The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-12-11
THnTAIIsMAN.
A LOVE ROMANCE FROM THE FRENct

A LOVE ROMANCE FROM THE FRENCH
1t was midnight, and a bride o
rare beauty was seated within a lux
urious houdoir of the gay city-the
capital of France. A dainty fe,am,
de chambreg had but just left tht
apartment, when Frederic de la Ton,
the voun@ husband, entered.
+ Madame de Ia Tour ives seatef
near an open wood fire. the folds Of
n beautiful robe de chambre, Of a ligh,
soft texture, thrown around her.
SMy darling ,exslaime,l.de la Tour
II tould not come before = 2 e
Iot AS he threw himself on his knees
Before her. ~ rtE.si
| 4" Our friends have just gone!" en-
qpirea his listener. l
Yes, and I am with You"
do not kneel. Frederic; there is
room for. YOU on this couch,"!. COP
tinied Madame de la -Four.
NO, let me+remain thus. II seems
as if ! must he dreaming, that all
this happiness can not be real;- that
l J.. :
YOU are not indeed mine to love and
cherish. Lean not remove my eyes
from your dear face, dreading, that
yon will vanish from my sight"
."Be sure that / do not propose to
vanish" replied, Madame de la Tour.
Yesterday ! was the widow Of Lord
Melville, and to day 1 am Louise de
la Tour, your wife. You see, strange
as it might seem, you do not dream"
Frederic de la Tour had good rea.
son to suppose that fairy had been
medaling with his affairs. Within a
few months past he had enjoyed a
stroke of inexplicable good fortune.
He had become rich and happy be-,
You'd his fondest expectations. One
afternoon, while returning from his
office, lie was, in the Rue St. Honore,
accoste,l by a lady who was driving
in magnificent equipage.
"Monsieur! Monsicurr' she called.
TIE footman had lowered tie steps
and motioned Gle la Tour to enter the
carriage. Astonished beyound mea-
sure, he obcycd.
81 have received your letter, Mon
sieur,'' continued the lady, in char
ming, musica, voice.
"a letter from me, madame?". res
pended Frederic, in tone Of sur
prise.
3 Eyes; did you not write to meY'
.'Ncver, madame, to my knowl-
edge" was the respectful rejoinder.
"You will kindly pardon me, mon
sieur,' continued the, lady; Il have
made an absurd mistake, and my
only excuse is that you so greatly
resemble a friend Of mine that I mis-
took for you. Great heavensr' she
cried, "what must you think Of me?
and yet the resemblance is very stri-
king
Ere the lady had completed her
explanation the carriage had, been
driven into the courtyard of a mag
hotel. Frederic, of course,
offered his hand for his companion
to aight. s i
"Iwould explain further contin-
ued the stranger. 81 am Lady Mel-
ville.'' -.
De la Tour bowed. By the beauty
Of the speaker he was positively daz-
lied, and accepted with delight an
invitation to call.
''My, name is Frederic de la Tour
he said; I AN only struggling ar
tist.''
The singular meeting described
Elad resulted, as has been seen, in
The marriage Of de la Tour.
"Come and sit beside me,'' contin.
ned Madame de la Tour. Il have
to say, but can not speak
while you remain kneeling. It is
quite story, and must be told to
your"
Frederic obeyed.
"Once upon time" continued |
Louise.
Il knew you would tell me some
iairy story exclaimed the young
husband; ''but while you speak, it
is music"
6 "Now, listen to me, my friend.
Once upon time there was young
girl born of parents who had once
heen rich. At the age of fifteen ste
was brought to Paris by her father,
who found at Lyons he was making
but little money. Four years that
father struggled valiantiy against