The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-09-26
The Hundred Sous Piece.

1t was past midnight, and the bride had
already been some time IN tile nupliaI
chamber, wheE the young spouse succeed
ed at last in escaping from his friends and
leaving the ball room, when he ascended
the stairs, upon one Of the landing places
of which a waiting maid met him and told
him to enter.
The new husband raped lightly upon
the door, and threw himself at he feet of
a woman, who was waiting for him, seated
near the fire, in an elegant night-dress,
suca as rich widow might be expected to
wear whose desires had been satisfied by a
new marriage.
"Rise, my friend" said she to her spouse,
giving her hand.
"No, no, madame" replied the young
man, seizing upon white hand which he
clasped between his own, and carried to his
lips. "No, leave me at your feet, and do
not withdraw your hand, for fear lest
you may escape me; fear that all this is
only illusion it seems to me that am the
hero of one Of those fairy tales | used to
hear when a child, and that, at the very
moment Of being happy, the malicious fs-
ry is going to fly away, to laugh with her
companions at my sorrow and despair. I"
"Be assured, my friend, thai yesterday
| was Lord Melville's widow; and now.
sir, am Madame de la Tour, your wife
Dispel from your Imagination your chi,d>
hoods fairy. The tale is but a fable"
NJ. Frederic de la Tour had soma reason
TO suspect that superior genius interfered
with his affairs, for within the last month
either chance or inexplicabls good fortune
had rendered him rich and happy beyond
bis desires. His age was twenty five ; lie
was an orphan, and barely lived upon an
employment in which he was engaged,
when, passing one day through the street
Saint Honore, a splendid coach stopped
near him and an elegantly dressed lady
leaned over the carriage door and called
out to him, though not by name.
The driver descended, let down the foot
board, and, hat in hand, respectfully invi,
ted NJ. Frederic to be seated by the side OF
this woman, glittering with jewels. The
coachna an then drove off.
"Sir," said the lady, who had thus tax
en- him up, with sweet voice, Il have
received your letter, but notwithstanding
your refusal yet hope to see you to NOR
row at my evening party
"Me, madame 2" replied Frederic.
eyes, sir, you-ah l beg your par
don," cried the lady with surprise II beg
your pardon, sir; but you so much resem-
bic person of my acquaintance that
took you for him. All, sir, excuse-what
must you think Indeed the resemblance
is SO striking that any one in the world
would be deceived as have been.'
Before the explanation was ended, the
coach stopped in the court of superb
mansion, and NJ. Frederic could not but
offer bis hand TO Lady Melville. Frederic
dazzled by SO much grace, was easily sub
jugated. He congratulated himself upon
the happy chance which gave rise to bis
acquaintance with Lady Melville; he ac-
cepted her invitation, and in a few days be-
came one of her most frequent visitors
The rich widow was surrounded with ad
mirers but they dropped off one by one
and things were so arranged before a week
had rolled by that the little clerk had made
the widows house his home. Marriage
was agreed upon, but it was she who first
proposed 1t.
Frederic would sometimes place himsel
in the morning before his little glass and
consider himself with some attention. lie
was not ugly, neither was he handsome
i,n hot nf q
clerk with salary of eight hundred francs
did not permit him to attribute his goot
fortune to his tailor. He was forced to the
conclusion that he was loved for himself
or else that Lady Melville was fascinated
When the marriage was settled, when the
future spouse was before the notary, hi
astonishment was redoubled. They decla
red lis property to be over a million. Ht
owned, according to the contract, faru
in Normandy, house in Paris, in the
street Saint IIonore, and other real estate
which he had never before heard mention
ell. The widow was rich in foleign wealth
She had farms in Wales, AID pastures il
Devonshiie. Al was TO Frederic colder
dream, and he ionged to wake from it
The Mayor and the curate came to sane
ton the union, but neither the marriage
solemnity nor the law was able TO di>pe
his doubts, and he did not feare his wife,
feet, but grasped in his hand the enbroid
cred muslin of her night dress. through
fear that the dream would vanish.
"Rise, Frederic. said his wife again
] {. Il Il, &c
! US converse"
The young man at last obeyel, thougl
yet unwilling to release his hold of hi:
wife's hand, and Madame de la Tour com
menced as follows:
"There was once on a time"
There" cried Frederic, $50 was no
deceived; it is in truth a fairy tale"
Listen to me, my friend There va
once on time young girl, born Of pa
rents who had formerly been wealthy, bu
who, when fifteen years Of age, had to sub
sist upon the industry Of her father. They
resided in Lyons, but some hopes of bette
fortune brought them to Paris Nothin.
is SO dflicu!s AS to recover a lost FORUM,
or 10 regain a los. rank. This young cir
found it so;' for four years her fathe
struggled with misery without being abl'
to vanquish il. AMI died in the hospital
"The mother soon followed the husban,
and the young girl was left alone in ih'