Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-03-05
[hrom the French.
Angling for a Husband.

OF heart F' 1T against a|Inre'nent Sh'
p'lIed herself upon her great insensibi|ity
a"d her profound Indifference had re
pulsed all those galIan's who had ven
tured to offer her addresses. The coun
try was for her Il veritalle retreat; she
shu1Ied reunions, and was on happ,
in solitude. The charms Of chosen
circle, the pleasures of the world had fo1
her no attraction, and her favorite recre
alton WAS that Of augting-an amuse
'nenl wort y Of an unfeeIng woman.
She was accustomed every pleasant
day to. station herself at tile extremity
Of the Io.c!y island osChaton, and there
with a book in one hand, and her line in
the other, her time was passed in fishing
reading or dreaming.
A lover who had always been in>imi.
da'ed by her cvlun-ss, aud who had ne
yer ventured on a spoken or written de.
claratiou, surprised bv at her favorile
pursuit, one day when he had come to
the island for the purpose Of enjoying a
swimming bath. HI observed he for a
long time without ii discovery, and bus
led himself with thinking how he might
turn to bis advantage this lonely amuse'
nent Of auyIug. Ills reveries were SO
deep and So fortunate that he at last hit
upon the desired plan, novel expedient,
'"deed,-yet they are always most sue
cessful with such women AS pretend to
ts invulnrrab|e.
The next dav our amorous hero re.
TUNED 10 the island, studied the ground,
made his arrangements, and when Nine.
D., had resumed her accustomed
place, he slipped away to azremote and
retired shelter, and after having d'vasted
himself Of his clothing he entered the
stream. An excellent swimmer and skill
ful diver, he trusted til his aquatic talents
for The success OF his enterprise. He
swan 10 the end Of The island with the
greatest precau'ion, favored by the
chances of the bank and : the bushes
which hung their dense foliage above the
waters. In his lips was Il note folded
and sealed. and on arrivin, near the
spot where Nine. d D--, was sitting
he made dive, and lightly Selling the
hook, attached to it his letter.,
Nine. DE- perceiving the move
ne,t ots her l1ne, supposed that a fish
was=bi!ing. - 80 4 IF
zThe young man had returned as be
came; lie had doubled the cape, which.
extending out into the water, separated
them from each other, aid had regained
lis post without Tie fsast noise in his
passage under the willows. The deed
was doue. ~ r
Nine. D. pulled in her line, and
what was her surprise to observe dang
ling upon tue barb Of her hook, not the
expected sinner, but an unexpected let
ter!
This was however, lritling, and her
surprise became slupefaction, when, on
detal hing the tran>ixcd billie, she read
upon the envelore her owneuame.
So then, this lclter which she had
fshed up was addressed to her.
This was somewhat miraculous. She
was afraid Her troubled glance scruti
nized the surrounding space, but there
was nothing to be seen Or heard ; all was
st,l and lonely both OF land and water.
She quilted her seat, but took away
the letter. As soon as she was alone,
and c:oseted with herself, and as soon as
the paper was dry-a paper perfectly
waterproof, and written upon with indeI-
ible ink-she unseaIed the letter, and
commenced its perusaI.
A declaration OF love cried she at tho
first words. What insole,,ce!
Still, the insolence had come to her
in such an extrao dinary manner that
her curiosity would not suffer her to
treat this letter as she had so many others
-pitiIes<ly burn it withou. reading.
No, she read it quite through. The
lover, who dated his note from the bot
tom Of the river, had sk:lfui!y adopted
the allegory, and introduced himself as
a grotesque inhabitant OF the waler.-
The fable was gracefully managed, and
with the jesting tone which be bad
adopted WAS mingled true, serious, ar
dent sentiment, expressed with beauty
and eloquence.
The next day Mme. D. return
ed to the island not without emotion and
some trace of fear. Size threw her line
with trembling hand, and shuddered
as, moment after, she perceived the
movement of the hook.
Is it 6:h? Is it u lettel
1t was letter
Nine. D. was no believer in
~ a rr;o st;ll tlora uaS so,n hi mr. stranra