The Somerset reporter., 1897-10-14
A N0YELIST'S BRIDE.

lputl(lQHH
Annes de Ma Vie. "
was nearly 10 years old. My moth
er insisted that l must marry. Every
week she presented new aspirant, but
when, after each interview, she asked,
Does this one suit you?" l replied.
No, not this one. -
My father urged me also. Itwas 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 one day.
who loves you, and who this morning
has asked for your hand =
Another? Good heayensl"
Yes, another but l hope you will
not rebel when you hear the name of
this one.
Tell me, my father, who it is. "
1t is your cousin, Octave Feuillet. )"
What, my cousin! Is it possible that
he loves me. He hardly knows me, liv-
ing so far away. have perhaps danced
three times with him, and that is all. y
Very we'll, that is sufficient. He de-
sires you to become his wife. He de-
sires it ardently Your mother and l
would be i'll despair should you disap-
point him with refusal. -"
My father, let me have little time
for reflection"
mot too long answered my IA
ther, and may God inspire you.
God inspired me that same night to
think my cousin charming. Again, in
imagination, l saw him at 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
remembered the grace with which
he bowed to woman, particularly to
my mother. | recalled the words he had
spoken to the music of the orchestra
during the quadrilles-words which did
not resemble in any way the trivial
phrases l was accustomed to hear. He
talked as we'll as he wrote. He had al
ready great reputation among literary
persons, and his novels and poems We're
making sensation i'll the world.
And was it l who was destined to be-
come the wife of this poet, of this gen
tleman? could not believe i'll 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 mo. 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 me 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 in imagina-
ton 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 i'll
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 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
fianca We awaited him in my mother S
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 l heard the bell ring, which
caused commotion throughout the house,
| was so agitated, 50 troubled, so nerv-
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 enyeloped myself
in the curtains.
There | should have remained in
trenched behind these curtains, a 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.
ut is timidity, said my mother in
a low voice, at the same time smooth
ing my ruffled hair. "She loves you, l
am sure. -
This undignified reception did not
discourage my fance. 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 the 25th of March, 1857, awak-
ened at an early 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. l
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 so forth.
Toward the end of the day, while the
last touches were being added to my
toilet, Victoire, my maid, who had been
occupied in carrying different things to
my new home, returned in consterna-
ton, saying that my cousin was not