The Parisians, Book 12.

litate against-the objects to which their vanity itself devotes its more permanent desires. A vain woman may be very anxious to win A---, the magnificent, as a partner for life; and yet f

hat he had committed himself to promises which he was by no means prepared to keep. True, the promises were vague in words; but in substance they were perfectly clear-"to spare, nay, to aid all that Isaura esteemed and reverenced." How was this possible to him? How could he sud

tastes, was Spartan in doctrine. Nothing better just at that moment than Spartan doctrine, "Live on black broth and fight the enemy." And the jour

eturn for the sacrifice of your popularity, your prospects, your opinions, I give you not only a devoted heart, but an excellent table and a capital fire and plenty of pocket-money.' Sacre bleu! when I think of that frozen salon, and possibly the leg of a mouse for dinner, and

in the faded robes of a theatre. Julie never looked more beautiful, more radiant, than she did now; and there was a wonderful heartfelt fondness in her voice when she cried, "Mon homme! mon homme! seul homme au monde a mon coeur, Gustave, cheri adore! I have found thee-at last-at last!" Gustave gazed upon her, stupefied. Involuntarily his eye glanced from the freshness of bloom in

er Savarin! he would not give me any news of thee. That is ages ago. But at least Frederic Lemercier, whom I sa

know that-that-as I before announced to

e you m

care-is not that t

ould it might slay us both

difference! This is love! No preaching her

news of me, surely you must have heard of my effect as an orator not despised in the Salle Favre. Since

must be first among men. But, alas it is my fault-my misfortune. I h

that. Still, Genius pierces under any name. You

ny weeks I was so poor-so destitute. I could go

? Go

nted to starve. Without thee, what was life? But thou wilt recollect Madeleine, the old bonne who lived with me. Well, she had attended and cherished me since I was so high-lived with my mother. Mother! no; it seems that M

vre ange!" exc

could save from Madeleine I put into a box for thee, in case thou shouldst come back to me some day. Mon homme, how c

eur! What does

sed and sacred be thy wife! Forget me.' But as it is, one word more. Dost thou love the young lady, whoever she be? or does

life, and marry, and so forth. And the girl had money, and was a good match. In short, the thing was settled. But oh, Julie, she never learned my songs by heart! She did not love as t

longer dancing and declaiming at cafes: and thou think

mind when he said, "but, but-" There were many buts all very confused, struggling through his m

"I have never seen thee so beautiful as thou art now; and when thou tellest me that thou are no longer poor,

ou look me in the face and not know that my eyes could not meet thine as they do, if I had been faithless to thee even in a thought, when I so boldly touched thine arm? Viens

idlers turning to look at the young, beautiful, well-dressed woman who seemed in such contrast to the capital whose former luxuries the "Ondine" of imperial Paris represented. He now offere