Although past the age when men ought to think
of matrimony, yet the scene before Mr. Devenant brought vividly to
his mind the time when he was young and had a loving bosom
companion living, and tears were wiped from the old man's eyes. A
new world seemed to unfold itself before the eyes of the happy
lovers, and they were completely absorbed in contemplating the
future. Furnished by nature with a disposition to study, and a
memory so retentive that all who knew her were surprised at the
ease with which she acquired her education and general
information, Clotelle might now be termed a most accomplished
lady. After her marriage with young Devenant, they proceeded to
India, where the husband's regiment was stationed. Soon after their
arrival, however, a battle was fought with the natives, in which
several officers fell, among whom was Captain Devenant. The father
of the young captain being there at the time, took his
daughter-in-law and brought her back to France, where they took up
their abode at the old homestead.
Old Mr. Devenant was possessed of a large fortune, all of which he
intended for his daughter-in-law and her only child.
Although Clotelle had married young Devenant, she had not forgotten
her first love, and her father-in-law now willingly gave his
consent to her marriage with Jerome. Jerome felt that to possess
the woman of his love, even at that late hour, was compensation
enough for the years that he had been separated from her, and
Clotelle wanted no better evidence of his love for her than the
fact of his having remained so long unmarried.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159