The ladies' garland. [volume], November 10, 1827, Image 1

About The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828

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®1je WLitoit#*
HAKPEUS-FEHRY, VIRGINIA, Z^OVEMBER 20, 313257.
VOX.. 4
NO. 22
ri IlLISHEB KVF.RV SATCU1IAV KVF.NIXG,
HY JOHN S l. UXAHKlf.
TERMS.—Ono dollur ami fifty cents per annum,
payable at the expiration of the first quarter, or
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lisher, will invariably be expected. Should pay
ment be deferred to the end of the y ear, jJ will
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Postage on all letters MUST be paid.
THS DEPOSITORY
THE WIDOW BEWITCHED.
Translated from the French.
-I’ll take course against you;
You cjine into my lioti.se without my leave;
Votir practices are cunning and deceitful ;
t know you net—and 1 hope law will right me.
Olii I'lu .
In Paris there lived a widow, who, although
-lie was not young, had every inclination to hi:
thought so, and possessed beauty enough to se
cond her pretensions. She had a daughter,
about the age of iilteen, whom she thought it
prudent to keep in retirement, because she fear
ed. and not without reason, that the girl's bud
ding beauty might deprive her of some of the
conquests which she meditated. As it always j
happens in such cases, her precautions turned
cut to he useless. E .- ry sun that rose dimi- j
nislied her charms in the same proportion as \
those ol her daughter increased ; and although !
Madame de Mesnil might have overlooked, or '
pardoned this, yet. when she found ipts she did |
afterwards) that her daughter s modesty and
elegance of manners were so perfect ami irre
sistible, that they had captivated the affections 1
of the old lady’s most favored lover—and this,
too. in spite of all liir rouge and patches that
she had employed to n tain him—her anger
knew no hounds. The chevalier, knowing with
whom he had to deal, conducted his proceed
ings for sonic time with so much lines.se, and so !
completely concealed his pa.,Mon lor the daugh
tor. that the ooquetish mother still continued to
believe herself the sole object of his affection
ate attentions The > oung girl, however, knew
better, and was not slow in perceiving that her
charms had made an impression on the heart of
her mother's admirer She was, naturally
enough, flattered by his attentions: and with
that vanity, (if it deserves so liar-!' a name,)
whirl) belongs to her sr\, whenever si.e expert
ed the chevalier s visit she took more pains with
her toilet than before: her hair was better ar
ranged, and her dress put on with a taste that
greatly increased her natural attraction Her
charms soon became talked of,and she grew the
object of universal attention, to her mother s ;
great disquiet j
The chevalier who has been mentioned was
called Pastourd, and, seeing the attraction of
his mistress, he naturally enough feared that !
some rival might present himself; to obviate
which, he made a declaration of his passion to
the person by whom it had been inspired, Ni
chon (for so the young lady was called) fell so
much confused and pleased with this her first
conquest, that stic did not observe her mother,
who entered the room at the time. The an^'T
of the matron was beyond control. In the
greatest rage. she asked Pastourif it’ he \ i-sit1
her house to insult her daughter, l’astourd n as
a little confused, but. like a man who knew tin
world. he sought to divert the old lady s rage.
‘ No madam,' he replied, • my intentions are
honorable, and your suspicions do me great in
justice. 1 must, however, confess that I jlid
wrong m apply ing to any otTn-r than yourself on
this subject; and fur this mistake 1 very hum
Idy and sincerely beg your pardon.’
The lady's vanity and her affection together
forbade her doubling that her lover still wore
her chains : she put on a most amiable smile,
and Idrgave and forgot the cause that had ex
cited her suspicions.
Pastourd. who was so completely engrossed
bv his passion that he thought of nothing else,
seeing that the old lady had recovered her good
temper so soon .thought he might bring her o \ in
to his side, and said,—
• Madam, if I were now to declare the true
sentiments of my heart, might I flatter tnysclf
that you would listen to them with a favourable
ear
' Speak,' saiil she, with a majestic, but at the
same time, condescending air.
• 1 love, madam,’ continued he, ‘ w ith such in
tensity, that it is impossible lor me any longer
to conceal rny flame.’
‘ Do you imagine,’ said she, - that I have not
perceived it ?
‘ You astonish me, madam,’ answered the
chevalier; • 1 thought that my admiration was
a profound secret until to day—because, the
better to conceal it, I had feigned a passion fur
another person.’
‘ Say no more, about it.' replied Madam dc
Me.nil; ‘ you ought to have told me of it at
liist, when 1 should have approved of it, as 1 do
now ’
‘ Mud.'!!’!,' ciit’ll the chevalier, passionately
throwing himself on his knees, * I will mb rise
til! you h:»e promised me that hand on which
my happiness depends.’
■ His--.’ said she. in a most condescending
manner—--at the same time extending to him her
hand io kiss.
• Ah. madam!’ exclaimed the chevalier, spring
ing from 1-is knees in a ti anspert, ‘ how much do
i ov. ■ you! Allow me to as!; how long I must
wait before my happiness shall be completed'.'’
‘ V\ in ii you a ill. chevalier,’ said the, lady, af
fecting a languish.nr air.
The eheva'm-r mutt- . img his indiscreet thanks,
retired. one ol the h. ppit-st oi nr n, and told his
young ini-tress as lie quitted hr;-, that her mo
ther had ju.-t consent,-*! to their marriage.
Delighted to hear tins, Xiclv n ran to her mo
ther : and kissing her, thanked her vc-iv ear
neatly lor the excellent choice lie had made ;
adding, that si r had ahvaj - thought the cheva
lier the most elegant and agreeable man in the
world.
‘ I am very happy,’ answered her mother,
‘that you hate no dislike lo this mariiage, and
that you approve of my choice. M. hastourd is
a worthy man ; he will do his duty by you, and
you will tic perfectly contented with him.’
Niehon, who put wholly a different construc
tion on these words to that which her mother
intended, blushed, ;md was ha-tening nut of the
rootn. when her in ithcr called her hack to ad,
who had told her this.
' The chevalier Pastuurd hitnself,' answered
Nirhon: ‘ ho was too happy at the idea of mar
lying me to conceal it long.’
■ Marry you !’ screamed her mother • Do \ on
believe, you simpleton, that lie asked f r vour
hand in marriage ? I'pftn my honor, that is n
pretty notion for a child of you r are. (hi nurse
your dull, and prepare to receive 's your father
in law the huahand you promised yourself’
Mellon was overwhelnted at these words and
thought it best to retire. The next time I’as
toni d called, lie r, as astonished to fiad Ills mis
tress in very Ion spoils, and he fell into the
same, humor from mere sympathy. The widow
perceiving it. asked him what was the matter.
1 1 am alarmed, madam,’ answered lie, * to
perceive the melancholy ofTour daughter, and
fear she does not approve of our union.’
‘ It matters little whether she he pleased or
displeased,’ said the mother, ‘ am 1 not the mis
tress?'
• 1 hat is true,' replied the chevalier: ‘ hut I
would not think of possessing myself of her hand
against her consent ’
‘ What! /i'r hand !’ cxcl timed the mother:—
‘ tv as it her hand you asked me to give you ?’
‘ \ es madam,’ said the elm aher ; ' and I
sweat that 1 never will have any other.’
‘ Then you are likely to remain I mg unmar
ried.’said the lady, with a contemptuous sneer.
‘ I do not iuti'm! that my daughter shall marry
for sotoe years to come, and I lieg that lienee
lortli von wnl dt-euntinae your \ im!
A thundribolt roulil not have more astonish
oil pour Pasiimrtl. w ho made the host of his way
homo, uvi'i'uIii-Imcit with grief, ami took to his
hoil, refusing to see any one. The valet to
whom this oriJer was given was a fellow of great
reailiness, most indomitable impmh'nce, ami ve
ry much attached to liis master; oho, in rouse
(|'ienre ofC'omhiac’s good ipialities ami former
services, had permitted him I . use great farm
liarity. Seeing his master so mm h dejeeteil, he
anxiously inquired the cause. The chevalier
told him all that had passed.
“• Is that all ’.’’’ said Combine, with the great
est calmness. ‘ Don’t (listurl) yourself. I pray
\ on shall he happy in less than a month l "p
on the faith of a valet, who has a reputation to
lose, 1 shall obtain Niehon’s hand, arid that u ith
her mother’s consent. The old lady has never
seen me. but I know lier character. I will ob
tain admission into her bouse in the character
| of a nobleman : nothing is more easy than to
imitate the manners of a line gentleman ; well
enough at least, to impose on an old coquette ,
and you shall see how well 1 bring matters
about”.
I.itde persuasion was necessary to induce the
I chevalier to accede to this proposition. Com
bine dressed himsi If conformably to his new
character, hired two footmen of his own paiti
cular acnuaintai.ee, dressed them in magnificent
liveries, and took a house in the - ime street
with the widow, who was in (he habit of p.i-Mug
a great par! of the day' at her window-,, dressed
like a .May day queen. Combine, whose first
object was to get a footing in her house, com
inclined his attack by constantly looking at her
in the most languishing and amorous manner .