THE AMERICAN.
THE WANDERING JEW.,;.
t hltl M t
uurn nv
A t o t II i H Ul KM
'I h f. 1! HiU MP k j I ti P it ft iUl It ft I
It r 1- in. n n t f .itr rti n ly Nitnt M 'tilnt
Md'Sr do r.!r wa etrttpj, jtt a dirmny
i,. I, in ,i r !ititl, lii h w as hint w it It firm
i!k, &u I fut i)hed w ith an tlmiiy I I'irtry, Ilia
luttitol with bug btotir i aty atides. I'y soite
Mti:li. ant ido, one i oul I pi trri i that Mdlle.
i!e 'rtlit ill' had nituRliI in the lit i airs mtiif
ti In f fin n . itn-l riotu ili Hilitt . Near an
open piano, was n harp, pined I t fnn n niuic.
laud, A little ftirthrr, on n (able covi rrd ith
lmc of ril mo! iilrr t ttlttr, were several brill
iniil ikclt In. Most of thriii ifprreiited Asiatic
scent's, lighted by Ibe lirca of an oriental un.
Faithful to hrr fancy of dressing herself at home
in a picturesque tyle, Madcn oiselle do Cardo
villo resembled that tiny one of those jrouil por
traits of Vebtsquer., with tern niul nohle aspect,
llrr gown was of black moire, w ith wide-swelling
petticoat, long wuixt, and sleeve slushed with
roso-colored tuttin, fastened together with jet
bugles. A very stiff Spanish ruir reached Almost
to her t hin, And was secured round her neck by
n broad rose-colored ribbon. This frill, slightly
heaving, slopod down as fur as the graceful swell
of the rose-colored stomacher, luecd wih strings
jet head, and terminating in u point at the waist.
It is impossible to express how well this bluck
garment, with its ample and shining folds, re
licved with roue.. color and brilliant jet, harmon.
iiod with the shining whiteness of Adrienno's
skin, nnd the golden flood of her beautiful hair,
whoso long, silky ringlets descended toberbosom.
The young lady was in a half-rccumbent pos
ture, with her elbow retting on u couch covered
with green silk. The back of this p'eco of furni
ture, which was pretty high towards tho (ire-place
sloped down insensibly toward the foot, A sort
of light, icinicircuhtr trellis-work, in gilded
bronze, raised alout five feet front the ground,
covered with flowering plants (the admirable
pussiflore qundrnngulahc, planted in u deep
ediony box, from the centre of which roso the
trellis work), surrounded this couch with a nort
of screen of foliugo, enamelled with large flowers,
green without, purple within, and at brilliant ns
those flnwers of porceluin "which we receive from
Saxony. A sweet, faint perfume, like a faint
mixture of jasmine with violet, roso from the cup
of tluso admirable passiflores. Htrunge enough,
a large quantity of new books (Adrienne having
bought them since the last two or three days),
and quie fresh cut, were scattered around heron
tho couch, and on a little table; whilst other
larger volumes, amongst which were several at
lases full i f engravings, were died on tho sumpt
uous fur, which formed the carpet beneath the
divan. Htranger still, theso books, though of
din'erenl forms, and by different authors, nil
treulod of the same subject! The posture of Ad
rienne revealed a soil of melancholy dejection.
Her cheeks were pale; a light blue circlo sur
rounded her Irgo, bluck eyes, now half-closed,
and gave to them an expression of profound grief,
Many causes contributed to this sorrow amongst
others, the disappearance of Mother Hunch.
Without absolutely believing tho perfidious in
sinuation of Kodin, who gave her to understand
that, in the fear of being unmasked by him, tho
hunchback had not dared to remain in the house,
Adrienne felt a cruel sinking of the heart, when
eho thought bow this yaing girl, in whom she
hail hud so much confidence, had fled from her
almost sisterly hospitality, without even uttering
a word of gratitude; for care had been taken not
to show her tho few lines written by the nr
needlewoman to her benefactress, just before
her departure. She had only been told ot the
note for five hundred francs found on her desk;
nnd thin lust inexplicable circumstance had con
tributed to awaken cruel suspicions in the breast
of Mdllo, de Cardoville. Sho already felt the fa
tal effects of that mistrust of everything and ev
erybody, which Kodin hod recommended to her;
and this sentiment of suspicion and reserve had
the more tendency to become powerful, that, for
tho first time in her life, Mdlle. de Cardoville,
until then a stranger to all deception, had a se
cret to conceal a secret, which was equally her
hanrduess. her sbamo and her torment.
Half- recumbent on her divan, pensive and de
pressed, Adrienne pursued, with a mind often
absent, one of her newly purchased books. Sud
denly, she uttered an exclamation of surprise;
the bund which held the book trembled like a
leaf, and from that moment she appeared to rend
with passionate attention nnd devouring curios
ity. Soon, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm,
her smile assumed ineffable sweetness, and she
uttered an exclamation of surprise, and she
seemed at once proud, happy, delighted but, as
!. Into I t Ml tht? t 4 J t , bit
ft . . ft
i'J i r i Hit i ifr u t sii I i'i.
t( Jtt' ! Htl
'On. IImi
. & 1 1
!. 1 1 t (i !l Mil t I 11,(1 Hii!, Willi! 14 I O. .
I i.-.i ) I l Ml' h tlt III' to 0, to ltd U r
bt It 1 Hll, 0 -,t ttt ! ;t f f tf ! Ot in j,
mil i m!i pft" I it t , i(t I J M'Mp, It tr,
on; tun , tiM wold it.i lint tt tttnr, b"
sitM,l, ii. I in a . i.m i.iii.i I, m lib l l fn b ltd
h suing it l.rf fair hai.d, hf in ii.t d 1st t i1 I ,
in ib t p it r if, on the p.t,,i' she bdlietl
ith m Ii tritb r and n Hi"ii bne, A It it H'C i
A pnit w!nh mi itl't 1 1 d hrr.lhat n tear cttittt'd
i ii bt I r e, fbe noblfitly Itillted the obnne, tt
si e tm tbt" i n i f the tiitnie of lh author, IVr
ft m i itiid, she nntr mpbited tbi name h ith n
pin'iiltir ftiprrssiitti of gratitude; and Could toil
fttibt'iir tai'iiiiJ to hrr rosy lips the page mi which
il wus ptinte I. After tending mviy times over
the lim a w tilt whii h she hit 1 bi t n so much strut k,
forgt'tliiig, iiotbiiibt, the btter in tho spirit, she
begun to relied so deeply, that tho hook glided
from her hand, and fell upon the carpel. Pining
the course of this reverie, the eye s of tho young
girl rested, mechanically, upon an admirable
bas-relief, placed on an ebony stand, near one of
the windows. This magnificent bronr.e, recmlly
cast after a plaster copy from tho antique, repre
sented the triumph of the Indian Itucchus.
Never, perhaps, hud Orecian art attained such
rare perfection. Tho youthful conqueror, half
dud in a lion's skin, which displayed his juvenile
grace and charming purity of form, shone with
divine beauty. Standing up in a car, drawn by
two tigers, with an air at once gentle and
proud, he leaned with one hand upon a thyrsus,
and with the other guided bis savage steeds in
tranquil majesty, lly this raro mixture of grace,
vigor, and serenity, it was easy to recognize the
hero who had waged such desperate combats with
men and with monsters of the forest. Tliuuks to
the brownish tone of the figure, the light, fulling
from one side of tho sculpture, admirably dis
played tho form of the youthful god, which,
carved In relievo, and thin illumined, shone like
a magnificent statue of pale gold upon the dark
fretted background of tho broii.e.
when Adrienne s look lirst rcsteu on tins rare
Assemblngo of divino perfections, her counten
ance was calm and thoughtful, hut this contemp
lation, at first mechanical, became gradually
more and more attentive and conscious, and the
young lady, rising suddenly from her seat, slowly
approached the bus-relief, as if yielding to the
invincible, attraction of an extraordinary resem
blance Then a slight blush appoared on tho
cheeks of Mdlo. do Cardoville, stole acr ss her face,
and spread rapidly to her nock and forehead.
She approached still cloior, throw around a busty
glance, as if half athumo 1, or as if she had foured
to be surprisod in a bhimible action, an d twrico
stretched forth her hand, trembling with emotion,
to touch with the tips of her charming fingers
tho bronze forehead of the Indian Hacchus. And
twlco she stopped short, with kind of modest lies-
itntion. A last, the temptation became too strong
for her, She yielded to it; and her alnbuster
finger, after delic.ttcly carrossing tho features of
palo gold, was pressed more boldly for an instant
on tho pure and noble brow of tho youthful god.
At this presiuro, though so slight, Adrionno
Nocmod to feel a sort of electric shock; she trcm.
bled in every limb, her eyes languished, and, after
swimming for an instant in tb"ir humble un 1 bril
liant crystal, were raised, halfclosod, to heaven
Then her head was thrown a little way buck, her
kne!S bent insensibly, her rosy lips half openo
as if to give passage to her boated breath, for her
bosom heaved violently, as though youth and life
hud accelerated the pulsation of tho heart, and
made her blood boil in her veins. Finally, the
burning cheeks of Adrienne betrayed a species of
ecstasy, timid and passionate, chuslo and sensual,
tho expression of which was ineffably touching.
An effecting spectacle indeed is that of a young
maiden, whoso molest brow fllushes with the first
fires of a secret passion. Does not tho Crontor of
all things animate the body as well as the soul,
with a spark of devine energy ? Should lie not
bo religiously glorified in the intellect as in the
senses, with which No has so paternally endowed
his creatures? They are impious blasphemers
who seek to stifle tho celestial senses, instead of
guiding and hurmouidng them in their divine
flight. Suddenly, Mdlo. do Cardoville started,
raised her head, opened her eyes as if awaking
from a dream, withdrew abruptly from the sculp
lures, and walked soveral times up and down tho
room in an agitated manner, pressing her burn
ing bands to bar forehead. Then, falling, as it
were, exhausted on her seat, hor tears flowed in
abundance. Tho most bitter grief was viiiblo in
her features, which revealed the fatal struggle
that was passing within her. Uy degrees, her
tears ceased. To this crisis of painful dejection,
succcoded.a specious of violent scorn and indig
nation against herself, which was expressed by
these words that escaped her: 'For tho first time
In it) bfV, I t 1 i V nl i t ti lly H!t,ti?
. f t I I t At ,if
'I ! " t Oo of a I ! , t p. in. mi , 1 -1 . t
i.mi.., M Hi-, .n ,t.i .,lb- ft .( ,,, , lou.f i,i!,-,t!
t..nt Im-iiHc ri lin I fo ,! M'll't'lt.i
hi t iiitit 'Ms 1 imf, t ti'i 1 1 ii 1 1 he I bet '-tout
.. M..it! ton'"
Adi ifiii, t,t wl I'M d l i Kil.il I f.'te bt t
wn)i H the Hi it of t .p.tl n m t ot t oi .Of I I y thi
tiutt -Hiial It t iil, iil tt (ir-nigi-tle. 'Yost I'll
M. tie M titboii th.it I w ml biunt"' ' Vt ,
iiifll.iiiiP
'Thru big bint to walk in ' Thmuh M ile tit
t'sld-tVllli' ft it Nt ttott III HIH'Ilt unit h vef I t t 1m
arrival of Muiitbroit, li t lis hasten to s.iy,tlnt she
riiteitained fr hint an iiliu ift fi ial nlbvtion, nnd
a profound t-tcrm, though, by a tint uufie ju iil
contrast, she almost always tlilb'trd fro it him In
opinion. Hein e arose, when M lie. do Cardoville
had nothing to disturb her mind, tho most gay
and animated discussions, in which M. do Mo it
hron, notwithstanding his mocking and skeptical
humor, his long experience, his raiv knowledge
of men and things, his fashionable training, in a
word had not always the advantage, and even ac
knowledged his defeat gaily enough. Thus, to
givo an idea of the difference of the count and
Adrienne, before, a he would any, laughingly, he
had made himself her accomplice, he had always
opposed (from other motives than those alleged
by Mudauie de Suiut-Dizier) Adrienne's wish to
live alouo and in her own way; whilst Kodin, on
the contrary, by investing the young girl's resolve
on this subject with an ideal granduro of inten
tion, bud acquired a species of influence over her.
M. do Montbroii, now upwards of sixty years of
age, had been a iiiokI prominent haraclcr during
Iho Directory, Consulate, ami the Kmpire. His
prodigal stylo of living, his wit, his gaily, his
duels, his amours, and his losses at play, had giv
en him a loading influence in the bust society of
his day; while his character, his kind-heartedness,
and liberality, secured him the lasting fiieudship
of nearly all his female friends. At tho lime we
now present him to too reader, he ws still a great
gambler; and, .moreover, a very lucky gambler,
lie hud, as we have stated, a very lordly style; his
manner were decided, but polished and lively;
his habits were such as belong to tho higher
classes of society, though ho could bo excessively
sharp towards people whom he did not like. He
was tall and thin, and his slim figure gave him
an almost youthful appearance; his forehead was
high, a little bald; his hair was gray and short,
his countenance long, his nose aquiline, his eyes
bluo and piercing, and his teeth white, and still
very good.
'Tho Count do Montbron,' said Georgette, open
ing tho door. Tuo count entered, and hastened
to kiss Airienne's hand, with a sort of paternal
familiarity.
'Come!' said M. de Montbron to himself; 'let us
try to discover tho truth I am in search of, that
we may escape a groit misfortune.'
t!t -If of I " rt
.CHAl'TEU LX.
TIIK C O S V K S H I O N .
Mdlle lo Cardoville, not wishing to betray tho
cause of tho violent feelings which agitated her,
received M. do Montbron with a feigned and
forced gaiety. Cn the other gaud, notwilhtlund-
ing his tact and knowledge of tho world, the count
wus much embarrassed how to enter upon tho
subject on which ho wished to confer with Ad
rienno, and he resolved to feel his way, before
seriously commencing the conversation. After
looking ut tho young ludy for ijmo seconds, M,
do Montbron shook his head, and said, with a
sigh of regret; 'My dear child, I am not pleased.'
'Some affair of the heart, or of hearts, my dear
count?' returned Adrienne, smiling. 'Of the
heart,' said M. do Montbron.
'What ! you, so great a player, think more of a
woman's whim than a throw of dice?' 'I have a
heavy heart, and you arejtho cause of it, my dear
child.'
'1. de Montbron, you will make me very proud
said Adrienne, with a smilo.
'You would bo wrong, for I tell you plainly, my
trouble is caused by your neglect of your beauty.
Yes, your countenanco is pale, dejected, sorrow,
ful; you have been low-spirited for tho lust few
days; you have something on your mind, I am
sure of it,'
'My dear M. de Montbron, you have so much
ponetrution, that you may be allowed to fail for
once, as now. I am not sad, I have nothing on
my mind, and lam about to utter a very silly
dece of impertinence I have never thought my-
self so pretty.'
'On the contrary, nothing could bo more modest
than such an assertion. Who'told yon that false
hood? a woman?'
'No; it was my heart, and it spoke the truth
it
1
a .t 1 1 t A dt tt un, w uh a ihjjtt
ti ,i ''i, t .ln f, f yon an,' b I b
! y n in, nt tht jtt j at? j i, u .f ib ;im
lton i y.-ttr ft'Uf, h 4Utf o Hie J i "I I of
. !?U ftlift tr 1,tMH Mi I M b'M 'lllbt.ttl,
'Vto at Alt moo with )tttiiti ii 'U t ; I
ft'H thru ti;tsl t vl iiit ,ii. t r
tint to t,' a 1 bl lb ( ,mut, pprAtMi; with aim
i f tsl f-'ilio, 'I rr.tn4 it i p tiufiil t.t iiie.' -
'H itt!i d, I ftot as hippy is p.-il h rr
rvrty itititnl I Isle delight In irpratintf, h, al
ihv tto, t run fire :tho!uttdy freV' ' Y ; fit f b
tot limit Jntirrlf, fioe In bo ntiirrable '
'I'oiue, route, my tb r nuiiit! s.tid Adiiniiie,
'yott ate li vomiiifiu ing our obi quarrel. I Mill
liud in Von Ibe itllv of tit v iiuitt and the Abbe
r -
d'Aigtigny.' J
'Yes; as the reptiblicniis are Ibe allies of the! f,
Ipv'itiniisls td ilrslrnv i-iirli ntliir In their luru. i
n - ' V "
Talking of your abominable aunt, tin y say that
she holds a sort of council at her house these last
few days, n regular mitred conspiracy, She is
certainly in a good way.'
'Why not? F- rnterly, she would have wished
to be (Soddess of Ueasou, now, wo shall perhaps
see her canonized She has already performed
the lirst part of the life of Mary Magdalen.'
'You can never speak woreo of her than she de
serves, my dear child. Still, for quite opposite
reasons, I agreed with her on Ibe subject of your
wish to reside alone.' 'I know it.'
'Yes and because I wished to see you a thous
and times freer than you really arc, I advised
you.' 'To marry.'
No doubt: vou would have had vourdearliberty,
with its consequenscs, only, instead of Mdle. do
Cardoville, we should have called you Madame
Somebody, bavin; found an excellent husband 10
bo responsible for your independence.'
'And who would bo responsible for this ridicu
us husband? And who would bear a mocked
t t m I 41 1i1 's
ami iiegrii'ieu name: J, perhaps: sum Aurienuo,
with animation. 'No, no, my dear count, good
or ill, I will answer for my own actions; to my
name shall attach tho reputation, which I alono
have formed. I am ns incapable of basely dishon
ouring a name which is not mine, as of contin
ually bearing it myself, if it were not held in
esteem. And, as otto cun only answer for one's
own actions, I prefer to keep my name,' 'You
are the only person in the world that has such
SilltOftl '
I'tVtirj, m
'Why?' said Adrienne, laughing. 'Because ir
appears to mo horriblo, to see a poor young girl
lost and buried in some ugly and selfish man, and V
become, as they say seriously, the better half of
tho monster yes! a fresh nnd blooming rose to
becomo part of a frightful thistle! Come, my dear
count; confess there is something edious in this
conjugal metempsychosis added Adrienne, with
a burst of laughter.
Tho forced and somewhat feverish gaily of
Adrienne contrasted painfully with her pale and
suffering countenance; it was so easy to seo that
she strove to stifle with laughter some deep sor
row, that M. do Montbron was much affected by
it; but dissembling his emotion, he appemed to
reflect a moment, and took up mechanically one
of tho now, fresh-cut books, by which Adrienne
whs surrounded. After casting a careless glance
at this volume, ho continued, still dissembling his
feelings; 'Come, my dear madcap: this is niiothefjp
folly. Suppose I were twenty years old, and thuf
von did me the, honour to ninrrv mo vou would
bo culled Lady do Montbron, I imagine?' Tor-
haps,'
How perhaps? Would you not bear my name, -rt y
if you married mo?' i
My dear count said Adrienne, with a smile, '
'do not lei us pursue this hypothesis, which can J
only leave us regrets,'
Suddenly, M, do Montbron started, and looked
at Mdle. do Cardovillo with nu expression of sur
prise, For some moments, whilst talking to Adri
enne, he had mechanically taken up two or three
of tho volumes scatlered over tho couch, and had
glanced at their titles in thesamo earless manner
Tho first was tho 'Modem History of India.' The (
second, 'Travels in India.' Tho third, 'Letters on
India,' Much surprised, M, de Montbron hioN
continued his investigation, and found that tho
fourth voltimeconlinued this Indian nomenclature
being 'Itarnblcs in India.' Tho fifth was 'Hecol- j
ections of Ilindoi-tan,' The sixth, 'Notes of a
Traveler in tho Fast Indies.'
Hence tho astonishment, which, for many se
rious reasons, M. de Montbron had no longer been
able to conceit!, and which his looks betrayed to Xji
Adrienne, Tho latter, having completely forgot. i I
Irt.i lltA v.ft'S.aii.,,, r.t it... n s.si.a i n l,,.t n Irt Att l.V U,'t I f !
n; II til V J' PVIII-W Ul HIU U;i;UDill Viuniwa fj r,...,.ft- 3
she was surrounded, yielded to a movement of in- n-
voluntary confusion, and blushed slightly; but, j i
her firm and resolute character again coming to I
her aid, she looked full at M. do Montbron, and
riiil tn liim 'U'fll mv ileiir count ! wblit snrnrisfa If r
- . ..v... ,
your
A
(Continued on page 5.)
1 1