The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-06-18
a KIND HEART.
a TRUE FRENCH ROMANCE.

J upon iacts than notion, we give the fol-
lowing sketch, which, although rivaliHg
many of those romantic pictures drawn
! by fiction writers, is vouched for by an
old English journal as being founded upon
u real life occurrence, and merely polish
ed by the pen of the writer. A newly
married couple had just come from the
altar, and were about starting on bridal
tour, IS the following conversation took
| place:
! The newly married husband took one
Of his brides hands in his own. "Allow
| me-" said he, ''thus to hold your hand,
for dread lest you should quit me. 1
| 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 of hap
Piness, some malignant fairy steps ever in
to throw the victim into grief and des-
pair"
| "Re-assure yourself, my dear Frederic -
said the lady 81 was yesterday the
widow of Sir JamSs Melton, and to day I
am Madame de la Tour, your wife.
| Danish from your mind the idea of the
fairy. This is not a 6ction but his,
tory"
! Frederic de la Tour had, indeed, some
reason to suppose that his fortunes were
the work Of a fairy's wand for, in the
course of one OF two short months, by
| seemingly inexpHcable stroke of fortune,
be had been raised to happiness and
| wealth beyond his desires. A friendless
orphan, twenty-five years old, he had been
the holler of clerkship which brought
hin a scanty livelihood, when one day, AS
he passed along the Rue St. Honore, a
rich squipage stopped suddenly before him,
from it to him, M .nsieur, Monsieur"
she said.
| At the same time on given signal, the
footman leaped down, opened the carriage
door, and invited Frederick to enter. He
did so, though with some hesitation and
surprise, and the carriage started off at
full speed.
81 have received your note, sir,'' said
the lady to NJ de la Tour, in very soft
and sweet voice sand, ia spite of refu-
sal, hope yet to see you tomorrow even
ing at my party"
''Fo see me, Madame !" cried Fred
eric.
Eyes, sir, you All thousand
pardons," continued she, with an air Of
confusion. 81 see my mistake. Forgive
me, sir you are SO like particular
friend What can you think of me
yet the resemblance is so striking that it
would have deceived any one"
OF course Frederic replied politely to
the apologies.
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 lie arm to Lady Melton,
| as the fair stranger announced herself 10
be. Though English in name, the fair
laiy, nevertheless, was evidently of
French origin. Her extreme beauty
charmed NJ. de la Tour, and he congratu-
lated himself upon the happy accident
which had gained him such an acquaint-
ance. Lady Melton loaded him with
| ciViiIties, and he was not ili>iooking, GER
tainly, but he had not the vanity to think
his appearance was magnificent and his
plain and scanty wardrobe prevented him
from doing credi: to his tailor.
He accepted an invitation to the party
|
| followed and, to be brief the young man
| soon found himself an established visitant
at the house Of Lady Melton. She, a
rich and beautiful widow, WAS encircled
by admirers One by one they disap-
peared, giving way to the poor clerk, who
seemed to engroSs the lady'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 wonder
| to what circumstance ne owed his happy
fortune. He used to conclude his medi-
| tations by the reflection that assuredly the
lovely widow was fulfilling some unavoid-
able award of destiny. AS for his own
| feelings the lady was lovely, young, rich,
accomplished, and noted for her sensibility
and virtue-could he hesitate?
When the marriage contract was sign
! ed bis ast stonishment was redouhled, for
he found himself, through the iady'S love
the possessor of large property both in
England and France. The presence of
friends had 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 spirited away from his view.
"My dear Frederic" said the lady,
smilingly. 'fsit down beside me and let
me say something to you.''
The young husband obeysd, but did not
quit her hand. She began, fOnce on a
time''-Frederic started, and half serious
ly exclaimed, 'Heavens! it is fairy
tale ~ 'Listen to me foolish boy" re-
sumsd tie LADY. f'There was once a
young girl, the daughter of parents we'll
born, and at one time rich, but who had
declined sadly in circumstances Until
her fifteenth year the family lived in Ly-
ons, depending entirely for subsistence
upon the labor of her father. Some bet