St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-01
A MARRIAGE OF REAL ARISTOCRATs
Nature Sets Seal Nobility Certain Ones and That
Sufices for ALL
Curious Story the French of the Union of Son of
Duchess and Shoemakers Daughter.
7 children and providing them with dow


rieS?'
After gesture of acquiescence, the
Duchess de Vivian arose, and, having
first asked Pernette to write down her
name and address, invited JOsselin to
come to her house to take her order, AS
she was going out the shop door opened,
and young girl entered, so prodig-
iouSly beautiful that one might have
vainly sought her equal among the
highest and most ilustrious ladies. AS
slender and tall as princess, adorned
by pure and divine features, as splendid
as one may be who comes of long race
of virtuOuS wives who have enjoyed the
love of their husbands, she spread about
her the charm of candOr and innocence.
AliX JOsselin, who had been out buying
materials for herself, placed them in
Pernette's hands and climbed the light
wooden staircase that led to the upper
floor
"This admirable person is your
daughter" said the duchess to Per-
nette. but then, madam, have you
not the rarest, the most unparalleled,
the most marvellous of all joys?'
MADAM Duchess" said Pernette, "if
l may be allowed to use an ugly pedan-
tic term, we believe in ataviSm. Why
should not centuries of integrity and in
dustry be rewarded in him who contin-
ueS the efforts of his race? As for JOS
selin himself, it is not for me to speak
his praise, but | will venture to say to
you just one word. In tWenty-three
years of married life, he has not once
caused me ennui or pain, or the shadow
of care, and he has loved me tenderly
and faithfully"
Madam" said JosseliD, sit is not a
miracle to do ones duty; but. if have
done mine, like all my ancestors and
after them, | am rewarded thousand
times beyond even their merits. Yes,
this young girl, whom no one would be
aStOniShed to see with crown upon
her head and a scepter in her hand, is
born of our blood. By what miracle
was sue given to us? Because she is our
daughter we command and she obeyS;
but we would much sooner kneel before
her and adore her. If we can only find
husband who is worthy of her!"
"Rest easy, you will find him. said
the duchess, as she went out.
".
And when she was in her carriage
and rolling away TO the Faubourg st.
German, where she lived, Nine. de
Vivian again saw before her eyes, much
more distinctly than i'll reality, this'vir
gin of sublime aspect, whose vision had
just passed before her. Directly and at
the first glance, with the rapidity of
lightning, she had fallen in love with
AliX Josselin in behalf of her son. I'M
peratiyely and reSolutely she took pos
session of her, and saw her beneath the
dazzle of diamonds and in the splendor
of triumphs.
Now in the old salon of the Rue de
Lille revived she gathered around her
all the flower of Paris, beautiful and
graceful women, with blue blood in
their veins, and also illustrious noble
men, savants. captains, and all those
thanks to whom Paris is Paris. AT
other times, on the steps of her castle,
she descended on Pierre's arm toward
her horse with the long name. paving
the ground with his feet. There Oh her
estates, and also in the city, she ardent
ly obeyed her instincts Of charity. re-
lieying the sick and aiding the poor.
Or with prodigal hand she bought
pictures and statues for her palaces.
Or in the shadow of vast studio. hung
with old tapestries, she was seated be-
tore an organ and giving to few
chosen friends the sorrowful and vol
uptuous delights of music.
SO the dreams crowded upon one an
other IN the thoughts of the Duchess de
Vivian, and, perhaps, the strangest
feature of them was that all were to be
realized exactly and literally. On reach
ing home, the Duchess Paule told her
son of her extraordinary meeting and
painted for him AliX JoSSelin so to the
life that the young Savant say her even
before materially setting eyes upon her.
He was, moreover. so exactly like his
mother that all things gave them the
same sentiments and the same impress
Sions.
By the advice of the duchess, Pierre
de Vivian went the following Sunday to
Saint Nicolas DIES Champs, where he was
certain that AliX JoSSein would go to
mass at very early hour. AS she was
praying ray of sunlight that ANNOYED
her caused her to turn her head. Her
eyes met those of the young duke, and
directly she felt within her the delight
full burn of love. Progress was not
slow after that. Nine. de Vivian re-
turned to the shoemaker's shop and
asked for her son the hand of AiX,
which she had not much difficulty In
obtaining, for from the first interview
she had conquered the shoemaker by
her beauty and affability and because
she knew good shoe when she saw it.
McdllWLllC. GlO MdlUulS VI ASldIdC
had taken stroll in the Rue st. Martin
to try to get glimpse of his future
niece.
"dy faith!'' said he to Nine. de WV
ian, "you have made lucky stroke
there, for your young girl is certainly
the finest piece of work that has been
accomplished in this end of the century,
Now, you know that | am credited with
some diplomatic talent. Josselin has
relatives in Touraine; if You like, will
try to get him to go and live with them"
"Oh," said the duchess. ''why should
we exile a Partisan who adores the
pavements of Paris? If we had to blush
for him, it would be because he made
bad shoes, and that is just the opposite
of the truth. So, without concealment
or bushes. let us take the true duchess
where nature has placed her. Let us
have the courage of our opinions, and
be aristocrats to the end"