The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-11-10

the sight of him, but offered him her
hand to kiss, and begged him by
gesture to be seated
"Marchioness," said Beaugency, as
he held in his hands the rosy fingers
of the lovely widow, at is fully week
since you received me !"
"a week q? why, you were here yes
terday !"
"Then ] must have counted the
hours for ages.
"a compliment which may be found
in one of the younger Crcbillon's
books !"
"You are hard upon me, marchio-
ness"
Perhaps SO; it comes naturally; l
am tired"
"Ah, marchioness Heaven knows
that / would make of your existence
one never ending fete p
THAT would at least be wcarisome.
Say word, my lady, one single
word, and my fortune, my future pros
poets, my ambition"
"You are still, then, as ambitious as
ever ?"
more than ever since l have been
in love with you.
as that necessary p
Beyond doubt Ambition what
is it but honors, wealth, The envious
look of impotent rivals, the admira-
ton of the crowd, the favor of mon
archs And is not ones love unan-
swerably and most triumphantly
proved, in laying all this at the feet Of
the woman one adores 2"
you may be right"
Il may be right, marchioness Lis
ten to me, my fair ladylove.
II am all attention, my lord
Between us, who are well born,
and consort not with plebians, that
vulgar and sentimental sort of love
which is painted by those who write
books for your mantuamakers and
chambermaids, would be in exceeding
" bad taste. 1t would be but slight
ing love and making no account Of its
enjoyment, were we to go and bury il
in some obscure corner of the prov
inces, or if Pars-we who belong tc
notwithstanding away there with it
in monotonous solitude and unchang-
ing contemplation =
"Ah ? said the marchioness, "you
think so 2"
Tell me, rather, of fetes that dazzle
one with lights, with noise, with
smiles with wit, through which one
glides intoxicated, with the fair con
quest in triumph on ones arm. Why
hide ones happiness, in place of pa
rading it? The jealousy of the world
does but increase, and cannot dimin-
ish it. My uncle, the cardinal, stands
well at court. He has the kings ear
and will, ere long, procure me one OF
the northern embassies. Cannot you
fancy yourself madame the Embassa-
dress, treading ON the platform of a
drawing-room, as royalty with royalty
with the highest nobility of a kingdom
having the men at your feet, and
the women on lower seats around you,
whilst you yourself are occupant of a
throne, and WELD sceptre."
And as Count de Beaugency warmed
with his own eloquence, he gently slid
from his seat to the knees of the mar
chioness, whose hand he covered with
kisses.
She listened to him, with smile on
her lips, and then abruptly said to
him, Rise, my lord, and hear me in
turn. Are you in truth sincerely at
tached to me"
with my soul, marchioness p
"Are you prepared to make every
sacrifice ?"
Every one, my lady"
"That is fortunate indeed; for to be
prepared for all, is TO accomplish one
without the slightest difficulty; and il
is but single one that require"
"Oh, speak Must throne be con,
quered ?"
''By no means. You must only cal
to mind that you own fine chateau
in Potion"
? "Pooh !" said Beaugency; ga shed
every mans house is his castle,
replied the widow; "and having called
it to mind, you need only order post
) horses"
'For what purpose ?"
'To carry me to Courlac. 1t is there
that your almoner shall unite us, il
the chapel, in the presence of your do
mestics and your yassals, our only wit
> nesses."