The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-09-12
mtsrellanp.
A KIND HEART.
A TRUE FRENCH ROMANCE.

fiction. we give the following sketch, which, al
though rivaling many of those romantic pic
lures drawn BY fiction writer's, is vouched for
by an old English journal as being founded up
on real life occurrence and merely polished oy
the pen of the writer. A newly married couple
had Just come from the altar, and were about
starting on bridal tour, the following CONVEX
sation 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. / tremble lest this should DO
an illusion 1t seems to me that am the hero
of one of those fairy tales which amused me In
boy-hood. and which, in the hour OF happiness
some malignant fairy steps ever in to throw the
victim into grief and despair!
"Reassurs yourself, my dear Frederic. said
che lady al was yesterday the widow Of Sir
James Melton and to-day l am Madame de la
Tour your wife. Danish from your mind the
idea of fairy. This is not fiction, but his
tory"
Frederic de la Tour had, indeed, some reason
to suppose that his fortunes were the work of o
fairy's wand for, in the course OF one or two
short months, by seemingly inexplicable stroke
of fortune, he had bean raised to happiness and
wealth beyond his desires A friendess orphan,
twonty-five years DID, he had been the holder of
clerkship which brought him scanty iveli.
hood, when, one day, as he passed along the rue
St.!Honore, rich equipage stopped suddenly
before him, and an elegant woman called from 1t
to him Monsieur, Monsieur" said she
At tho same time, on given signal the foot
man 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 on N full speed.
81 have received your note SIR said the lady
to M. de la Tour, in q very soft and sweet, voice,
"and, in spite OF refusal, hope yet to see you
tomorrow evening at my party"
''ro see me, MadameT' cried Frederic.
eyes, sir, you-Ah thousand pardons." con-
tinued she with an air of confusion 81 see my
mistake Forgive me, sir You are so like a
particular friend What you think of me ?
Yet the resemblance is SO striking that it would
have deceived any one
OF course Frederic replied politely to the apol-
ogies.
Just as they terminated this explanation the
carriage stopped at the door of splendid man
sion, and the young man could do no moro than
offer his arm to Lady Melton, as the tair stran-
ger announced herself to be. Though English
in name, the fair lady, nevertheless, was evident
ly of French origin.
Her extreme beauty charmed NJ. de la Tour,
and congr tn 1ted himself upon the happy ac-
cidont y;hich 'lad gained him such an acquant-
ance. Lady Melton loaded him with civilities,
and was not Unlocking certainly but he had
not the vanity to think his appearance was mag
nifccnt; and his plain and scanty wardrobe pre-
vented him from doing credit to his tailor
He accepted an invitation to the party spoken
Of Invitations to other parties 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 disappeared, Civ
ing way to the poor clerk, who seemed to engross
the lady's whole thoughts. Finally, almost by
her own asking they were bethrothed.
Frederic used to look sometimes in the glass
which hung in his humble lodging, and wonder
to what he owed his happy fortune. He used to
conclude his mcditations by the reflection that
assuradly tho lovely widow was fulfilling some
unavoidable 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 signed his
establishment was redcublcd, for he found him
SELF through the ladys love, the virtual possess
or of large property both in England and France.
The presence of friends had certified and sane
toned the union, yet, az has been stated, Freder-
ic -elt some strange fears in spite OF himself,
lest al should prove an illusion, and he grasped
his brides hand to prevent her being spirited
away from his view
'My dear Frederic" said the lady, smilingly,
'sit down BIZ DO me and let me say something
TO you"
The young husband obeyed. but did not quit
her hand. She began-"Onee upon time
Frederic started, and half seriously exclaimed,
"HeaveI.! it Is fairy tale y "listen to me,
foolish boy" resumed the lady.
"Ihere was once young girl, the daughter
OF parents well born and at one time rich, but
who had declined sadly in circumstances I'M
til her fifteenth yoar the family lived in Lyons,
depending entirely for subsistence on the labor
Of her father. Some better hopes sprang up and
induced them to como to Paris: bnt it is diff
cult to stop il the descent down the path Of
misfortune For three years the father strug-
gled hard against poverty, and at last died in a
hospital.
''Ihe mother soon followed, and the young
girl was left alone, without friends or protect
ors, ha~rsssod by debts which she could not pay,
and seclinr in vain for some species OF employ
ment. She found none; still it was necessary
for her to have food One day passed on which
she tasted nothing. The night that followed
was slcePless. Next day was again passed With
food, and the poor girl was forced into the
esoluton al begging. She covered her head
with her mothers vcil--tla only heritage she
haG rroeived--aul, stoopiA. 50 rs 20 simulate
age, she went out into the street.
"Whcn there she held out her hand Alas!
the hand was white and youthful, and delicate.
she 1t the necessity of covering it up in the
folds Of the veil, as ii ii had been ieprosled.
Thus concealed, tho poor girl held ont her hand
70 YOUNG WJDaH ~ passed-0ne more happy
taon horae'E-aad aRod sou--a single SOU
to set bread" The -.tan was UNDECIDED An
ola man passed The Mcndiomt Thought that
experience Of tho d;s5rcsse5 o. lal might have
so1tsaea sl" like l'n, but she was IN error.
EAper-cace haa only hardened, not softened his
heart.
Wrle r,iObE was cold and rainy aud tho bn,r