Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-05
THE LAST TRICK OF A PAGE.
From the French.

tIou inc french.
In 177o, at Versailles, lived the Mar
quls q Charnay-a gallant nobleman-
~eo, forty-five years before, had bee,
one OF the young pages of Louis XIV
Inc MARQUIS, IN his youth, had bee,
one of the most dissipated mobiles of tn
court. He had been favorite with al
the various m1stresses of his sovereign
nsd been friend of Madame de Pom
padour, and follower of Dubarry: an,
growing gray in pursuit of pleasure
grew weary Of the chase and reformed
By way of alleviating the hardship
OF reformation, he married young an,
beautiful woman, whose union with q,
venerable q spouse afforded much mer
riment to the courtiers of that excellen
monarch, Louis XIV, who, like hi
subject had grown old, but, unlike him
had not grown virtuous.
Doubtless the Marquis ran the sam,
rlsk as all men who mate their bleal
December with beauteous Nav: but b,
was still handsome, accomplished anf
witty; and, to gain the affections O
ms young wife he was determined tc
put forth all his attractions.
Happily for him she was disposed tt
oe pleased; and he, being neither zeal
GUS nor careless, succeeded in inspirins
ner, 1fnot with passionate love, with !
elncere and respectful attachment. n,
made no stern regulations for her de
pertinent: she was allowed to receive
visitors without restraint, and the Hote
de Charnay was as attractive as youtb
oeauty, wealth and station could make
1t while the tone of society that fre.
auented its mistress was in perfect har.
mony with the age and dignity of he,
husband.
Among the lordlings admitted tn the
Hotel de Charnay was the Baron de
BreuteuiL, young officer who was
MAKING his entrance into society, and
who, for the very reason that he had No
record wherewith to frighten the scru-
pies OF a woman of principle, was the
very sort of O man (should he under.
tske to grow sentimentaD that might
also grow to be dangerous.
He was tail and graceful, had melan-
choly eyes, conversed in melodious
oem1-tones, and was given to gentle
pressures of hands. The MARQUIS de
Charnay saw with terror that the Young
officer was falling In love with his
wlfS and his heart beat with apprehen-
sion, when following this discovery. he
perceived that the Marchioness was
losing her appetite and her enebon-
point, and was looking weary and dis
pirited. Her husband was cutie as
much concerned at her detection as at
h'S suspicious OF its cause. He was
Just as anxious to make her happy rs to
be happy himself.
Alter revolving in his head fifty
schemes, each one leaving him more
perplexed than before, he conceived the
novel idea of making an appeal to de
Breteul, and by a generous candor.
awaken reciprocal generosity in the
heart of the young man himself.
With this intention he drove to the
Baron's lodging. He had just finished
the elaborate toilet with which he was
accustomed to arm himself for con-
quest ID his daily visits to the Hotel de
Charnay, and, In the fullness of salts
faction, was thinking he was more at
tractive and melancholy-looking than
usual
"M. de Breteuil, began the Marquis.
"you are falling in love with nv wife.
You are violating the sanctity of hap
py home, and, In the thoughtlessness
OF extreme youth, are perihng the
happiness of an excellent and virtuous
woman. Were / q younger man. nv
tone would be different, perhaps; butt
have lost my agility as swordsman.
SIR, and cannot measure Weapons with
You. The years that have robbed me
OF strength, however, have taught me,
I hope, discretion. Ny dear wife's
home shall be compromised by NO work
or Get OF mine; be you equally gener-
Gus, and spare her reputation. by leav-
ing this place at once Join your regi.
ment at Stenay, and let me owe t. yeur
honor the restoration of nv domestic
happiness. -.
Instead of DENYING his love for the
Marchioness, and swearing, after the
manner of the gallants of the day, that
he never had presumed to give her q
thought, de Breteuil burst into tears.
vowed that he loved her to distraction.
and poured the whole story of his pas
SION INTO the ears of the astonished
husband.
"What J" sobbed he, task me to ban.
ish myself from her presence! WHY
banishment to me were death. What
to me are fame or bonorl What care ]
for my regiment! The world contains
but one being for me-life bu. one aim.
10 breathe the air she breathes-to die
at her feet. ask but that one sad
privilege. Do not deny me 50 small q
boom
This was the very last thing the Mar.
quis expected to hear. Spite of his
own vexation he felt sorry for de Bret
eull, for being very young, he was very
much In earnest, and was fully per.
suaded at that moment, that simulfan.
eous with separation from de Charnay
would be the sundering of his soul
from his body.
Nevertheless" thought de Charnay,
the separation must take place" and
feeling that words would be wasted
upon such moon-struck oddity, he
contented himself with forbidding de
Breteuil the house, and returned home
TO see what effect he could have upon
the Marchioness.
He came upon lher in her boudoir.
half-sitting, half-lying upon the downy
cushions of satin lounge. the yery
counterpart of Smindrides and his bed
of rose leaves. Those of his wife, de
Charnay saw, were very much crum-
pied, indeed, so he began his task.with
all possible gentleness
With consummate tact he led the
conversation to the SUBJECT of de Bre-
tuil wondered at his frequent visits
spoke of the imprudence of those mar
ned women who suffered one man to be
more attractive than others: and finally
drew from his pretty Marchioness the
confession that de Bretuil had ad.
dressed her several notes.
Madame de Charnay was quite young
and thoughtless; but she was a woman
of principle. She had allowed hersel,
70 grow sentimental over the plants OF
the interesting youth, and was just on