The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-12
WHOSE WIFE WAS SHE.

In IL, at toulouse, there existed
between O Monsieur de Garran and
the family of Monsieur de la Faille
so great an intimacy, that the worthy
gossips of the city predicted that a
marriage must inevitably result there
from. Nor was the rumor so ill
founded as such things sometimes
are. Monsieur de Garran, captain
of artillery in regiment then sta
toned at Toulouse, was q yonng and
handsome man, as much distinguish
ed for his bravery in the field as for
his proficiency in those accomplish
ments which make the charm of
social intercourse. Talented and
brilliant in conversation, his society
was sought by all the best families OF
Toulouse and it's neighborhood; and
that fact alone was a certificate of his
unblemished descent, for in Tou-
louse, especially at that time, four
generations of noble ancestors were
not considered sufficient to entitle q
man to rank himself amongst the old
nobility. Monsieur de la Faillle was
one of the principal magistrates of
Toulouse. Timid and cautious by
temperament and habit, he was, like
most persons of similar character,
immovable as rock when he had
once formed a resolutions; and his
birth, wealth and social position
made him as much respected as his
gentle ingratiating manners caused
him to be loved.
He was q widower with one child,
a daughter called Clemence, the
beauty of the city. Mademoiselle de
la Faille had so perfect figure, that
that alone, even if united with very
moderate amount of beauty of face,
must have made good her title to be
called q beautiful woman; but Gle
mence had a face which left no
charm of expression, feature, or
complexion to be desired. It was
but natural that she and Monsieur
de Garran, both young, handsome
and agreeable, and both free in heart
and fancy, being constantly til own
together, should first be attracted
towards each other, and after time
find that their mutual attraction had
merged into o deeper feeling; it was
SO, and everything seemed for once
favorable-birth, fortune, position
and age, for French girls are married
young, and Clemence was fifteen,
while George de Garran was twenty
five.
George was as welcome to the
father as the daughter, and assumed
all the rights of an accepted suitor.
All his leisure hours were spent
with Monsieur de Ia Faille and his
daughter; he was always their escort
in public, where the beauty of the
young pair attracted universal admi-
ration, and the marriage was looked
forward to by the citizens IS sort of
public festival, of which all augured
all manner of good. George had a
widowed mother residing in Paris,
and the only thing wanting to COM
plete his happiness, was the fact that
she was still unacquainted with his
attachment. He had not the small
est doubt of her consent, for he was
her only child, and his happiness
was her first object; but Monsieur de
la Faille placed great stress on the
Importance of her formal approba-
baton of the union, and George,
having first deferred communicating
the affair to her until he should be
quite certain of his success with
Clemence and her father, had after
wards chosen to delay acquainting
her with it until he could procure
leave of absence, and tell his story
in person. This leave was at length
obtained, and the happy lover, sure
of his future, took leave of his be-
trothed and her father one evening,
with the understanding that he was
to leave Toulouse early next morn
ing, and not to return until he
brought either the fullest tokens of
his'mother's approval, or be accom-
panied by herself, if health should
permit her to undertake the journey.
Full of Joy and hope, George return
ed to his hotel, and there was met
by an urgent and peremptory order
to proceed without the delay of Oh
unnecessary hour with his regiment
to India.
Great was the surprise OF Clemence
and her father to see George reap.
pear next morning; the girl read evil
tidings in his face before he had
time to utter a word, and when he