The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-10-13

The botruthal and marriage of Nine.
Octave Fcuillct is told by herself with
charming naiNete and wit, i'll "Quelques
Annes de Ma Vie. -
| 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 one suit your" | replied,
mo, not this one. "
My father urged me also. 1t was gen
orally during our horseback rides IN the
country, while We let our horses walk
along the pretty routes. that he under
took my conversion.
Il know some one, he said ono day,
who loves you, and who this morning
has asked for your hand.
Another? Good henvens!"
yes another, but l hope You will
not rebel when you hear the name of
this one
Tell me- my father. who il is -
1t Is your cousin, Octave Feuillet "
What, my cousini is it possible that
he loves me He hardly knows me, liy.
ing SO far away. | 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 Dc
sires it ardently. Your mother and |
would be in despair should you disap=
point him with refusal "
My father, let me have little time
for reflection. .
Not too long. answered my ia.
thcr, and may God inspire YOU
God nElirod me that same night to
think my cousin charming Again, in
imagination | saw him ut those three
balls where had danced with him and
recalled his handsome figure and bear
ing, his distinguished looking features
and his slightly naughty air.
rencn. Gvred the grace with which
he bowed to II woman, particularly to
my mother ! recalled the words he had
spoken to the music of the orchestra
during the Embellishments which did
not resemble i'll any way the trivial
phrases was accustomed To hear. He
talked as we'll as he wrote He had al.
ready a great reputation among literary
persons, and his novels and poems were
making sensation III the world.
And was it | who was destined to be.
come the wife Of this poet, of this gen
tlcmun? could not believe in such good
fortune. In accepting it | felt uneasy
1t seemed to me impossible not to dis
appoint the accomplished being who
had deigned to choose me When ]
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 mo in spite Of all my de
ficiencies. 1t remained for me to recon-
pense him by working for self improve
ment After having devoted my thoughts
exclusively to him | turned i'll imagina-
ton TO the existence we would lead
We should doubtless live i'll Paris,
this beautiful Paris which | 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
fiacres 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
charming-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 a
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 / heard the bell ring, which
caused commotion throughout the house,
! was 50 agitated, 80 troubled, so merry
Gus over the new role assigned me-
that losing all thought Of propriety,
all desire to please my fiance, ran to-
ward the window and enveloped myself
in the curtains.
There | should have remained in
trenched behind these curtains, Il posi-
tion which would have given me conf
dence, had not my father Indignantly
unrolled me and thrown me into the
arms Of my cousin, who appeared lit
tie surprised at this welcome.
1T is timidity," said my mother in
low voice, at the same time smooth
ing my ruffled hair "She loves you,
am sure
This undignified reception did not
discourage my 1iance. 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, adj
dressed to my mother, but which had
inspired
On the 2jth of March, 1857, awak-
ened at an carly hour, being unable to
sleep on account Of my emotion 1t was
the day / was to leave the paternal
home and take in the presence Of God
my title as madame.
Midnight was the customary hour for
marriages in our part Of the country.
was in hopes Of having the day to my
self, but | was obliged to busy myself
in all sorts Of ways, to try for the last
time my wedding gown, to arrange
flowers and 30 forth.
Toward the end Of the day, while the
last touches We're being added to my
toilet, Victoire, my maid, who had been
occupied in carrying different things to
my new home, returned in consterna-