Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
A paragraph in one of the newspapers at last threw some light on the
matter. The _Bouquetière_ had never been so friendless or unprotected as
people had supposed. In all her wanderings she was accompanied, or
rather followed, by her father; whenever she stopped, then he stopped
also; and never was he distant more than a dozen yards, I wonder that he
was not recognized by hundreds, but I conclude he made some change in
his attire or appearance, from time to time. One morning this strange
pair were proceeding on their ramble as usual, when, passing through a
rather secluded street, the _Bouquetière_ made a sudden bound from the
pavement, sprung into a post-chaise, the door of which stood open, and
was immediately whirled away, as fast as four horses could tear--leaving
the old man alone with his despair, and the basket of flowers.
Three months have passed away since the disappearance of the
_Bouquetière_; but only a few days since I found myself one evening very
dull at one of those "brilliant receptions," for which Paris is so
famous. I was making for the door, with a view to an early departure,
when my hostess detained me, for the purpose of presenting me to a lady
who was monopolizing all the admiration of the evening--she was the
newly-married bride of a young German baron of great wealth, and noted
for a certain wild kind of genius, and utter scorn of conventionalities.
The next instant I found myself introduced to a pair of eyes that could
never be mistaken. I dropped into a vacant chair by their side, and
entered into conversation. The baronne observed that she had met me
before, but could not remember where, and in the same breath asked me if
I was a lover of flowers.
I muttered something about loving beauty in any shape, and admired a
bouquet which she held in her hand.
The baronne selected a flower, and asked me if it was not a peculiarly
fine specimen. I assented; and the flower, not being re-demanded, I did
not return it. The conversation changed to other subjects, and, shortly
afterward the baronne took her leave with her husband. They left Paris
next day for the baron's family estate, and I have never seen them
since.
I learned subsequently that some strange stories had obtained
circulation respecting the previous life of the baronne. Whatever they
were, it is very certain that this or some other reason has made the
profession of _Bouquetière_ most inconveniently popular in Paris. Young
ladies of all ages that can, with any degree of courtesy, be included in
that category, and of all degrees of beauty short of the hunch-back, may
be seen in all directions intruding their flowers with fatal pertinacity
upon inoffensive loungers, and making war upon button-holes that never
did them any harm. The youngest of young girls, I find, are being
trained to the calling, who are all destined, I suppose, to marry
distinguished foreigners from some distant and facetious country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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