Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-05
A SHORT LOVE STORY.

-
Look, now, at this elegant Daumont
and at that young and fine lady reclining
as tender flower at the side of her
mother. Several cavaliers caracol near
the doors of the carriage; they are pre-
tenders to her hand, for she is q rich
heiress. Mile. Zenobie has too long cul-
tivated innocent Irritation; she was fond
of the homsges which followed her every.
wherein town, in UillegiaturG, and in
the ball room. Such is her candor that
she is afraid to lose her court by marry
ing. 1t is why she has hesitated, re-
treated, declined till now At last the
day has arrived when she must bow to
the will Of her family. An opulent uncle
has sworn that he would not leave her a
centime we're she not to marry during
the present winter. You have your
etrennes," says that unmerciful uncle,
"ouly when you shall have made
choice, and tell me the name of the
hereuG coguin.
Bring your present tomorrow morn
ing" answered Zenobie, smiling.
Then the uncle echoed the oracle the
pretenders were more languishly amiable
than ever, and four of them dared to ask
her hand.
Whom will you choose ?" asked the
uncle.
1.-The first I shall meet with in 1867"
OF course Mile. Zenobie told no one
where she was to spend the evening. 1t
was Scotch custom celebrated by Wal
ter Scott that Mile Zenobie renewed,
when solicited to choose a husband. She
said to the pleiade of lovers, " / will
marry the first one whom shall see in
1861"
The four pretenders had followed her
to the gate of her mansion, and they
placed themselves in ambush to see if
she would go out during the evening
After two mortal hours passed in obser-
vation and in the chiliness of the night
they came to the sensible conclusion that
the race would fairly commence only the
next day and they agreed to abandon
so fatiguing a post, and to take the field
each on his own ground.
Aurora had scarcely let fall through
her rosy fingers few rays upon the first
dawn of the new year than each lover
had arrived from different ways at the
entrance of the mansion.
Let US begin the attack, said they,
let us advance in one line; let US go
in, though it is rather early to pay visits.
And they knocked and were admitted.
Zenobe's mother, who had not been put
in the confidence by ber daughter, was
rather astonished at those early calls;
but the fine boxes full of bonbons the
visitors offered to her, cut short her re
hections.
An hour passes, but Mile. Zenobie
does not show herself One of the lovers
could not conceal his uneasiness, and
asked if the ladies had spent the night at
a party. mo" answers Zenobies
mother; "but about midnight my
daughter felt unwell, and it is why she is
not yet down"
I'VE hope that her indisposition is not
serious"
"Not.in the least. Zenobie, however,
has been frightened at it, and she in
sisted on being attended by physician.
As our medical man lives a long way
from here, she suggested that M. Ro-
dolphe, our young neighbor, should be
called in"
did he come p
" Yes; | could not refuse my daugh-
ter's wish.
But NJ. ROdolphe has not yet got his
diploma he is but student"
That did not matter much; the In
disposition was not at all dangerous.
Zenobies uncle then entered the draw
ing room, and said
Il have just left my niece she is
reasonable; she has made her choice,
which / approve of Moreover, the full
fillment of pledge was in question.
She has sworn to choose among sll her
lovers the one whom she would first meet
with in 1867. When this new year begun
when the belfry sounded the last stroke
of midnight, NJ. Rodolphe was at her
side"
"Well, said the mamma smiling, " l
am completely reassured as to my dar-
hng's health"
The four hunters of portions are now
beating new bushes.