The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-08-01
sion that he was loved for himself, or else
that LADY Melville was fascinated.

W Den tne marriupc was octhcu' "h0" s"N
future spouse was before the notary, his as
tonishment was redoublcd. They declared
his property to be over a million. Heowncd
according to the contract, a farm in Nor
mandy, house in Paris. in the rue st. Hon.
ore, and other real estate which he had ney.
or before heard mentioned.
The widow was rich in foreign wealth.
She had farms in Wales and pastures in Dew.
onshirc. All was to Frederic a golden dream,
and he longed to awake from it. The mayor
and the curate came to sanction the union,
but neither the marriage solemnity nor the
law was able to dispcl his doubts, and he did
not leave his wife's feet, but graspcd in his
hand the embroidered muslin Of her night.
dress, through fear that tho dream would
vanish.
Rise, Frederic, said his wife again, 'come
to this armchair of mine and let us con.
verse;
The young man at last obcycd, though yet
unwilling to release his hold Of his wiic's
hand, and Madame de Ia Tour commenced as
follows:
There was once upon time
There, cried Frederic so / was not de-
ceived. It is in truth fairy tale.'
listen to me, my friend. There was once
upon time young girl, born of parents
who had formerly been wealthy, but who,
when fifteen years Of age, had to subsist up
on the industry of her father. They resided
in Lyons, but some hopes of better fortune
brought them to Paris Nothing is so diff.
cult us to recover lost fortune, or to regain
lost rank. This young girls father found
it SO; for four years he struggled with mis-.
cry without being able to vanquish it, and
then died in the hospital.
The mother soon followed her husband,
and the young girl was left alone in the at
tic, for which the rent was unpaid. Its only
furniture was two beds. II there were a
fairy in tho tale which am relating, this is
certainly tho moment when she should ap-
pear but there is none in it. The young
girl remained at Paris, without protectors,
without aid, having at Lyons debts which
she was unable to pay, and in vain seeking
for labor, the wealth Of the poor. Vice, il
is true, stretched its arms to her, but there
arc puro souls that can pass vicc without
looking at it, or at least without suffering
themselves to be sullied by its breath.
Meantime life was necessary; the hunger
of the day rcdoubled at night, and the mis-
cry of the night was added to a second day
without food. You rise from table groan
ing under its weight Of daintics, where wine
too abOunds to satisfaction, and although il
is since yesterday, Frederic, that you arr
rich, you have no idea Of tho misery speak
Of, and you wonder that, in the midst of the
luxury that surrounds you, upon this arm
chair of gold and silk, where ! am sitting,
can point to you such picture but lister
to me further.
'lIunger led this young girl to beg. Sh'
covered her head with her mothers veil, thu
only heritage she received; she inclined hel
body to initiate age, and went down into the
street. There she held out her hand. Alas
that hand was white and fair, and there wa
danger in showing it.; that hand was ther
wrapped by the young girl in the thick clotl
of the veil, as il it had been eaten by hide
Gus leprosy.
The poor child took her station against Q
post, far of from the lamp; when young
girl of wealthy appearance passed by, thu
unfortunate one would hold her hand ant
ask for a sou. A sou to buy little bread
At Paris young girls have something else tc
do in the evening besides drawing sou from
their pocket. If the beggar.girl saw an olt
man passing she yentured to implorc him.
Age is often avaricious and hard. The ole
man passed. The evening had been wet ant
rainy, night was approaching, and the pa
trolls, the night guards, the city sergcants
were about to take possession of the streets
of Paris, when the young girl, fainting will
want, once more held out her hand. Sh'
addressed herself to young man, wh'
stopped, felt in his pocket, and threw her I
piece Of money, SO much did he fear to toucl
the wretched one. A police officer, who wa
apparently lying in wait for the beggar-girl
all at once appeared, and laying his han'
upon her said
.Ah. I.havo you you're begging. CONF
along, my beauty
At this tho young man in,erfered, will
some warmth he took the arm Of the beg
car. which moment before he would no
touch with his glove, and turning to the of
ficer, said:
This woman is not beggar, but ono o
my acquaintanccs.'
But, sir the executor Of the law agains
beggary was going ON to say.
Il repeat tina, l am acquainted with tn
lady. My poor good woman added ho
bending over to the ear of the young girl
whom he took for an old woman, 'accep
these hundred sous, and let mo conduct yor
to the ncighboriug street. BY this mean
you will escape this Cerbcrus who pursue'
YOU
The crown slipped from your hand int
mine. continued the bride; 'and as we wer,