Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-19
wOMAN'S LOVE

I awho is shat very beautiful girl ?''asked a
Young Englishman of his companion, as they
eaned, for moment, against one of the
marble pillars, to contemplate at leisure the
.ncbanting scene which :. Partisan bail pre-
ents to the eye Of the stranger. Not that an
English ballroom is rot very delightful
.'ght, but the French manage these things
ctter. Perhaps they are constituiionally a
more lively nation but certain it is that the
-pirit animation, and ioyousuess-the tota!
abandonment of everything, as it were, to the
.pell of the 1nomcnt-will be looked for in
yain at our grayer assemblies. And yet |
peak not in disparagement-for, after al,
,iye me my own proud, solemn, high-minded,
md right. feeling England But 10 return to
my tale.
The young girl alludcd to was exquisitely
ovely, with petite aud childlike figure, a
air. bright face, and pair Of the most mis-
chievous blue eyes that could be imagined !;
Though the Occurrences of her present atli-
ude made them appear softened, if not sub
lued. Her head was bent a little forward,
md profusion of light, sunny curls fell upon
. aer white shoulders. and contrasted strangely
n their brightness with the dark emerald hue
e her satin robe, the front and sleeses Of
which were clasped with diamonds of inesti.
nable value.
By her side sat q young man, attired with
tudied plainness; although the turn OF his
tinely-shaped head, the fire of his dark, mel
.ncholy eyes, and the troubled expression of
mis- pale handsome features, rendered him an
inject of whom one would wish to know more.
"It is Mademoiselle Verney,' replied the
young Count de Tours; the richest heire,s
IN Paris, and on the eve OF marriage with
'hat.solemn.lookiDg parsonage by her side"
aShe must be very young ?" said the Eng
ishman.
"Sheis scarcely eighteen" w.s the reply !;
q and wilful as she is beautiful"
And her lover? 2"
cab! there lies the disparity he has moth
ng-absolutely nothing-and is as proud as
ie is poor! Why, Lestelle, with her beauty
and fortune, might Lave chosen her hdsbaLd
among the nob'est Of the land; but she is
fond and romantic, and Monsieur Aubertin,
,uiet as he looks, has had wit enough to per.
made her that she loves him."
"Persuade herr" repeated the Englishman.
"Yes. for she is but a girl, and will have
changed her mRd aud repented dozen times
before she comes Of age. And as for Auber-
tins having any real disinterestcd affection
10. her, we know too much Of the world 10
believe that my friendr,
And the young count laughed scornfully, as
20 drew his companion away.
.You are i'll, Claude.?" said Lestelle, an1-
ously as she watchcdtae changed expression
IF her lovers face, and marked his baughtily
contracted brow and flashing eyes; !" have l
said anything to otfcnd?"
"Will YOU forgive me, dearest, if | confess
hat have not heard word you have been
saying for the last FIVE minutes?" murmured
Aubertin, abstractcdly.
The young beauty tossed back the curls
froa: her white brow, and put up her pretty
ip, but she did not reply and the long silence
hat ensued was broken, at length, by Claude.
"Shal I tell you, Lestclle," he asked, in a
ow voice, "what the Count de Tou1s has just
neen saying about US? and he speaks doubt
css from the common rumors and opinions OF
,ociety."
AS you will" replied Lestelle, coloring
slightly, and trying to speak with indifference.
"He calls you fond, romantic girl, Les
ellie, and me an-adyenturer"
"And can the idle words of such as he have
the power to move you thus my Claude? p
said Lestelle, gently; or do you think" she
/ added, with an arch smile, "that such prize
as myself is to, be attained without exciting
envious remarks? That am fond and ro-
mantle, confess; ever since | can remember,
in my dreams Of young romance, pictured
to myself an ideal being whom / could love;
but never were girlhood's visions realized as
mine have been-that is, if my hero does not
spoil all by his too scrupulous pride
But l have not told you oil yet" contin-
ued Auberiin, while his baughty frown re-
l.xed beneath the witchery of her smiles
S he said. too, that, but for me, with your
wealth and beauty, you might have comman-
ded one Of the most splendid matches in the
kiugdomF p
a,And would that have insured my happi.