Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-29
THE TALISMAN.
4 LOVE ROMANCE FROM THE FRENCH.

beauty was seated within a luxurious
boudoir of the gay city-the Capital of
France. A dainty femme de chambre
had but just left the apartment, when
Frederic de Ia Tour, the young husband,
entered.
Madame de la Tour was seated near
an open wood-fre, the folds of beauti-
full robe de chambre, Of light, soft
texture. thrown around her.
Ny darling" exclaimed de Ia Tour.
" could not come before"
AS he spoke he threw himself on his
knees before her.
"Our friends have Just gone" inquired
his listener.
g Yes, and [ am with you"
q" Do not lneel, Frederic; there is
room for you on this couch, continued
Madame de la Tour.
"No, let me remain thus. it seems
rs if must be dreaming; that all this
happiness cannot be read; that you are
not indeed mine to love and cherish.
/ can no. remove my eyes from your
dear face, dreading that you will vanish
rom my sight"
g Be very sure that / do not propose
to vanish," replied Madame de Ia Tour.
Yesterday was the widow of Lord
Melville, and to-day | am Louise de la
Tour, your wife You see, strange as 1t
may seem, you do not dream"
Freperic de Ia Tour had good reason
ID suppose that a fairy had been med
ding with his affairs. Within few
months past he had enjoyed a stroke of
inexplicable good fortune. lie had be
come rich and happy beyond his fond
est expectations. One afternoon, while
returning from his office, he was, in tn c
Rue st. Honore, accosted by a lady who
was driving in a magnificent equip
age.
&" Monsieur Monsieur!" she called.
The footman had lowered the steps,
and motioned dc In Tour to enter the
carriage Astonished beyond measure.
he obeyed
have received your letter, Mon
sieur," continued the lady. in Il charm
ingly musical voice.
:" A letter from me, madame?" 1e-
sponded Frederic, in a tone of surprise.
" Yes; did you not write to me-?
Never, madame, to my knowledge
was the respectful rejoiner.
You will kindly pardon me, mon
sieur,. continued the lady ! have
made an absurd mistake; and my only
excuse is that you 50 greatly resemble a
friend of mine that | mistOOk you fOl
him. Great heavensn' she cried, "what
must you think of me? And yet the re,
semblance is very striking"
Ere the lady had completed her eX
PLANTATION the carriage had been driver
INTO the courtyard Of q magnificent no
tel Frederic of course offered his hand
for his companion to alight
" / would explain further" continued
the stranger. Il am Lady Melville"
De Ia Tour bowed BY the beauty Of
the speaker he was positively dazzled
and accepted with delight an invitation
10 call.
My name is Frederic de la Tour,
he said; q am only Il struggling
artist"
The singular meeting described hat
resulted, rs has been seen, in the mar
riage of de la Tour.
+" Come and sit beside me" continued
Madame dc Ia Tour. 81 have some
thing to say, but cannot speak while
you remain kneeling. 1t is quite {
story, and must be told to you"
Frederic obeyed.
Once upon Il time, continued Lou
Use.
Il knew you would tell me some fairy
story, exclaimed the young husband
" but while YOU speak, it is music"
Nay, listen to me, my friend, Once
upona time there was young cir
born of parents who had once beer
rich. At the age of fifteen she was
brought to Paris by her father, who
found that at Lyons he was making but
little money. For four years that Ia
ther struggled valiantly against adver
sity, but finally illness seized him. re
be brief, dear Frederic, lie died in hos
pital, and soon the poor mother follow
ed, and then the yOang girl was left al
alone. Had there been fairy in the
story | relate she certainly would have
appeared, but there was none. The
girl was in Paris without relatives, with
ont friends, and crippled by debts which
she could by no means pay. She
sought work, but could obtain none
Vice extended her arms; but there arr
souls whose instinct are so honest they
shrink from even the thought, and car
remain patient even while starving.
Time passed. At length every cen
was gone, and for twenty-four hours M
partical of food passed her lips. Q
Frederic, you who have never know
hunger and misery, cannot understand
the suffering | might picture, canno
know the pain endured when forced t
beg. and to implore aims the girl wa
compelled. At dark, one evening, sh,
crept forth from her lodgings; the nigh
was cold and rainy. In her despera
ton she accosted a young man, who
halted, searched his pockets, and thel
threw her a coin. The stranger did no
even deign to touch her hand; the lool
of misery and distress offended his eye
At this instant gend'arme perceived
the girl.
"Come," he said, " arrest you 70
begging. You will follow me to tn,
lookup"
AT these words Il cry of dispair wa
wrung from the lips of the unfortunate
girl. Quickly the young man inter
posed.
'This young girl is an acQuaintanc
OF NINE; know her; there Is no peg
2ing in the question. Come, he con
tinued, addressing the young and trem
bling woman, it is time you were a
home. Donot fear; it is only a mis-
take on the part of this good guardian
ofpublic peace
Leaning on the arm of the stranger
the girl walked on.
"Donot fear, mademoiselle,' whis
pered the young man, placing purs
in the hand that lay upon his. l Wi
accompany you until we are out {