, 1897-11-03
A NOVEIIST'S BRIDE.

The betrothal and marriage of Mime.
Octave Feuillct is told by herself. with
charming naivete and wit. in "Quelques
Annes de Ma Vie"
l was nearly 10 years old. My moth
er insisted that l must marry. Every
week she presented Il new aspirant, but
when. after each interview, she asked.
Does this IL suit your" l replied
mo. not this one"
My father urged me also. 1t was gen.
orally during u horseback rides i'll the
country, while we let our horses walk
along the pretty routes. that he under
took my conversion.
II know some one," he said one day,
who loves you, and who this morning
has asked for your hand
Another! Good %heavens!'
Eyes, another, but l hope you will
not rebel when you hear the name of
this one"
"Tell me, my father, who it is"
ut is your cousin. Octave Feuillet. ="
"What. my cousin! Is it possible that
he loves me. He hardly knows me, liv-
ing SO far away. l have perhaps danced
three times with him, and that is all"
VERY well, that is sufficient. He de-
sires you to become his wife. He de-
sires it ardently. Your mother and 1
would be in despair should you disap-
point him with O refusal"
my father, lot me have q little time
for reflection"
"Not too long," answered my ia
Their, land may God inspire you"
God inspired me that same night to
think my cousin charming. Again, in
imagination, l saw him ut those three
balls where l had danced with him and
recalled his handsome figure and bear
ing, his distinguished looking features
and his slightly naughty air.
I remembered the grace with which
he bowed to u woman, particularly to
my mother. | recalled the words he had
spoken to the music of the orchestra
during the Embellishments which did
not resemble in any way the trivial
phrases l was accustomed to hear. He
talked as well as he wrote. He had al
ready u great reputation among literary
persons. air his novels and poems were
making q sensation in the world.
And was it | who was destined to be.
come the wife Of this poet, of this gen.
tleman? Icould not believe in such good
fortune. In accepting it l felt uneasy.
It seemed 10 me impossible not to dis
appoint the accomplished being who
had deigne' to choose me. When l
thought of his worth, felt my own in
feriority. found myself provincial and
ignorant Nevertheless my father had
said that he loved me.
He loved me in spite of all my do
fficiencies. 1t remained for me to recon-
pense him by working for self improve
ment. After having devoted my thoughts
exclusively to him ! turned in imagina-
tion to the existence we would lead.
We should doubtless live in Paris,
this beautiful Paris which l had not
seen since the journey with the ladies
of -. No more visits to the tombs Of
st. Denis. but presentations to the
friends of my husband and drives in
6Acres from museums to churches and
from churches to museums
And then the installation of our
apartment and the purchasing Of ele-
CANT furniture, which would make it
oharming-how beautiful did all these
dreams appear when l compared them
with the monotony Of the present!
The effect Of all this was that ! did
not sleep till morning.
shall never forget that evening when
my cousin came the first time as q
fiance We awaited him in my mothers
room My father walked up and down,
giving me his arm. My brothers were
on the staircase ready to fall on the
neck Of the visitor
When | beard the bell ring, which
caused commotion throughout the house,
] was SO agi.ated. SO troubled, SO nerv-
.ous over the new role assigned me.
that, losing all thought of propriety,
all desire t. please my fiance, l ran to-
ward the window and enveloped myself
In the curtains.
There | should have remained in
srenched behind these curtains. u posi-
ton which would have given me conf
dence, had not my father Indignantly
unrolled me and thrown me into tho
azms Of my cousin, who appeared a lit
tie surprised at this welcome,
at is timidity, said my mother In
q low voice. At the same time smooth
ing my rufiaed hair. "She loves you. ]
am sure.
This undignifed reception did not
discourage my fnnce. He made me
pretty speeches all the evening and
happy promises, to which | listened
with downcast eyes. The next day came
some charming verses from him, ad-
dressed to my mother, but which had
inspired.
On tho S6th Of March. 1867, l awak-
0sd II an early hour, being unable ~
Gassp On account Of my emotion 1t waa
~ :