The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-04-03
From Trada 10 Title.

When Francois uardoUin, TIE son Of
poor matchmaker at Caen. III France, turned
bis youthful back upon tie workshop ot ms
E,ther and enlisted in HUssar regiment, ne
certainly had no extravagnnt dreams
futnre fortune or renown. Rejoicing 10
neculiarIv amiable disposition and Pfopo'-
tiopate inclination TO sOciablhiy' ie uiSiiheL
the mechanical apprea ticeship on aecoon' q
Ire r,nnotouv and comparative SdclaSloh, ai''
,Losa the arms because the latter seemed TIE
onI6 available means OF variety and axtendei
oss3ciotion for a trndesnan's son. That was
many years ago. Not long attor his enlist
ment the Hussars were oFdored to Italy,
where they were quartercd III the aoarts OF
the venerable Paluzzo Altemps at Rome
and there the sunny disposition and easy
adaptability of the young soldier gained Tor
him the responsible office of qHarterlnaster
to the detachment Nor was professional
advancement destined to be the limitation OF
his good fortune in the Eternal City.
During the years Of French occupation
the troops were, of coarse, popular With the
aristocraey; officers of all grades had the
entry of the best houses and thus Quarter
master Hardouin became personally known
to the Duchess di Gallcse, wealthy noble
woman with an infant son, who lived IN
widowed state III the old palace of AItemps.
When, III the course Of social events, the
popular IIussar became an occasional invited
caller at the palazzo, the parician widow
was so pleased with him that her partiality
soon betrayed itself in manner rather ca
barrassing to its chiyarous subject. Not
long, however, was the worthy young trooper
fated to be in doubt as to what the high
born ladys hattering demeanor poItended :;
for when he eyinccd a disposition to call less
frequently than before the Duchess frankly
told him that he had gained her heart, and
could have her hand for the asking. Here,
indeed, was, romantic surprise of fortune
for the humble watchInaksr's son, though
he was too honorable TO accept it until sat
isfed that it resulted from no mere whim Of
a sentimental woman's mOmentary fancy.
The widow assured him that she was her
own mistress, with no relatives to dispute
her will in such matter, and that her feel
ing towards him was as deep rs 1t had been
sudden; he vowed that bis whole future life
should be devoted repayment Of the i'm
measurable honor she had done him, and
they were married.
Thus beginning an aristocratic career, the
fortunate Hardouin yet preserved his old
unassuming cordiality with his humber ac-
quaintances and comrades accepted CRATE
fully the epaulets Of sub-!ieutenant, which
his General conferred upon him as a wedd-
ing gift; and did not finally Withdraw from
his regiment until the death of his wife's
son by her first husband left the title Of
Duke di Gallese to be conferred upon him
self by the Pope. As prince Of the Roman
nobility he could scarcely retain his sub,
altern rank in foreign army, and as az
Italian nobleman, only, he was thencefyrt!
to be known.
Harmonious and honorable in every re
spect, the marriage wa yet fated to have NJ
early conclusion in the death Of the eccentri
but excellent Duchess. She survived he
little son scarcely more than a year, and LEI
TO her sincerely mourning husband her Who'll
fortune. For three years the Duke rendere
lonely tribute to her memory, and then too
a second wife in the erson of q beautift
yourg Roman girl, a liece Of the Princes
Giustiniani- Bandini, who is also Lady New
berry of the English pecrage. This unior
too, proved most fe!icitous, and, with sey
eral scions, remains undissoIyed to the pre-.
ent day.
Such is the romantic history of one of H.
richest and most popular noblemen of moo
ern Rome; man whose rare fortune i
life may be attributed more to a peculia
genial magnetism of natural social charactt
than to his possession of any transcendai
abilities. But not all titled patricians ca
show so fair patent