The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-24
pleasing Miscellany.
Eso,y Eour Fortune Hunters were Disap-



"Iook. now, at this elegant Daumont and
ot the young and fine lady reclining as a ten
dor lower at the side of her mother. Sever
al cavaliers ceracol near the door of the CAL
rage. They are pretenders to her hand, Tor
she is rich heiress. Mile. ZenObie has long
courted innocent Irritation she was fond OF the
homages which follows her everywhere--in
town, in uilteggiaturd, and in the ball room,
Such is her candour that she Is afiiild 10
loose her court by marrying. II is y. why sue
hesitated. retreated, declined until nov.
Ar last the day has arrived when she must
bow to the will of her family an oP IL.
uncle has sworn that he will not leave heI "
Genuine were she not to marry dlilhS III. .p e9
emit winter You have your ei6re"tes, Say
that unmercitul uncle, "only wheh you nave
made a choice, and tell me the halhe Vi 'le
herueuG c0qdta. lennon, ,,,,.,,;,,o.,
Bring your present 1o-'hoiio" i"oiAo
answered Zenobie smiling.
.sIbcn tbe uncle echoed the oracle; the pre-
tender. were more languishlngy amiable than
over and four OF them dared to ask her hand.
SWhom will you choose?" asked the uncle
.'rhe fist | meet with in 1857"
"Of course, Mile. Zenobe told no one
where she was TO spend the evening. 1t was
a Scotch custom celebrated by Walter Scott
that Mile. Zenoble renewed, when solicited
to choose husband She said to the plead
ing of her lovers;I will marry the one whom
l shall see first in 1861
The four pretenders had followed her W
the gate Of her mansion, and then Pi',o 50
themselves in ambush to see II sne wo..'u ~
out during the evening. After lwU in I'm;
hours passed in observation ana III .ne 49,,
ness OF the night, they came 10 ilie ~.
that the race would fairly cohiiiie'loe ~
day; and they agreed TO apanu IN, ", h;s 90
a most and 20 take the held each oh LID o"h
grouad. i. ,,+ fall tbrouob Ier
.-, e,,oars a few RAYS of the hrst dawn OF
tbeneIy wear than each lover had arrived from
d;,Parent ways at the entrance OF the mansion.
al, et us begin the attack said they let us
ADVANCE in one line let us go in though it Is
rather early to pay visits.
.sAnd they knockei and were admitted. Ze-
nobie', mother who bad not been put in the
confidence of her daughter was rather aston
isbed at those early calls, but the fine boxes
full of bonbons the visitors offered her cui
short her reflections. ~
An hour passes, but Mile. Zenobie does
not show herself. One OF the lovers could no
conceal lis uneasiness, and asked it the ladie'
had spent the night at party. NO; an
swers Zenobie's mother, but about midnSh
my daughter felt unwell, and it is why she i
not yet down.
1--WE hope that her indisposition is not Sc
rious.'
mot in the least Zenobie, however, ha
been frightened at it, and she insisted on bein:
attended by a physician. As our medica
man lives long way from here, she suggest
ed that Mr.. Roduphe, our young neighbo
should be called in
".Did he come ?
".Yes; could not refuse my daughter
wish
"'But Mr.. Rodolphe, has not yet got his di
ploma; he is but a student.
"'That did not matter much the indisposi
ton was not at all dangerous
".Zenobie's uncle then entered the drawing
room, and said:
''I have just left my niece; she is reason
able she has made her choice, which approve
of. Moreover, the fulillment Of pledge was
in question. She was sworn to choose among
all her lovers the one whom she would firs
meet with 1867. When thus new year begar
when the belfry sounded the last stroke o
midnight, M. Rodolphe was at her side."
"'Well said mamma smiling, l am complete
ly treasured as to my darlings health"
The four hunters Of portions are now beat
ing new bushes.