The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-10-15
THE NEAR-SIGHTED LOVER.
An Interesting Story from the French.

tiful in Madrid, l find that my only
difficulty will be in selecting hero
from among the many poor wights who
are suffering from the infirmity, but
upon due reflection, | think perhaps
that the misadventure of my friend,
Don Felipe R, will be as entertain
ing as any that l could lay before my
fair readers. Now, methlnks L hear
it asked, " Who is Don Felipe X?
He is a charming youth of %, whose
pale complexion and expressive coun-
tenance give hime the air of perfect
hero of romance, added TO winch, an
ardent temperament and consequent
aptitude to fall in love, cause HIM to
find especial favor with the fair sex,
and to meet with many agreeable ad-
ventures in his peregrlnatlons about
Madrid Unfortunately, these advan-
tages are in some measure counterbal-
anced by his extreme shOrtness OF sight,
which not only gets him into many
scrapes with husbands and duennas,
but prevents his noticing the smiles
and glances which more than one dark
eyed senorita bestows upon him. But
why, you say, does he not remedy this
defect by wearing spectacles Now,
let me Just ask you-where Is the pretty
girl who would like to 90 through the
mazes Of polka and mazourka with
spectacled cavalier? And at % Don
Feline cannot summon resolution to re-
nounce his favorite pastime. An eye
glass might be suggested as another
remedy; vet this also has its lncon-
veniences, for, unless constantly used,
L. oh
to my tale.
One night, at a ball given by the
Marchioness of D., our hero danced
with the pretty Matilda de Lainey, and
was so much struck with her charms
that he lost no time in making a pas
sionate declaration of his love to her.
The young lady, on whom Don Felipe
sentimental air had not been lost, IN no
way reproved his temerity; but, how
ever that may have been, Don Felipe
soon had reason to be convinced that
his love was returned. Already had
three rigadoons and one polka given
the lovers an opportunity for much con-
versation, thereby adding fuel to the
newlv-awakened fame but before the
termination of the bali, Don Felipe re-
newed his protestations, and found out
not only the exact hour and minute at
at which Matilda showed herself on the
the balcony, but also the church where
she went. the promenades and Tertul-
las which she frequented, as well as her
mammals favorite operas. One essential,
however, did escape him, which was
that of making himself acquainted with
the persons of her father Ca Colonel OF
I or S1
who were all present, and he also for
got to inform his lady love OF the I'M
fortunate circumstance of his extreme
shortness of sight; this he afterward
found to have been almost fatal error.
The appointed hour had scarcely ar
rived on the following morning when
| off he posted to the street where the
donna resided, carefully examining the
numbers of the houses as he went
along. Matilda had told him that their
number was II, and that the house was
situated at the corner of certain street ;
now the opposite corner being ~, our
hero. in his blindness, mistook the lat
ter for the former number, and there
took up his post. Matilda, who, with
feminine quickness, had seen him arrive,
took out her cushion, and fastening to
the balcony, there displayed all the
graces of her person in her morning at
tire. But it was In vain; Don Felipe
kept his ewes continually fixed on the
balcony of the opposite house, scarcely
deigning to notice the beauty whom he
had appointed to see. This unexpected
insult for what else could she consider
i it p piqued the self-love of our heroine
L IL. II
tered her handkerchief and began t.
hum a tune, but all to no purpose, for
the disappointed lover, after casting
rapid glance at her, turned again quick
lv round to watch the opposite house
This scene had lasted more than al
hour, when the desperate youth, think
ing himself sported with, determined
Though not without a pang) to get VI
an episode, and make acquaintance will
her opposite neighbor. Full of this
intention, he crossed the street, walked
with firm step underneath the balloon,
of Matilda, and raised his head to speal
: to her when, at the same moment, sh
passed her handkerchief across her face
dropped it, and, without a syllable
rushed in, shutting the window violent
f lv as she did So On opening the hand
kerchief, Don Felipe at once recognize'
: the same border and initials as on tina
which Matilda carried the evening Q
: the ball. He next examined the house
and, to his horror, discovered his mis-
| take.
/ 1t would be impossible to describe tn
| rage which his own stupidity causes
: him. For three days and three night
4 ~ n
agony of suspense In vain did b
watch the balcony remained CLOSED
On the fourth evening one of the man
mas favorite operas was to be perform
a ed at the theater, and he took courag
y as he bethought himself of thus endea'
J oring once more to get q glimpse of h
= beloved and explaining the matte
: Seated in his stall, and with the aid !
" double opera glass, he looked q
d around for some time without discove
Of ing the object of his search. At lengt
d he was sure he saw her with ht
> mother in one of the boxes, whereuPo
: he lost no time in going up stairs 81
h stationing himself at the box doc
of Don Felipe here commenced making
b series of Geographic signs, which wei
IS unheeded by the young lady, and
IN length, when the opera was over,
Iioined them at the darkest part of Il
; stairs, saying to the younger one as
= did so:
:. "Senorita. pardon my mistakes;
r YOU viii again appear to the balcony
r shall explain all In the meantim
DO hermit me to return your handkerchief
y ITO whom do@you address your co
yersatfon, CabaIlerog" replied 3 stran
:. voice, while At the same moment . d
q lamp revealed TO him that he had ma
some mistake, although the Pers'