Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-09-09

you to be one who will support prosperit,
as well as you have adversely. | make m,
proposal sincerely, and hope that you agre,
to it, ~
AT that time, Frederick" continued tn,
lady, II loved you; | had seen you bu
once, and that once was too memorable foI
me to forget 1T, and something always insin
uated to me that We were destined to pas.
through life together. At the bottom Of
my soul | believed this. Yet every one
around me pressed me to accept of the otfel
made to me, and the thought struck me tha,
l might one day make you wealthy Al
length my main objection to Sir James
Nleltons proposal lay in di inclination to
make myself the instrument of vengeance
IN Sir James hands against relatives whom
he mig ht dislike without good grounds. The
objection, when stated, only increased his
anxiety for my consent, and finally under
the impression that it would be, after all,
carrying romance the length of folly to re-
ject the advantageous settlement offered to
me, | consented to Sir James proposal.
This part of the story, Frederick, is really
like fairy tale. l, poor orphan, penni-
less. became the wife of one of the richest
baronets of England. Dressed in silks, and
sparkling with jewels, could now pass in
my carriage through the very streets where
few months before had stood, in the rain
and darkness-a mendicant ~
Happy Sir James ?" cried NJ. de la Tour
at this part of the story; ''he could prove
his love by enriching you
He was happy" resumed the lady.
"Our marriage, so strangely assorted, prov
ed much more conducive, it is probable, to
his own comfort than if he had welded one
with whom all the parade of settlements, of
pin money, would have been necessary
Never, believe did he for an instant re-
pent ct our union. |, on my part, conceiv-
ed myself bound to do my best for the solace
of his declining years; and he, on his part,
thought it incumbent on him to provide for
my future welfare He died. leaving me
large part of his substance-as much, in
deed, as | could prevail on myself to accept
| was now widow, and from the hour that
my hand to mar, excepting him who had
succoTed me In my hour of distress, and whose
remembrance had ever been preserved in
the recess of my heart. But how to discov-
er that man? All, unconscious ingratel to
make no endeavor to come in the way of one
who sought to love and enrich you | knew
not your name. In vain looked for you at
balls, assemblies and theatres You were
not there. All, how longed to meet you -
As the lady spoke she took fro n her neck
a ribband to which was attached piece of
a hundred sous. 1T is the same-the very
same which you gave me-" said she, pre-
senting it to Frederick by pledging it to
a neighbor got a little bread, and | earned
enough a terward in time to permit me TO
recover it. vowed never to part with it.
"Ah, how happy | was, Frederick, when
[ saw you in the street! The excuse which
| made for stopping you was the first that
rose to mind. But what tremors, | felt af
lest yod should have been already
In that case you should never
have heard aught of this fairy tale, though
[ would have taken some means to serve
and enrich you. | would have gone to En-
gland and there spent my days, in regret,
perhaps, but still in peace But happily it
was to be otherwise. You were single"
Frederick de la Tour was now awakened,
as it were, to the full capacity of his hap2i
ness. What he could not before look upon
but as a sort of freak proved to be the result
Of deep and kindly feeling, most honorable
to her who entertained it. The heart of the
young husband overfowcd with gratitude
and affection to the lovely and noble hearted
being who had given herself to him. He
was too happy for some moments to speak.
His wife first broke the silence.
so, Frederick, :" said she gaily, ''you see
that if | am fairy, it is you who have Civ
en- me the wand-the talisman-that has
ffected all I"