The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-10-15
Sfleftra nlistellann.
ny UNCLE'S ROMANCE.
prom tho Frcneh Of p,nelel

teacher was an able; but nature cannot be
changed
The natural disposition of D'Orvlle was
ripened byreading romance. lie there inn
bibed sentiments 30 contrary to the fash
ions ofthe day, aud he took so little care to
conceal them, that his best friends cousid-
cred him q downright original.
''What a pity said one. 'the fellow has
wit and a good figure, but he'will never
make anything"
And he had no desire to make anything
but his happiness. To succeed in that
there was but one way, to love and be loved;
but loved as in n romance. An ambit Gus
marriage, OF even a marriage de couveu-
ance,r appeared to his eyes unbeatable sla-
very.
NJ. Rondon, D'Orville's uncle, mourned
over the caprices of his heir, and wished.
by oil means, to marry him with Mad. de
Faventine, q very rich young widow of dis
tinguished family; but D'Oryille's repugn-
ance was in~surmountable.
"Spare yourself, my dear uncle" said
he, needless care. | do not wish your
beautiful widow, and | declare that even
she is the last woman to whom Iwould give
my hand"
'.But you have not seen her.
'Nor do | wish to see her. What! Hay
ing seen me in / know not what public
place, this woman decides, addresses You,
and demands me in marriage as she would
ask for a piece of stuff at Bufiaults. What
Lowell What delicncyl'
''But II you knew how beautiful she Is,
and how loyelyr'
Indeed Why not espouse her your
self then uncle' ! consent to the mar
rage"
'Yes, but she would not consent. I'm
fortunately she prefers twenty-five to fifty
years. II II were not for that, / tell you,
boy, the affair would have been already
arranged, and | should have the double
pleasure of furnishing you and Of securing
my own happiness.
"And that o fyour friends
"DOrvillel D'Orvillel Respect Ma
dame de Fayentine, or We will quarrel ut
once"
'As much respect as you please, my nm
Gle, but no marriage"
The good Rondon bit his lips, twisted
the tassel OF his cane, and muttered be-
tween his teeth words of experience of au-
thority and of exheredation: but nothing
could conquer the obslinary OF his nephew.
DOrville's refusal did not come solely
from the romance system lie had adopted.
He loved, or ut least he believed he loved.
which is the same thing. lie had met ut
the ball OF the Opera a mask, whose wit
had appeared to him so delicate, so subtle,
so opposite to commonplace, so much in
contrast with the insipid tnttlc that reigns
in these nocturnal feasts, that lie believed
himself the hRppiest man in the world in
obtaining q rendezvous for the next ball.
The unknown appeared { ere, without
attendance even, always masked to tue
teeth, but always amiable, spiritual, inter
estlng.
These conversations were continued
while the carnival lasted, and although the
mask was constantly kept Oh "a bad sign,
according to the knowing ones,) the pret-
test foo and the most beautiful hand au-
Cured iayorably for the rest. In the midst
Of this intoxication, D'Oryille's uncle pro-
posed TO him the alliance with Madame de
Faventine, and suffered a refusal, OF which
he was far from d~iyining the true cause.
In the meantime, the season was passing
without D'Oryille's being able to learn the
name or the residence OF his dear unknown;
and TO instruct himself, there remained but
the last ball. He went there precisely ut
midnight, determined to undertake every
thing, prayers, tears, and even espionage q,
but the unknown did not appear.
Filled with grief and anger, DOryille left
the ball and went home. Scarcely had he
entered his house, when he received a visit
from his uncle. New propositions on the
part of the young widow, renewed reiec
tions on the part Of D'Orville.
Chow odd is my lotl' said he to himself.
"a woman who has never seen me has de-
termined to espouse me, and | am deter
mined in loving a woman whom / have new
er seen! 1t would seem that they have
combined to enrage me, the one by her 81
lence, the other by her opportunities"
Whether he had OWNED Justly or not,
the " ladies continued the same course,
and poor DOrville, after having vainly
waited for news of his dear unknown during
three entire weeks, delivered himself from
the prosecutions OF his uncle by leaving
Paris. He had communicated his project
TO one of his friends, who secured him o
mansion two leagues from the city. There
he took refuge, without other company
than that OF La Fleur, hisvalet de chambre.
One day AZ he was walking in the neigh
boring woods, he saw two young peasant
girls seated under a tree. The propriety
and even elegance Of their village habit at
tracted at once his regards. One held a
book, which she appeared TO read with in
terest. The other, her elbows on her
knees, and her face resting on her hands,
was in the attitude Of one who listens, The
whiteness OF her hands reminded him ofhis
unknown's.
"Heavensl" cried he, "if theface should
correspond
The exclamation interrupted the read
ing,
my sister, Babetl Get up, Somebody ia
here
Babel rises confused, and discovers such
beautiful and ingenious features that the
brush of Greuze alone could give an idea
Of their grace.
What a discovery for a romantic imagin-
ationl SO much beauty, and in n forest,
how irresistiblel D'OrYille had not even
the desire TO resist.
Enchanted by a adventure 80 conform
able to his character, he yields without Ell
fort to his romantic inclination.
"Whoever you may be-" said he TO the
villagers, d not be alarmed at my pres
ence. / do not come to trouble your soil
tude, nor your innocent pleasures, but al
low me to share them, and DO sure that /
will not abuse your confidence"
This speech was not brilliant, but 1t was
pronounced in n o n so timid that il had
effect; for in love timidity in always persu-
asiye. Babel and hen companion, treasured
little by little, consent 10 resume their places
on the grass, and the happy D'Oryillo obtains
permission to seat himself near them. He
requests them TO continue their reading;
but Nicole, the elder, prefers conversation.
D'Oryille learns from her that she is the
widow OF the farmer of the land Of which
her friend is the owner; that she remains
there with her cousin Babet; that this poor
Babel, although nearly eighteen, had not
been able 10 find husband who suited her;
that ia truth she was a little diHicult TO
please; that she would wish such an intend
ca as we read OF in story books, but every
body cannot expect that good fortune.
'sThat shall be your fortune, Babel, said
D'Orville, in a low tone, "if your heart can