The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-05
LUCIE DE oOURyAL.

HNNAH 80 SNtN' HAs
> The time OF my story Is the year l770.
( King Louis, the Bien.Aime; Is still alive,
w.tha year or two before him yet. The
: great Revolution, mother Of the nineteenth
century, is twenty years distant.
Two gentlemen, in the prime and spring
time oflife, arc dining together in Paris,
Both are yOuug-both are aristOcrats-
both are Of advanced opinions. And
though but newly married, both agree in
finding seayun in Paris-after long and
extremely fatIguing hOncymoon-an agree
able relaxation.
Presently servant interrupted them in
their talk BY candles and two letters.
IFrom my place-and, curiouSly, net
nom my wife, said the first.
From my place, too; and, singularly
enough, not from my wife" continued the
other.
aThlspo interesting Let us read
our letters"
The faces Of each assumed an expression
Of fastoRshment and interest.
!" Congratulate me, my friend"
N Congratulate me- said the other. ~
am father Of son."
~ "AndI oI q daughter. Charles: cham
pagne and glasses. We must drink the
health Of the poor little ones.
4 And then over the wine, they solcmnly
agreed to ally the two families by means Vi
the children and, II both lived, they
promised each other that the two should
marry.
Next day NJ. de lie Liraye heard that
his wife was dead; and went into the
country in order to attend her ob'equles.
This done, he put the boy into the hands
ofa nurse, and came back to town.
Tinewent on. NJ. de CourvaI, the father
oi the girl, got himself killed. Alfred was
taken from the hands Of his nurse, and
given to priest who endeavored to give
his pupil some ideas beyond those Of the
polite world. lie knew nothing ot Ills
betrotlnl-which, indeed, his father had
well.nigh forgotten.
When Alfred came at the age OF twenty,
to Join his father in Paris, he found him,
whom he had not seen for ten or twelve
years, a worn.ont, shrunken old man
prematurely old--for he was not yet fifty
cold, cynical, selfish, and confirmed
libertine. There could be no sympathy
between the young man-and his father.
The Young man bored and irritated his
father there was nothing between them
mo common ground, no chord which
might be struck in both their hearts,
Aud NJ. de lie Liraye, bethinking him how
hest TO get rid OF his son, resolved to take
advantage of the old family compact, and
send bis son to CourTal
He wrote Courtly letter to Madame de
Courval. :,
Madame dc Courval eoldly wrote back
10 say that she would bo ready to vel
come NJ. Alfred de Ia Liraye whenever he
should be able to honor her poor house
With a visit. And then, calling her daugh.
ter, she told her for the first time, and
with many tears, Of the sacred promise
made by her father. Alfred's father told
bis tale without any tears at all. Heck
planned to his son that a marriage had been
agreed upon, years before; that he had
no reason 10 doubt that Mademoiselle de
Couryal was lovely and accomplished /;
that there was no time to lose; and that
the sooner he packed up his things; made
his arrangements, and went down to
Oouryal to begin his woOing for himself,
the better.
Alfred started, changed color and laugh.
el. But he knew that nogood was to be
got by resistance.
1Whon am to 70, sir 7"
You had better start tomorrow. !
will write to Madame de Courval, then,
and tell her you are following the letter."
aIf you please, sir-or, .non-a sudden
thought striking him" perhaps you
would simply give Inc letter Of intro
duction.n ...-.l-
aJust as you please.n
Alfred started m bis journey the next
morning with suddened heart, 1t seem
ed as ifthe beauty and brightness Of life
hni suddenly gone. He was going, in the
Character Of q lover, to pay court to and
profess admiration Tor lady he had never
seen; he was to urge the almost immedi-
ate performance Of q promise as old a
himself, which neither VI them had con
nented 10; he was to make VOWS as dis
/. insenl 70 himself as, he believed, they
would be 70 her.
Al Orleans, they changed postilions al
well % horses. He stayed there's night
and In the morning, before starting sem
iorh hll valet
"Tfsncois," he aohed. "what |, m!
namsn
The man started.
IsNv. name Il tha OheyaIier do 81