Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-28
A WIFE, IF YOU PLEASE.
Translated from the French for the Baltimore
Sunday telegram

Translated from the French for the Baltimore
Sunday Telegram.l
You think, perhaps, that when
one is rich, noble, handsome and
witty, it is easy to get married. The
following anecdote, which l guar
antee to be true in every point, Will
prove to the contrary:
Monsieur, the Marquis of B. was.
hardly two years ago, one of the
most elegant and prodigal of fash
ionable young men. The gold
which he scattered every day to the
four winds was sufficient to support
a dozen artisans families. He
guided himself as he did his horses.
with loose reins. His severe taste
in the choice Of his horses, his sue.
cess in the salons and on the turf.
the careless and joyous improvi-
dence with which he scattered on
the highways his louis and his
affections, had rendered him in a
little time the undisputed king of
Partisan fashion.
One day. however, tired of mode
of life as monotonous and empty
in reality as it is brilliant in ap-
pearance, he resolved to break it up
and get married.
At once his thoughts few back
to one Of his cousins in Bretagne.
with whom he had formerly cooed
in the artlessness and innocence of
a first love.
Forty.eight hours after he dis
mounted at the door of his uncle.
the Count De B., whose daughter
he found to be more beautiful and
more fascinating than ever.
The count, a widower for many
years, had centered all his joys and
all his affections upon his child,
whom he guarded with anxious and
jealous tenderness. The arrival of
his nephew caused him at first to
experience a lively joy. But when
he saw melancholy symptom of
budding loye-possesS itself of the
heart Of his daughter and leave its
traces on her lovely countenance,
he took aside Goutran-this was the
name of our gentleman-and said
to him:
"My friend, l am about to exact
from you a great proof of your
friendship. You must leave, and
at once, because Blanche would
soon fall in love with YOU"
$50 much the better, my uncle; /
have been wishing to ask you for
her hand"
"No, Goutran, no; this union is
impossible, BY the light of your
pastit is easy to seeinto your future.
Without doubt the marriage would
be for you in the beginning all
honey and roses but who will in
sure to me that some months after
the fever pleasure may not drag
you again into It's whirlpool? You
love Blanche, you say? Well, give
me then a proof Of it by renounc-
ing her. | will then have no more
anxiety for her happiness"
81 am sure Of myself" thought |
Goutran; "but reason seems to be
on my uncle'S side; let us go look
for wife somewhere else. "
He engaged an apartment in the
Fauboug ut. German, whore he had |
numerous relations. This yenera-
Bile quarter is like a cloister in the |
midst of Paris; it never thinks of
the present, and lives entirely in
the worship Of its regrets and its
recollections.
After having gassured himself that |
the report Of his frolics had not
reached the ears of the old dow
ayers, Goutran began to erect his
batteries.
From the beginning he became
devout, and attended assiduously |
the devotional offices. The most
tiresome sermon could count on his
apparent attention and approbatory
mods. He edited even the beadle
by his pious and recollected atti-
tude, and the concierge told his
brethren of the Gordon in the
neighborhood that Monsieur, when
there was no benediction at Saint
Sulpice, was always at home at s
o'clock in the evening.