The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-03-15

had not overcome my courage, as long
as l could live in the hope Of seeing yor
one day rich and happy. under the PRO
lection of a worthy husband. This very
morning the scafolding of happiness
which | loved SO much to build up fol
you, fell to the ground This letter, ad
dressed to our old habitation, ought tc
have come to hand yesterday. Here
read it for yourself.
Anna took the letter which her moth
er held out to her, and looking at the
signature, remarked, sIt is from M
Jules Barsac himself she then read the
contents aloud. Madame-As long as
fortune smiled on me, thought with
delight on the alliance which NJ. Revival
and my father had contracted for me
but the late failure of the firm of Dan
derlias d Co. has drawn on ours and
as man of honor, deem myself bound
to restore you your promise. If your
daughter and myself were acquainted,
and if mutual affection had been the ba-
sis of the projected union, l would have
bent my knee before you, Madame, and
prayed you to wait until l had repaired
our disaster but have the right to call
on another to partake in my poverty =
Do l even know what space OF time it
may take to acquire fortune worthy oi
that which you have lost He that is
above can only tell. Your daughter,
brought up under your protecting care,
is I am informed both amiable and love-
ly. Who is there, then, who will not be
proud and happy to give her an honora-
BILE name and a position in society equal
to that in which she was born As to
me, l have nothing left, and unwillingly,
| am forced to renounce the favor design
ed for me.
You will pardon me, Madame, for
leaving Paris without paying my re-
spects to you but l should fear, after
having seen your daughter. to carry with
me keen regret, which might trouble
the calm Of an existence now consecra-
ted to labor.
Farewell, then, Madame: believe me
to be penetrated with every sentiment oi
respect for you, and to remain, your most
humble and obedient servant,
JULES BARsAc.
The young girl paused a moment af-
ter reading the note, and then raising her
eyes to meet her mothers, she remarked
as she placed it on the work table: Do
you not think. mother, that this letter is
perfect except as to the high opinion
expressed of me ? Ireally think that NJ.
Barsac writes with the utmost good
sense. almost regret that l have not
seen man whose conduct is actuated by
such honorable motives
This letter. said Madam Revival,
mournfully, certainly augments my re-
gret. | feel that could have loved this
young man as son. Now what diff.
ferent lot awaits you! Are you not ter
rifed at the idea of being obliged to work
for your poor mother 2
How unkind,' said Anna, 'how un-
like yourself! Why, what is it, after
all 1? Formerly, l embroidered to amuse
myself, now do the same 10 contribute
to your comfort. The latter will be sure
| ly the more agreeable. Besides 1 can
do it now SO much more cheerfully-
Look, have disposed of the collar. and
showed the empty case which she had
brought in, 'and here's the price obtain
ed for it, placing three pieces Of money
on the table.
A light knock at the door interrupted
the conversation Anna cast look of
disquietude at her mother, for since the
loss of their fortune, no visit had broken
their solitude.
Go and open it, said the lady.
With smile she obeyed, and the
opened door gave entrance to young
man, whom she Immediately recognized
as the stranger who had assisted the poor
old sufferer.
The countenance Of Mademoiselle Re.
vial at once assumed grave and severe
expression. Her mother perceived the
change. but before she could make an in.
quiry into the cause, the stranger advan-
ced and saluted her with respect, saying,
Madame, you are, Ipresume, the moth.
Ell of this young lady
Madame Revival made sign OF assent,
and pointed out chair to the stranger +.
He took it, and continued, chance this
morning brought Mademoiselle and N.Y.
self together in affording assistance to an
unhappy
OhP interrupted the young girl, whose
neck and face were covered with bushes
at the allusion to the mornings adven.
ture, I have not had time to tell you a Il
about it. Do you remember the poor
old man who generally took up his sta
ton at the door of our hotel formerly ?
He always wore green bandage over his
eyes to conceal his face from the passers
by, and held small basket Of matches
in his hand
YES interrupted Madame Revival in
her turn, l remember him well; your
father always dropped some money into
the basket when returning from the
Bourse. You used always to call him
your poor old man; and you, little as
you were. delighted in giving him every
thing you could scrape together
We'll, since our departure from the
hotel, we have asked each other hun
dred times, what could have become ol
him.
Yes said Madame Revival, with ey i.