Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-19
FOR AND AGAINST.

When his father called Fred Fonte-
yrault, then a boy of fifteen, into his sick
chamber, and made him subscribe to the
whimsical conditions of the will, the fe-
male genddrnaerae, so well versed in my
affairs, declared that my husband had
wretchedly repented his early marriage,
and re, diving his son should walk into
fate with eyes unbandaged, forbade his
alliance before the age of twenty-six.
Though Mr.. FonteVrault was fifty and l
sixteen when married him, he was not
unhappy. lie occupied himself in look
ing after his money, and making collection
OF mosaics. We never had any matrimo-
NAL disturbances. think they are vulgar
ANY woman can do as she pleases with
out remonstrant word, provided she has
mind enough. 1t is the brainless woman
who scold. But scolds do not rule.
Fred was unreasonably fond of his IA
ther, and assented to his wishes without
demur, even when the great FontevraulJ
estates hung on his fidelity to useless
oath. Then he died, and l settled into
the blank stupidity of my widowhood I,
who had known no master but my own
sweet will, now found myself in a hundred
ways restricted. | was ruled through
Fred. He must graduate at Harvard !;
the great establishment, splel did but tedi-
Gus, must be maintained. So our residence
In Boston was necessitated. l shut my
self up in the legitimate manner, and
mourned of course. If it had not been for
novels, worsted work, and my beauty, l
should have CAPPED myself out Of existence
the first year. What nonsense 1t is to say
the prime of woman's loneliness passes
before the thirties For, look at me, am l
old or faded? Would you believe that
Fred, so tall and splendidly developed, was
my son1 From me he took his wealth of
nature, for Mr.. Fontevrault was one OF
those dried, wrinkled old men, woman like
me often marry; not becuse Of the SETTLE
ments only, but because of the foil. My
figure was moulded like the Venus they
copied in the colder marble from Pauline
Sho,ders and arms, delicious in their
curves, shining with rosy fairness. A
creamy skin, with faint ccralline tinge in
the cheeks. The forehead is too low,
some say; and yet artists have praisd lis
bend, and the Greek line of the nose; not
intellectual, but womanly, you know. Hair
of bright brown, feeling like floss silk.
Eyes, believe, few people ever fairly saw.
Men are bewitched by them, woman CAM
not understand their charm. Perhaps
you have seen Wilson's portrait of me, the
one wi h the grayish green background ;
you notice that The eyes were turned from
the spectator, and half shaded by white
lid and gilded lash. He could not catch
the fitting spark that made them mine,
and refused to paint them at all. My son
promises to be as perfect In his way as ]
In mine. just now a student, he is toe
Raphael-angel like to suit me; but the
very fellow to bewiider girls and set the
boarding schools crazy. Luckily he is
bound against inlhralment.
By and by the house grew so lonely that
/ was fain to send for Leonora to Ike
durance less vile. 1t was positively re
freshing to hear her voice sing through
the solemn old hall. Very warm was the
welcome she received from both Fred and
me. He had often said that she was the
only woman he could talk to without sup.
pressing yawn. TWAS ungal,ant of him,
but could sympathize with the senti
ment. l told Leonora he must make UP
her mind to stay with me, as long as she
remained unmarried.
Fred, holding her hand, laughrngly
made her promise never to take husband
without his consent While passed on
he drew her back; the mirror above the
door framed picture pretrier than
liked to see.
There is but one man will authorize
you to marry said my son.
Is Then it suddenly flashed on my mind
Of g
and would be sure to fail in love W tn wo.
man older than himself. The love did not
matter SO much, but marriage W uld be ar
absurdity. / expected to have daughter
in-law some day or other; but it was new
Or to be Leonora. In a hundred ways she
had resisted me, and overcome me. | wa:
as resolutely opposed to her, as if she hac
been my enemy. She was connection
of the family, independent, yet in som,
ssrt alone in the world. fit had beer
comforting favor on her, to ask her t,
stay with me, be sure never would hav,
uttered a persuasive word. But it was ask
ing her to leave gay society, and incens,
Of admiration, to bury herself in dul
house. Then she was 'ornamental;'
liked to see her about she was satirical
and pleased me by a little spicy abuse
They called her handsome. She .oas to-
small, think, too slight, perhaps an,
then her complexion was almost swarthy
But her hair was fine, her eyes large an,
brilliant, and her mouth mobile and swee;
The face was nothing to me; but her com
panionshlp was enlivening.
The young lady professed herself glad 0
ewnter of exclusion, and when saw b "
she set herself at work with books am
embroidery, confess l was astonished a
her resignation. Then l saw hzr look a
nv son, and perceived she did not find it S,
cory stupid after all. Slowly she snarlet
him in her meshes.
One time my husband had a friendles'
youth for his secretary, called Denis Chris
TOPPER. His name attracted me before hi:
person. Mr.. Fontevrault became SO dep
y interested in his character and talents
that he used his extensive influence. and
gave Mr.. Christopher al enyiable lift over
the worlds rough places. Fontevrault
was like grieyed child when lie left Us.
I was sorry, but concealed it. One of the
young mans agreeable privileges had been
70 attend mo in public, thus relieving Mr..