The Hickman courier., 1877-07-20
ESTABLISHED 1859.

passed an hour or two IN playing the
pane of goose with his Aunt Babolette.
and laughing like fool when she fell
into the prison or the we'll The two
aupts were enchanted with their pupil.
eHe is jewel, a true cherub," said
thew. "He knows how to be happy, for
happiness is composed of ignorance
rather than of knowledge"
Adolphe had attained the age of eigh-
teen years without ever going abroad,
except with his aunts to take walk in
the environs. These good aunts believed
that their beautiful nephew would thus
pass his life, without ever having other
thoughts, other ideas or desires. They
had never loved-only the game OF the
goose and sweetmeats; they thought this
constituted happiness.
One day there was a festival in the viii
lage of Ermenonville a peasant had
spoken few words before Adolphe, and
he prayed his aunts to take him to it;
they consented. They could not foresee
that at village tete the mind of their
pretty boy might be filled with new
thpaghtss sfhe good La Fontaine says:
One cannot think of everything"
Adolphe opened his eyes with astonish-
ment upon seeing the people, the shops
and the dancing but he was still more
astonished as he saw so many pretty and
lively young village maidens. He sud
denly cast down his eyes with emotion,
trouble and pleasure before little face
so sweet, so interesting, and so beautiful,
that it seemed to be rather the ideal
creation of painter than the work of
nature. This charming face was that
of Clotilda, and Clotilda was only lit
tie peasant girl, the daughter of poer
but honest laborer. She was the only
support, the only hope of her old father;
she worked diligently day and night,
having the whole care of the house; and
when upon the day OF the fete she put on
her red calico dress, her only adornment,
and took the arm of her old father in
hers, then the young girl was as happy
as queen. 1t IS probable she was
more so.
Adolphe, after casting down his eyes
before the pretty girl, raised them again,
and ventured to gaze upon her pure and
lively face, the sight of which had caused
him such emotion. By single chance,
Cl0tilda looked also at the same time at
the beautiful young gentleman who was
near her. Love has many such chances.
Clotilda blushed also and sighed, with
out knowing why; but the most inno-
cent girl can sigh the principal thing is
that she does not know the reason why.
Adolphe would not go away from her.
He did not wish to dance, as the little
peasant could not, on account of leaving
her father. Some, however, urged her
to take part in the pleasures of the day.
Adolphe, upon hearing this, hastened to
invite her to dance with him, saying
that he would find some one to take care
other father. This was not managed
badly for a young man brought up to
wiud silk-
Clotildia tremblingly accepted his
hand. During the dance they exchanged
a few words; but Adolphe learned only
that her father was named Dumont, and
was very poor. ClotiIda ascertained that
her partner was called Adolphe Delvigny,
and that ne was rich. The young girl
sighed again more deeply than before
Perhaps this time she knew why.
The dance continued a long time; that
is to say, ,Adolphe recommended it several
times with his pretty dancer, whom he
had the courage to secure. Meanwhile,
the festival drew to close; the two
aunts wishing to return home led away
the young man, who was accustomed to
obey them. But as he left Clotilda he
turned his head frequently to look at her
again, each time the little peasant girl
did the same also; it was ne longer
chance that made her thus act.
The next day Adolphe could eat but
little breakfast, and still less dinner; he
seemed sad and restless he did not wish
to do anything, even refusing to play
with his aunt her favorite game, and to
eat some sweetmeats newly made.
"This poor child is certainly sick" said
his two aunts, and they overwhelmed
him with questions.
Where dost thou suffer, my dear ?
What is the matter? What is it thou
wishest?"
To all these questions Adolphe only
REPLIED
q do not suffer. Nothing is the mat
ter with me. 1 am not sick"
"Then why art thou so sad ?"
Il do not know"
Why dost thou not wish to taste some
of these sweetmeats?"
Because 1 have no appetite"
ooh, thou art certainly sick, my dear
child"
Several days passed away, and Adol
PIE had visibly altered; his eyes had no
longer their former brilliancy, he had
lost his color, and languor, mingled with
sadness, had replaced his habitual gayety
and petulance. The two good aunts
were much distressed, and consulted a
physician, the most noted one in the
environs. The physician examined the
young man, felt his pulse, looked at his
tongue, struck him upon his back, and
then, shaking his hoad, murmured,-
"It is astonishingl There is nothing
the matter with him"
"And yet, sir, he will die, for he has
evidently changed" said his Aunt
Ursula, weeping.
"He can no loHger eat, or sing, and
does not wish to play anythingl" said
Babolette, carrying her handkerchiefto
her eyes.
"There must be az secret cause" said
the doctor.
"Why does he not tell it to us-to us,
his aunts, who love him so dearly, and
who will not refuse him anything"
At the expiration of few weeks
Adolphe became 50 feeble that it was
necessary for him to keep his bed. His
aunts constantly asked him if he wished
for anything; but no, he wanted moth
ing; only he often inquired when the
festival of Ermenonville would return
again.
--o.,. 49,, +aIJ b;r,