North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-04-06
THE MARRIAGE rCRUCIBLE
A THRILLING TALE OF HIGH AND LOW LIFE.

Those of our readers who have ever seen
acted, or have read, that beautiful modern
drama of Sir Edward BuIwer Lytton, g. The
Lady of Lyons,n need look no farther than
the following sketch for its fonndation.l
was born in one of those little hamlets
situated in the neighborhood of Montclmart
in the south Of France. My father had made
many fruitless effort to raise himself above
indulgence. His last resource in his old age
arose from the exercise of a talent which he
had acquired in his youth-that Of bellows
making. This, too, was the humble profes
sion which was destined TO follow. Being
endowed by nature with quick and lively
faculties, both Of mind and body, soon
grew skllful in my trade, and having an am
bilious spirit, set off for Lyons to prosecute
my calling there, became great favorite
with the chamber-mads, who were my chief
employers, and whom my good looks, and
youth, interested in my favor.
One evening, no wcver, as was returning
home after my days round, | was accosed
BY four well dressed young men, who threw
out few pleasan;ries on my profession--
which | answered. in style of good -humored
them. | saw them look significantly at one
another, and heard one If them say, " This is
our man." The words alarmed me, but my
fears were speedily dispelled. " Perouon,' ),
said one, " you shall sup with us. We have
scheme which may do you good. IF you
do not agree to it we shall not harm you,
but only ask you to keep our secret. Do
not be afraid, but come with US"
Seeing all of them to be gentlemen in ap-
pearance, did not hesitate to accept Of the
offer. They conducted rne through nun
Der of cross streets and at last entered a
handsome house, in an apartment Of which
we found six other young men, who appear
ed to have been waiting impatiently for my
conductors. A few explanatory words pass
ed respecting me, and soon afterwards we
sat down to supper. Being young aid
,hOughtless and light hearted, | gave way to
;he enjoyment of the hour, and vented a sue
cession of pleasan,ries which seemed to high
ly please my chance companions. But they
all grew client and thoughtful ere long, and
finally one of them addressed me thus:
g The ten persons whom you see before
you, are all engravers, and citizens of Lyons
We are all in good circumstances, and make
a very handsome living by our occupation.
We are all attached to one another, and
to disturb US. In the street Of ST. Dominic
there lives a picture merchant, a man of re
spectacle station, but otherwise an ordinary
parsonage. He has, however, daughter
creature possessed Of every accomplish
ment and endowed with every grace but
all those amiabIe qualities are shaded by one
defect-prde, insuppnrtable pride. As an
example of the way in which this feeling has
led her to treat others, will own that /
N, self paid my addresses to her and was ap-
proved Of by her father as one by birth and
circumstances much their superior But
what was the answer which the insulent girl
herself gave to my suit ?-'Do you think,
sir, that Young woman like me was botn
fer nothing better than to be the wife Of an
engraver ?"
Her great charms and her pride have
been felt by us all, continued the speaker
aud we hold that she has cast slur both
on US and our profession. We have, there
fn 1ic6a nj rrirl
that she has not indeed been born to the
honor of being the wife Of an engraver.-
Now will you, addressing mel venture to
become the husband of a charming woman,
who, to attain perfection, needs to have her
pride mortified and her vanity punished ?"
eyes" answered /, spurred on by the ex-
citement of the moment; /" I comprehend
what you would have me do, and l will full
fl it in such manner that you shall have
no reason to blush for your pupil" ..t
The three months that followed this very
strange scene, were wholly occupied with
preparations for the part was to perform
Preserving the strictest possible secrecy, my
confederates did their best to transform me
from plain bellows mender into a fine gen.
tlemen, Bathing, hair-dressers, &C., bro't
my person to fitting degree of refinement,
while every day one or other of the engrav-
ers devoted himself to the task of teaching
me music, drawing, and other accomplish
ments and nature had furnished me with q
disposition to study, and a memory SO re-
tentiye, that my friends were astonished at
the progress of their disciple. Thoughtless
of all else. felt the deepest delight in &C
| quring these new rudiments of education.-
But the time came when was to be made
sensible, for the first time, Of the true ma
ture Of the task / had entered upon. The
oonfederates, at length, thought NE perfect,
| and in the character of the rich MARQUIS of