The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Directing her attention, with characteristic energy and ardor, to the
improvement of her property which incloses Jackson Square, the principal
public place in New-Orleans, she built some forty elegant houses, and
then assuming the government of the municipality, she succeeded in
inducing the authorities to cut down the old trees on the square, and to
have it laid off in the parterre style. The 'Woodman spare that tree'
sentiment strongly opposed this reform; but it was vain to resist the
Countess. The trees obstructed the view of her fine rows of houses, and
down they must come, and down they did come, very much to the
improvement of the city, and to the full justification of the taste and
good sense of the Countess.
After thus improving her property, and augmenting her resources, the
Countess thought she might trust herself again in Paris, though a
parvenu filled the throne which, in her view, was justly the property of
the elder branch of the Bourbons.
But before she left, an incident occurred which must close this
desultory sketch. It happened one day, while the Countess was in a
notary's office, for the purpose of signing some deeds, that a tall,
grave, and eccentric-looking old gentleman entered, and seeing the
notary engaged, took his seat to wait his turn. After completing her
signature of the deeds, the Countess, raising her eyes from the
parchment, perceived that she was the object of close and keen
observation of the eccentric old gentleman with the very brilliant and
piercing eyes. A single glance served to bring that face and form
distinctly back to her memory. Rushing up to the old gentleman, she
threw her arms around his neck, in an affectionate embrace, exclaiming:
'Oh! Mr. McDonogh, is it you? I have not forgotten you during our long
separation.' And after a pause, her emotions checking her utterance, she
continued: 'We were once betrothed; it would have been better for both
if we had married. Is it too late to repair that fatal error?'
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