The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-06-19
a KIND HEART.
A True French Romance.

True French Romance.
knowing that the general class of
readers are more interested in tales
founded upon facts than fiction, we
give the following sketch, which, al
though rivaIing many of those roman
tic pictures drawn by fiction writers,
is vouched for by an old English jour
nal as being founded upon a real life
occurrence, and merely polished by
the pen of the writer. A newly mar
ried couple had just come from the
altar, and were about starting on a
bridal tour, as the following conver-
satiOn took place:
The newly married husband took
one of his brides's hands in his own.
"AIlOw me-" said he, "thus to hold
your hand, for I dread lest you should
quit me. | tremble lest this should be
an illusion. 1t seems to me that / am
the hero of one of those fairy tales
which amused me in my bOyhOod, and
which, in the hour ofhappiness, some
malignant fairy steps ever in to throw
the victim into grief and despair"
"Re-assure yourself, my dear Fred
erie" said the lady. '"I was yester-
day the widow of Sir James Melton,
and to-day / am Madame de la Tour,
your wife. Danish from your mind
the idea of the fairy. This is not a
fiction but a history"
Frederic de la Tour had, indeed some
reason to suppose that his fortunes
were the work Of a fairy's wand for,
! in thecOurseo of one or two short months,
by a seemingly inexpIicable stroke
! of fortune, he had been raised to hap
piness and wealth beyond his desires.
| A friendless orphan, twenty-five years
/ old, he had been the holder of Il clerk
ship which brought him a scanty live
Iihood, when, one day, as he passed
along the Rue st. HOnOre, rich equip
age stopped suddenly before him, and
n yOuno and elegant woman called
| from it to him, Monsieur, Monsieur" d"
said She
At the same time, on given signal,
the footman leaped down, opened the
carriage door, and invited Frederic to
enter. He did so, though with some
hesitation and surprise, and the car
riage started off at full speed.
81 have received your note, sir, }"
said the lady to NJ. de Ia Tour, in a
very soft and sweet voice; "and, in
spite of refusal, hope yet to see you
tomorrow evening at my party"
"To see me, Madamew cried Fred
eric.
eyes, sir, you-Ah! Il thousand
pardons," continued she, with an air
of confusion. 81 see my mistake.
Forgive me, sir! you are so like a
particular friend! What can you
think of me? Yet the resemblance is
so striking that it would have deceiv-
ed any one"
Ofcourse Frederic replied politely
! 10 TIE dpOlOSItS'
Just as they were terminated the car
riage stopped at the door of a splendid
mansion, and the young man could do
no more than offer his arm to Lady
Melton, as the fair stranger announced
herself to be. Though English in
name, the fair lady, nevertheless, was
evidently of French origin. Her eX-
treme beauty charmed M. de la Tour,
and he congratulated himself upon the
happy accident which had gained him
such an acquaintance. Lady Melton
loaded him with civilities, and he was
not ill-looking, certainly; but he had
not the vanity to think his appearance
was magnificent; and his plaid and
scanty wardrobe prevented him from
doing credit to his tailor.
He accepted an invitation to the par
| ty spoken of. Invitations to other
parties followed and, to be brief, the
young man soon found himself an. es-
tablished visitant at the house of Lady
Melton. She, a rich and beautiful
widow, was encircled by admirers
One by one they disappeared, giving
way to the poor clerk, who seemed to
engros5 the Iady's whole thoughts.
Finally, almost by her own asking,
they were betrothed. Frederic used
| to look sometimes at the glass which
hung in his humble lodging, and Won
der to what circumstances he owed his
happy fortune. He used to conclude
his meditations by the reflection that
assuredly the lovely widow was full
| filling some unavoidable award Of des-
tiny. AS for his own feelings the lady
was lovely, young, rich, accomplished,
and noted for her sensibility and vir-
tue-could he hesitate?
When the marriage contract was
signed his isastonishment was redoubled,
for he found himself, through the la
dy's love, the pOssessor of large prop
erty both in England and France. The
presence of friends bad certified and
sanctioned the union, yet, as has been
stated, Frederic felt some strange
fears, in spite of himself, lest all should
prove an illusion, and he grasped his
! BRIDES hand as if to prevent her being