American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-07-19


OF our foolish Romeo.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
APHOTOGRAPH FROM LIFE.
Great excitement was caused on a GER
tain day in the usually quiet household
of M. Borno, by letter from the mar
ried daughter, Mime. Artois, who resid-
ed in Rome, in which she informed her
parents that q sutton for her sister Elise
would soon appear at Vllefeurs. And
she further told them that this M. A. de
VILLAIN, a young man with good birth
and with q good fortune, had been
struck with photograph in shop win
dow-so struck and charmed that he
felt he must try every means to win the
original for his wife. This photograph
turned out to be one of her young SIS
ter's that she had sent to be copied, and
seeing that the young man was in earn
est, she had promised to write and intro
duce him as an unexceptionable parti.
Nine Artois wound up by reminding
her father that Elise was no longer q
girl, and, that, in fact, it would be very
foolish not to accept this bit of good
fortune.
1t was therefore agreed, in family
conclave, the fair Elise consenting, and
with the due approval of the family
friend, M. de Belandi, that the coming
guest should be graciously received. NJ.
de Belandi even insisted on having him
in his own house, as he laughingly said,
in order that he might the better Judge
il this M. A. de VILLAIN was worthy of
the prize he sought.
Among the numerous and various
visitors to the beautiful southern city,
Villeaeurs, with its girdle of mountains
and blue waves, few could help remark
ing, in the gay crowd on the prone
made or in the public gardens, q girl,
almost always accompanied by favor
lite dog, whose elegant and quiet toilet,
rs well as her graceful walk and the
piquant expression of her face, always
made one wish to look again. 1t was
an attractive face, rather than decided
ly beautiful. generally wearing a
thoughtful look, which, however, was
often frightened by smile which pref
tily curled her lips. There was q quiet
elegance about her, although different
from the fashionable ladies, English,
French, German, or Russian, who rest
ed on the chairs or paced up and down.
Generally might be seen at her side NJ
de Belandi, man past youth, but with
vigorous, spare frame, whose keen,
dark eyes seemed to take notice of ev-
cry thing, but were often turned to his
fair companion with the tender ia
miliar interest of q privileged friend
M. de Belandi was rich, and having no
particular occupation, he made himself
useful to his friends in general, but to
those of the Maison Borno in particular.
Thither he brought all the news of the
place to amuse NJ. Borno, who was too
old and infirm to 60 out. He could tell
of the last offense given to the old in
habitants of VilleHeurs by the new
French corners, and the latest reform in
town regulations. He could say what
was the prospect of the olive and grape
crops, etc. He was always ready to es-
cort Mile. Elise to the theater or try a
new song with her. He was q conven-
lent partner at ball or q patient COM
panion for a mornings shopping.
Moreover, M. de Belandi's taste was a
proverb. All this made his visits to the
old Maison Pontneuf very welcome, and
with him seemed to come little watt
from the outer world to the very retired
somber street in which many of the old
Villefeurs aristocracy resided, with
drawn from the newer part of the town
to which visitors resorted. To look at
it from the outside, one would not i'm
agine the quaint and rich carvings
which adorned the walls or the rooms
which belonged to this house.
In the simple and quiet manner COM
mon TO the inhabitants of the place, the
principal amusement and luxury being
to retire now and then to the Maison de
Champagne, lived the Bornos with their
youngest child, two other daughters
having married satisfactorily. Nor were
the old couple very eager for her to fol-
low her sisters example, in spite of the
hints of their acquaintance, and M. de
Belandi's serious warning, given every
now and then, "that it was really high
time to marry her." "Such an agree.
able, amiable, gentle girl! it was pity,
and very astonishing. All her contsm-
poraries were married, or about to be
so; and Elise was nearly 27!" At this
the old father would look troubled, and.
struggling his shoulders, ask what his
friend would have. Could he do morep
Had there not been two or three eligible
proposals. But the girl had refused
them all. Elise was dutiful and the light
of their old days; and it was surely not
their duty to force her into matrimony,
If she evidently preferred to remain as
she was.
To this M. de Belandi said nothing
but looked relieved; for his visits to the
Maison Pontneuf would have been very
different without Elise. But on hearing