The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-25
A Tournament IN the 10th Century
Dy MADAME GABRIELLE D'ARvoR.
Translated for the VIRGINIA.
CHAPTER V.


CHAPTER V.
The mansion of the Rosters was Joyous.
NUMEROUS visitors were assembled there.
The nrighboring proprietors eagerly re-
paired to the brilliant fetes given by Mr.
and Madame de Tillac.
Laura assisted her aunt to do the honors
of the receptions. rs always she was the
queen of them. and numerous suitors beset
with their homage the Young and beanti-
full heiress.
They are seeking my fortune" the
young girl would say, and she remained
insensible to all their attentions.
Her rivals, enyions of her success, said
she was as frgid as she was pretty.
'She is Il Gaatca who has not yet found
her P,gmalion,' add, little foppisll fell
| loM.mlh Sc suit Laura had rejected
'.n5sou believe yourself capable of Civ
ing lie to statue?" said. in Il bantering
tone, Alice lie Girls who had heard, in
passing, the dandy's proposal.
| The young man made no answer and
withdrew wiring, with a pretentious air,
his fine golden mrstache.
Alice WAS not jealous of Laura. Gentle
and amiable, she contented herself with
her share Of success ard enjoyed frankly
the triumph of her friend.
The two young girls were inseparable !;
Alice was possessed of great flow of
spirits. and was established as organizer
of all pleasures.
| Walks. carriage rides, parties in the
neighborhood occupied the day at even
ing the mansion was Illuminated and they
danced until far mi 0 the night.
Franz do Boissy was present at all these
reunions. Castor did not like him, hav-
ing observed the preference which Laura
appeared to accord him, but he could not
exclude him from the number of invited
guests. A secret hostility existed there
fore between the two young men.
Laura had no sympathy with her cousin.
His presence was an annoyance from
which she sought to rid herself as much
as possible. She was pleased on the con-
trary with the company of Franz, his in
| tellectual and earnest conversation inter-
esting her.
| Despite the inclination which at the
bottom of her heart she felt for her child
hoods friend, she did not respond to the
affection which he showed for her. She
was often dreamy. her young and roman
tic Imagination being absorbed in a fixed
idea.
Her friend Alice, the confidant of all her
thoughts. said to her one day
| Laura, don't understand your indif-
ference Numerous suitors seek your
hand there are among them those who
deserve to claim your attention; what are
you waiting for to make choice %
81 am in no haste to marry"
"Without doubt, if you were, as l am,
with your family but you have no mother
and your fether is constantly abroad"
.He will return in three months"
ITO set out again"
81 will remssn with my uncle. .
Listen, Latira / don t wish to estrange
you from your family but you have
noticed, as well as have, the attention of
your cousin"
''He don't please me.''
HE wishes to marry YOU"
II shall refuse him."
eff you refuse him, you can hardly re-
main with his parents"
Laura remained silent for some min
utes.
i "What would you do?' she SAID.
docs not NJ. Franz de Boissy suit
you 20
Laura was slightly agitated and Alice
resumed:
You have often spoken of that child
hood S friend of whom you have preserved
so vivid recollection"
Eyes, | love him as brother
"You deceive yourself, Laura, and he
loves you sincerely.
II don't believe it,"
"What makes you doubt it?''
Ills own words
you have not understood him. The
truth is my fair Laura, your thought is
elsewhere
ELSEWHERE - said the young girl, blush
ing.
"Yes, don't try to conceal from me your
feelings. Your heart belongs, without
knowing it, to the valiant knight, the vic
tor of the tournament of which you were
ueen."
Laura didn't reply.
"Confess. my dear it is childish
whim; you cannot, seriously, tie your
future to an unknown person who noticed
Won for an instant and whom probably you
will never see again. Who knows if, in
stead of shrouding himself in mystery, he
had lowered his visor, the enchantmenl
would not have been dissipated ?"
mo. Alice, if you only knew how hand
some. noble and distingue he is l only
got a glimpse of him, could not recog
njze him. but / cannot forget the impress
son he made on me. He resembles nj
one else.
swell said Alice gaily, ''let US admit
that lie may be chevalier OF old, risen ou'
of his tomb to come to renew in our cen
fury the exploits of another age
'.Just as much as you please, my friend
I affirm to you that, compared to him, TIT
Young men who surround me appear t.
me insipid and insignificant.
Even Mr.. de Boissy ~
! Franz is very superior to the others
He reminds me of the knight, lis voice i
somewhat like his.
He is as good as he is, be sure OF that
But am wasting words. shall not de
stroy the folly which troubles your reason
Will you wait twenty years, as the De
trothed of Don Galaor, until your knlgh
returns to you after having lett an arm
the north and limb at the south ~
Eyes, Alice, will wait he will return
he told me so, he loves me and | will WEI
no other but him."
Mis- Le Girls burst into hearty laugh
ter.
..You are silly. my poor Laura; believ
me. don't make sport with your future
YOU know nothing of that young man
r. s<r