
childhood but he desired that this father,
who in the eyes Of the law was dead, who had
no longer any right over his daughter, and
whose remembrance it was well to Danish,
l. IL = ~
loved her father, and the contempt with
only redoubled the fond affection of his
daughter. She was DESTROYS that he should
sign her marriage-contract, and bestow upon
her a fathers blessing. Eutrope had long
resisted this wish of Tiennette; he still OBJ
jected to the step she proposed to take and
it was with an unwilling heart he undertook
with her the journey to Rochefort. Rutrope
was well-looking youth, with frank and
open manners, and of prepossessing appear
ance. 1t was not long before he Joined us,
after making some purchases which had de-
tanned him for a time from his bethrothed.
~ took upon myself to interpret to him
the wishes OF Tiennette. told Rutrope that
a father is never guilty in the eyes of his
daughter; that no laws, judges, or juries
can unloose the ties of nature; and that the
6lial piety Of Tiennette ought to be considered
by him as a precious pledge Of the virtues OF
his future wife. The girl did not speak, but
her eyes were fastened on the countenance of
Eutrope. She watched its every movement,
as if to gather from them his acquiescence in
her desire. EUROPE listened to me with his
eyes fixed upon the ground. When had
done speaking, he made me no reply, offered
no objection, but took the arm of Tiennette
within his own, and together the young
couple turned their steps towards the prison.
l followed them, and the poor girl, who seemed
to consider my presence as useful in confirm
ing the vacillating resolutions Of her lover,
me by her looks to remain with
them. We found on our arrival that the
aged convict had been i'll for some days he
was no longer in the prison, but had been
conveyed to the hospital. We silently trav-
srsed the long court aud mounted the stair
Ease. When we reached the entrance Of the
wards, the youne girl trenabled violently, her
,heeks became deadly patio, sad hpy heart !