The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-15
MISCELLANY.
THE FAITHFUL WIFE.

but look with kind of pleasure at these wa
CONS, and the little wagoners, who, by-the-by,
were Young and pretty countrywomen. Sud
denly the vehicles came to stand, and the eyes
of NJ. de Talleyrand CHANGED to rest upon one of
the young women who seemed more lovely and
graceful than the others. An exclamation es-
capped from his lips 1t attracted the attention
of the fair one, whose country dress and large
hat bespoke daily visits to the market; as she
beheld the astonished Talleyrand, whom she
recognized Immediately, she burst out laugh
ing.
"What! is it YOU? n exclaimed she.
"Yes, indeed it is |. But you, what are you
doing here?D
"Is said the young woman, 81 am waiting
for nv turn to pass on. l am going to sell my
greens and vegetables at the market"
At that moment the wagons began to move
along, she of the straw hat applied the whip to
her horse, told NJ. de Talleyrand the name of
the village where she was living. requesting
him earnestly to come and see her, disappeared,
and left him as if riyeted TO the spot by this
strange appartion.
Who was this young market-woman? Mad
anne la Comtesse de la Tour-du-Pin, 4 Mademois-
ellie de Dillon,l the most elegant among the
ladies of the court OF Louis XVI, King of
France, and whose moral and intellectual
worth had shone with so dazzling a lustre in
the society of her numerous friends and admir-
ers. At the time when the French nobility
emigrated, she was young. lively, endowed
with the most remarkable talents, and, like all
the ladies who held a rank at the court, had
only time to attend to such duties as be-
longed to her highly fashionable and courtly
life.
Let any one fancy the sufferngs and agony
OF that woman, born in the lap of wealth, and
who had breathed nothing but perfumes under
the gilded ceilings of the royal palace of Yer
Catlt 81.
rounded with blood and massacres, and saw ev-
cry kind of danger besetting her young and be-
loved husband and her infant child
They succeeded in flying from France. 1t was
their good fortune TO escape from the bloody
land where Robespierre and his associates were
busy at the work of death. Alas in those
times Of terror the poor children themselves
abandoned with joy the parental roof, for no
hiding-place was secure against the vigilant eye
OF those monsters who thirsted for innocent
blood.
The fugitives landed in America, and first
went to Boston, where they found retreat.
But what a change for the young, pretty, and
fashionable lady, spoiled from infancy by loud
and continual praises Of her beauty and talents.
Mons. de la Tour-du Pin was extravagantly
fond ofhis WIFE AT the court OF France he had
seen her, with the proud eye of husband the
object of general admiration. Indeed her con-
duct had always been virtuous and exemplary;
but now, in a foreign land and among unso-
phisticated republicans, 1881 what was the
use of courtly refnements?
Happy as he was in seeing her escape from
all the perils he had dreaded ON her own ac-
count, still he could not but deplore the future
lot of the wife of his bosom. However. with
the prudent foresight of good father and
kind husband, he ner,ed himself against des-
pair, and exerted himself to render their con-
dition less miserable than that of many emf
grants who were starving when the little mon
ey they had brought over with them had been
exhausted Not word of English did he
know, though his wife spoke it fuently and
admirably well.
They boarded at Mrs. Mullers. a good ma
tured, notable woman, who on every occasion
evinced the greatest respect for her fair board
err; yet NJ. de la Tour-du-Pn was in constant
dread lest the conversation of that good, plain
and well-meaning woman might be the cause
of great Bnnai TO his lady. What a contrast
with the society of such gentlemen as NJ de
Norbonne, M. de Talleyrand, and the high
minded and polished nobility of France!
Whenever he was thinking Of this transition
particularly when absent from his wife and till
ing the garden ofthe cottage they were going to
inhabit) he felt such pangs and heart throb-
bngs as TO make him too apprehensive on his
return to Mrs. Nj. to meet the looks of his be-
loved wife, whom he expected to find bathed
in tears. Meanwhile the good hostess would
give him a hearty shake of the hand. and re-
peat to him, Happy husband. Happy hus-
bandi"
At last came the day when the fugitive fam
lily lett the boarding house of Mrs Muller. to 90
and inhabit their little cottage, when they
were to be at last exempt from want, with an
only servant negro, a kind OF Jack-of-all
trades, viz gardener, a footman and cook
TIE last function, NJ de la Tour-du-Pin dread
ed most OF all TO see him undertake
1t was almost dinner time. The poor emf
grant went into his little garden to gather
some fruit, and tarried as long as possible. On
his return home his wife was absent; looking
for her, he entered the kitchen, and saw a
young countrywoman, who, with her back to
the door, was kneadng dough; her arms OF
snowy whiteness were bare to the elbows NJ.
de la Tour-dn-Pin started, the young woman
turned round. 1t was his beloved wife, who
had exchanged her muslins and silks for
country dress, not as for a fancy ball, but to
play the part of real farmers wife. At the
sight of her husband her cheeks crimsoned
and she Joined her hands in a duplicating
manner "Oh my love- said she, do not
laugh at me. am as expert as Mrs. Muller
Too full of emotion to speak, he clasped her
TO his BOSOM and kissed her ferventy. From
his inquiries, he learned that when he thought
her given up TO despair, she had employed her
time more usefully for their future happiness.
She had taken lessons from Mrs. Muller and
her servants-and after six months had become
skilful in the culinary art, a through house
keeper, discovering her angelic nature and adj
mirable fortitude.
dearest" continued she, eff YOU knew how
easy it is. We, in moment, understand what
would cost a countrywomen sometimes one or
two years. Now we shall be happy-you will
no longer be afraid of ennui for me- nor of
doubts about my abilities, of which / win give
you many proofs said she, looking with be-
witching smile at him. 'Come, come. you
promised us salad, and l am going to bake
for tomorrow; the oven is hot. To-day the
bread of the town will debut oh.-hence-
forward leave it to me-"
From that moment Madame de la Tour-du-
Pin kept her word; she insisted on going her
self to Boston TO sell her vegetables and cream
cheeses. 1t was on such an errand to town
that M. de Talleyrand met her.. The day after
he went to pay her visit, and found her in the
ponltry-yard, surrounded by host of fowls.
hungry chicks and pigeons.
She was all that she had promised to be. Be-
sides, her health had been so much benefited.
that she seemed less fatigued by the house,
work, than If she had attended the balls of the
winter. Her beauty, which had been remark
able IN the gorgeous palace of Versailles, was
dazzling in her cottage in the New World NJ
de Taleyrand said SO to her.
"lndeed!' replied she with ndiuete, "indeed
do you think so? | am delighted to hear it,
A woman is always and everywhere proud of
her personal attractions"
AT that moment the black servant bolted in
to the drawing-room, holding in his hand his