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cruel; for there was something like tor-j
ture at my heart-I could not bear it.
I saw her everywhere behind the
hedges, in the village, in the corn-fields,
at the window. At last I discovered she
sought me too. Without precisely try-
ing to meet, we were always in the same
places, neither exchanging looks or
words, but we loved one another. And,"
he added, in a loud voice, "we love each
ether now; I will have her!"

George said the latter words in a fierce, determined manner; he reminded me of those birds of prey which spread their pinions out betimes and sound a war-cry. "Don't speak so loud, George; everybody will hear you in the village. And then you say, I will have her, I will have her!'-you don't seem to think of the head-keeper."

"The head-keeper?" he cried, with contempt;"poor devil! He may come now. Ah, ah, ah!"

And your uncle Jean?" "Uncle Jean has lowered himself by striking his daughter, he has shown her he meant to sacrifice her happiness to his revenge. She loves me more than she can ever love him- you know she loves me, Monsieur Florent, you said so your self!"

"No doubt, no doubt; but your father! Unfortunate young man, you have everything against you!

“Please listen one moment, Monsieur Florent, and you will see whether it is really right this should be so. As an upright man you will decide. Because these two old men have hated each other for thirty long years, on account of an old lumbering house; because they have sworn each other's ruin, and cannot look at each other in the face without a shudder is that a reason why we should do likewise? Are we to go on in this way for ever? one branch of the same family trying to ruin the other, crying each other down, turning the blood of our veins into gall, and finally annihilating one another? Is that proper? Is this your desire, Monsieur Florent?"

"No, George, certainly not, very much the reverse; but

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"Do not mention me."

"No, no; it is my own business." Though I was in great pain, I looked after him as he slowly and thoughtfully walked down the street; he held his alpenstock firmly, and with a bold step entered his father's house.

I resumed my seat until school-time uneasily, wondering what was going on; whether the storm had burst between father and son. Both were equally rash, both tenacious and obdurate. At times, I thought that the father, being old and weakened by suffering, would give in; at others, that he would not, but was more likely to turn his son out of doors.

These two opposite possibilities divided my thoughts until seven, when it was time to go down to the schoolroom. I looked out of the window before doing so, and found everything perfectly calm, the house-doors were all closed.

I had to sit still at my desk all the morning, and observed with gratification that none of the scholars seemed to glory over what had occurred. Their parents had, therefore, all blamed Monsieur Jean and had taken my part. From time to time they stole a glance at me over their books, but no sooner met my gaze than they looked down again, as if they were afraid of humbling me. Other schoolmasters would perhaps have been laughed at under the circumstances, for children know how to turn every little mortification undergone by unjust superiors to good account, but this was not my case at all.

Every thing went off in proper order, and when school was over I had but to take one look out of the window to see that the whole village was in extraordinary excitement. It was Nanette Bouveret, our neighbour's grandmother, screaming out as loud as she could.

"Poor lamb! she would rather be buried alive in a convent than marry her carroty suitor and her father has beaten her! Ah! old bald-head, if there was anything like justice here below, you would have danced long ago at the end of a tough rope; but men have no hearts. If they do but make money they care not a snap for anything else. Was there ever such a crow as that Monsieur Lebel? A pretty turn up for Mademoiselle Louise, indeed! Yes, indeed, she would just suit him! Ever since he has been here there is no end to people being sued.

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He's the man who should have come in for all the blows and kicks that poor Monsieur Florent knows of but don't talk about-poor harmless old man who wouldn't kill a flea!"

Her voice was shrill and could be heard from one end of the village to the other, but there was no stopping her, and she stood with fists doubled, shaking them at Monsieur Jean's house.

Hold your peace, grandmother," said Jean Bouveret, the carpenter; "if the gentlemen hear you, we shall get into trouble."

"And what do I care for the gentlemen?" she asked, in a higher key; "they won't stop me from winding and spinning my flax, nor prevent me from leading the goats out, I can tell you! What harm can they do me? Do they give me any work? Do I owe them any money? All I say may be carried back, it will do them some good to hear the truth. I say it is a disgrace, a shame, to compel any girl to marry a man she don't like! I will say it to Jean Rantzau's face if he comes my way. Nanette Bouveret won't put herself out for him!"

She went on for a long time in the same strains, and the other women, encouraged by this old Jacobin's example, joined in the chorus. They were soon in open revolt all over Chaumes; it was worse than the year 1830, and it was the first time in my life I saw women hold together against men. Marie-Barbe picked up courage as well as the others when she saw every one was on our side.

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alone, for their last arguments are worse
than their first, and then there is no end
I bore with Marie-Barbe patiently.
to it.
letting her go on with abuse of Monsieur
Jean and predictions of his future down-
fall-things which did him no harm.

She was not the only infuriated wife at Chaumes; they were all out of sorts, and this state of feeling was kept up until bedtime. Even in the schoolroom I was disturbed by their comments out of doors, and could hear their violent language while I gave my lessons. Some of the women proposed breaking old Jean Rantzau's door open and rushing in to deliver his daughter.

Monsieur Jean was probably informed of everything that was going on, for more than one tale-bearer carried every report backwards and forwards; but the overbearing man showed on this day that he was not of the sort that can be frightened into giving up his will.

Monsieur Jacques' servant came at five, her Í left just as I was shutting up school, to say master wished to speak to me. home immediately, some of the neighbours offering me their arm; but I preferred getting on alone, and thanked them for their consideration.

Monsieur Jean Rantzau's house was silent, that of Monsieur Jacques no less I entered the first room to the right so. of the passage, in which I had often drawn up papers before. Monsieur le He looked comMaire was sitting cross-legged at his and worn out with black writing-table. pletely dejected trouble, ten years older at the least. "Ah! here you are, Florent," said he : and, passing me a stamped paper, he added, “look at this."

Now is the time, Florent," said she, "when it pleaseth the Almighty to lay His hand on the hard-hearted miser. The whole place is rising. I would like It was a document from Monsieur Jean, to see him sue us, with his Monsieur Lebel, now! I wish he would try to get notifying unto the mayor that he was to us out of our situation! the whole moun-post up at the Mairie the banns of martain would come down to defend our cause."

She had been in such mute terror before that the reaction was all the more intense. I had to reason calmly with her, and explain that it was not possible for Monsieur Jean to get me out of my situation, the mayors being supreme, and Monsieur everything depending on Jacques' good-will.

"It's all as it should be, Florent, daresay; but Monsieur Jean threw you down-stairs, for all that, and I would just like to see him in the prisoners' van going to public execution."

Women have no moderation.

riage between Paul Lucien Lebel and Louise Amélie Rantzau, only daughter of Jean Rantzau, landowner at Chaumes, which ceremony, it was to be announced, should take place in the course of the week following the three days' legal publication of the said banns.

I shook all over as I laid the paper down again. It seemed as impossible as it was abominable; meanwhile Monsieur IJacques' yellow-grey eyes were fixed on me, for I stood speechless.

"What do you say to this?" he asked. "It is terrible."

"Indeed it is terrible," he repeated. The" My brother has only made up this

best way is to leave reasoning with them match to ruin me; he is sacrificing his

daughter to his hatred. Lebel is the who always had approval on his lips man for him; he accepts all the condi-Yes, papa!'-'Quite right, papa !'. tions laid before him, promises everything, all the pursuits required, &c., &c. He must be a miserable wretch to conclude such a bargain; but what woudln't people do to become rich? It is sad very sad indeed!"

I had nothing to answer.

"You may sit down and write it out, Florent. I will stick the bill up at the Mairie to-day. Everybody will read it."

I took a seat, and with swimming eyes wrote out the notice in my largest handwriting, ending with the date and the

rest.

Monsieur le Maire relapsed into deep thought; his snuff-box and handkerchief were by his side, but he looked vacantly out of the window. When I had done he threw some snuff over the ink to dry it, and, after having read it, returned it to me, saying,

"Yes, Florent, that's it. It's all right. Put the stamp of the Mairie on it." When I had done so he signed and returned the paper.

"It is painful to have to help in so shameful à transaction, is it not, Florent? -a transaction that is to cause my own ruin. But this is nothing compared to what I have to tell you; no, nothing. This plan of brother Jean's, after all, would only have compelled me to give up the timber trade; I am rich enough without it. I should have let my saw-mills, and we could have done something else; but a thing you will never credit, that you will never believe, and a thing I wouldn't tell any man but you, Florent you, a most reliable and straightforward man — is that my son George loves the daughter of that ruffian!"

His voice had risen, as he spoke with increased animation, and echoed in the empty room. I, feigning great surprise, replied,

"What, Monsieur le Maire? Is this possible?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed; "possible and true. George told me this very morning, himself."

I looked away, for his face was contracted, his jaw-bones set, and his large

nose touched his chin.

That is what is reserved unto me in my old age! My own son desirous to marry the child of that hypocrite, the daughter of the sneak who did me out of my father's house when our aged parent had turned infirm, deaf, and sanctified; yes, the child of the intolerable wheedler

Very true, papa !'- and who entered into all the old man's devout fancies, saying, Amen, papa! Amen, amen.' Oh, the wretch! He knew what all these 'amens, papa' would bring in some day, while I, mille tonnerres! couldn't do it. No," added the mayor, bringing his fist down on the table, "I never could keep up 'Yes, papa,' 'God bless you, papa,' from morning to night. It would have killed me. However, it served him, and I only came in for odds and ends-for what I had a legal right to; had it not been for law, the shrewd cheat, who was always talking about his birthright, would have stripped me of my last shirt."

Although Monsieur Jacques' face was very horrible to look at, I felt he was not entirely wrong, and in some measure I could understand his passion and irritation.

"I can tell you all these things, Florent, though I have never told any one but George. I consider you as a friend, more than a friend. Now you know how Jean robbed me."

I was deeply concerned for the mayor, but had nothing to say. When the first outburst of his anger had subsided he was silent, but after having taken a pinch of snuff in nervous rage, he continued,

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Yes; and after all I have endured, my own son falls in love with this brigand's daughter! Did you ever hear of such a misfortune? He has loved her for some time, Florent. I once suspected it, and tried to get him away from Chaumes; but he would not leave - and now he means to marry her!"

"After all, Monsieur le Maire," I ventured to say, seeing his fit of fury was coming on again, “Louise is a very good and charming girl.”

"Who denies it? I don't say anything to the contrary" cried the unfortunate man, pulling his hair with his two hands; "but she is Jean's daughter!"

There was nothing to reply to this, and besides, if I had replied, I should have had nothing but empty words to say, and what are words when grief is so bit

ter?

The mayor was again silent for a little while, then added, in a husky voice, "I told George, when he confided all this to me this morning, that he might have till to-night to change his mind or leave this place- twelve hours in which to decide whether he will give her up or cease to

be my son! I shall be alone, always | husband's chair, now rushed in, holding alone, if he chooses the latter course."

The way in which he said this almost drew tears from my eyes.

"The same thing will happen to me that happened to grandfather, who died childless after having brought up a family of twelve. I have only one, and shall lose all the same day. Now I wonder how I have deserved all this?"

George passed by the window at the

same moment.

There he is," said Monsieur Jacques, but he kept his eyes downcast.

The house-door was opened, then that of the room we were sitting in.

It was George. He walked straight up to the writing-desk.

her apron up to her eyes, and uttered, with a piercing shriek, "Rantzau !"

She could say no more. The old man, without turning to look at her, sternly pointed to the door, and she retired. George followed her out of the room.

For some seconds the mayor did not move; he sat somewhat bent forward, looking down at his boots, the image of grief. We remained perfectly silent until he rose, went to the cupboard and took from a small basket the key of the wire grating behind which announcements were hung up at the Mairie.

"Come along, Florent," he said; and we both went to the Mairie, where we posted the bill. When this was done he locked the grating, wished me goodnight, and we both went to our respectre-ive homes.

"Well?" asked his father, with a hollow, hoarse voice..

"Well," replied George, "I have flected, and things will remain as I have said. I cannot change."

"Then you mean to leave?"

"No."

"You intend to live in my house in spite of me?"

"I did not say that," answered George firmly. "You are master here; you have but to order me to leave and I will obey, but I shall stop at Chaumes. I shall live at the inn, only that will create scandal."

The old man shuddered.

George's neck, ears, and face were crimson, but he mastered himself and kept calm. The mayor remained seated in his armchair, thinking very deeply, while I, who felt sorry for him at the bottom of my heart, sympathized with him very sincerely.

"Ah, what a blow! Speak to him, Florent tell him I cannot go and ask Jean to bestow her hand on him."

"Neither do I expect you to do anything of the kind, father," replied George. "I only told you I love Louise and that Louise loves me. We have both battled against it, and it is out of the question. You will act as you like, and Uncle Jean will do as he likes; but if Louise is forced into marrying any one else, I say, by the faith of a Rantzau, a great misfortune will happen. Now, father, do you wish me to leave your house?"

"No. It would gratify Jean. Remain; but we shall live together as strangers." "Very well, father," replied George. He was going to leave the room when his mother, poor woman, who for so many years had never come out of her kitchen, and who, on grand fête-days always stood in attendance behind her

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From Chambers' Journal.

THE MARRIAGE MARKET.

It is very doubtful, notwithstanding all our modern contrivances for the "annihilation of time and space," whether lovers are "made happy," or, in other words, succeed in getting married, more easily than in the age before railroads. Our habit of centralization brings all our youth to the metropolis, or to the great centres of industry, and leaves large tracts of country quite denuded of eligible young men. Again, if a young woman comes to our great towns to seek employment, she is altogether isolated as respects society.

Hermit never was half so lone

As he who hath fellows, but friends not one, is especially true of the young governess who lives in the drawing-room on sufferance, and to whom it is next to impossible (and very perilous in the search) to find a partner for life. The following sentence, moreover, may be accepted as having at least some truth in it: "Civilization, combined with the cold formalities of society, and the rules of etiquette, imposes such restriction on the sexes, that there are thousands of marriageable men and women of all ages, capable of making each other happy, who have never a chance of meeting either in town or country." These last words are culled from a newspaper entitled the Matrimonial News, which has been started as an "organ through which ladies and gentle

6872 A Respectable servant-girl, aged 27, nice appearance, very respectable family, and who has saved up about L. 100, would like to correspond with a steady respectable man about 35, with a view to marriage. Address and carte with Editor.

men aspiring to marriage can be honour- the case. Among the whole three hunably brought into communication," and dred and fifty advertisements, there is which has now been in existence more only one which purports to be from a than two years. It contains nothing but person in domestic service: advertisements from "persons about to marry," if they can, and of these the specimen before us numbers no less than three hundred and fifty! On the first blush of the thing (and no doubt some would even blush at it), the whole publication would appear to be a joke; but a joke must be a very good one indeed to last two years, and to bring in its originator twenty pounds a week during that period — which is the very least that he must make by it by advertisements independent of the sale of the paper; but, in point of fact, the Matrimonial News is evidently no joke at all, but as serious as any organ of mines or railways.

Even this individual, it will be remarked, is a sort of capitalist; while as to the others, "gentleman-farmer" is the very lowest in the social scale who advertises as being in want of a helpmate. Nay, there is even one British nobleman, but that is the personage to whose bona fides we took exception:

053 Nars of age, with fine landed N English nobleman, between 50 and estates, wishes to marry, and desires to enter into correspondence with a lady of position with a view to marriage. Ladies replying to this advertisement may depend on strict hon

our. Address with Editor.

In its first beginnings, we have no doubt, indeed, that it was made the vehicle of practical jests, but such fun must have worn out by this time, and must have been always expensive; while, on looking through the present long list of aspirers to the state of wedded life, We don't believe that any "English there appears to be one only who is not nobleman between 50 and 60," no, nor in bond-fide earnest, notwithstanding that between 150 and 160, would find such a many express themselves absurdly, and difficulty in securing for his bride "a some are too evidently representing their lady of position" that he must needs affairs as being much more prosperous apply to the editor of the Matrimonial than they really are. The aspirants are News. But there are many more almost indicated by a number only, but are as eligible and glittering offers. A genbound to send their real names and tleman of landed estate, aged forty, living addresses (with carte also, if they please in one of the choicest counties in to venture on that experiment) to the England, and with an income of "about editor, as a guarantee of honourable L.8000 a year," wants another "lady of intentions and good faith; and all intro- position" and there are other country ductions are given on the understanding gentlemen, with incomes from L.3000 to that the lady and gentleman shall each L.1000 a year, who, it appears, cannot pay a fee to the said editor within a get into society, or, having got there, month of their marriage. This limit feel too old or too shy to ask young seems liberal enough, since it takes the persons of the opposite sex to share their happy pair to the very verge of the honey- very considerable property, even though, moon, after which but too many of us in some cases, they be "assured of a repent our partnership, even though it handsome jointure," in the event of their has not been brought about per advertise- | husband's death. As might be expected ment in a newspaper. Moreover, the-when we have got over the surprise of editor may be consulted personally we anybody advertising for a wife at allsuppose by reason of his great experience officers about to embark for India are in bringing young people together-upon very numerous on the lists of our editor. this important step in life, for the very They find a difficulty in persuading young reasonable sum of five shillings. He will ladies to take the voyage and dwell in answer questions and give advice "on the East with them among tigers and any point relating to courtship or mar-"natives." One "officer in the India riage, or any other difficult subject," by staff" has L.600 a year, "which before post, in return for a dozen postage- long will be L.750," and is ready to marry stamps. One would have imagined that at once, and take his bride with him; these very economical terms would have another writes from Bombay, and promespecially found acceptance among the ises to wed any suitable bride whom the humbler classes, but this is by no means editor will consign to him, "immediately

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