Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

Miscellaneous.

A SINGULAR TALE.

We are about to indulge our readers with a very singular, but a very true relation of an affair, which happened some years since in one of the French provinces.

A man of fashion and wealth paid his addresses to a young lady of beauty, rank and distinguished merit. As there was a parity in years, in fortune, and in situation, the lady received her gallant with the customary condescension females seldom withhold from those whom they are taught to look upon as equals. The parents of the young lady, however, from some motive, disapproved of the match. The gentleman pleaded, but in vain, and finding it impossible to overcome the aged obstinacy of the parents, he resolved to solicit his charmer's consent to enter into the holy bands of matrimony, without any farther consultation with the parents, who seemed resolutely to persist in denial. Having fully explained himself on this head, the young lady after recovering from the confusion, which on these occasions is visible among the virgin fair, consented to become his wife. They were wedded, and the marriage kept a profound secret.

It happened after a few years had elapsed, that the husband was obliged to leave his lovely bride, being called into a foreign country in order to adjust some affairs which required his immediate presence. The necessity was no less urgent than disagreeable to both parties--however they permitted their good sense to operate, and after vowing mutual affection and fidelity, parted in certain expectation of seeing each other, at a time when such an alteration should take place as might afford them an opportunity of living in a manner every way becoming a virtuous and happy wedded pair.

For some time they corresponded; but the husband being obliged to cross several tempestuous seas, did not receive such frequent answers to his epistles as he had reason to expect. This he attributed to a distance of climate, rendering a regular correspondence altogether impracticable, and as he imagined his letters had been miscarried, he resolved for the present to desist from writing not relishing to have his sentiments canvassed over by indifferent strangers, or perhaps captious enemies. Another reason which induced him to lay aside for the present all thoughts of continuing an epistolary correspondence was the prospect he had of shortly returning to France, where the presence of his amiable consort would infinitely exceed all ideal interviews, and make ample amends for all the pangs his heart had undergone. It is now time that we should return to his lady.

As she possessed a considerable share of youth and beauty, it is not supposed that she could remain without a train of admirers. Her parents who never dreamed about their daughter's previous marriage, became more anxious to select a person whose mental and personal endowments. might, in their own estimation, render him worthy of their favorite daughter's hand and heart.

Several years had now rolled on, without the lady's hearing a syllable from her real husband. At length the fatal news arrived that he was no more.

The lady was inconsolable--but she found it prudent to stifle her griefs, that she might not excite the smallest degree of suspicion. When she had paid every tribute consistent with reflection to the memory of her departed lord, a gentleman was proposed by her parents for her approbation, and the good old people were so prejudiced in favor of the person whom they had chosen, they gave the daughter to understand that their happiness depended on her compliance.

The young lady, who thought herself entirely at liberty, to commit a second trespass upon Hymen, after some little hesitation consented. The nuptials were celebrated; the lady if not happy, was placid, and serenely content--the parents were delighted, the bridegroom was enraptured, all were jocund, and all were sprightly. For four years this newly married couple lived in complete harmony, but at length an intermitting fever seized the lady: the physicians were baffled, and she, to all appearances, paid the debt due to nature. She was buried with pomp. and all reverence shown to her memory the custom of the country would admit of.

During her illness, her former husband, whom we left abroad, had returned, and after making the necessary inquiries, was informed of every circumstance we have related above. As he was unwilling to surprise her while she was combatted with sickness, he had employed a trusty person to make him acquainted with each particular of her case--and the very moment the news of her death reached his ear, he was seized with a frantic wildness within his soul, and he resolved to receive no sustenance, but to bury himself among the mould which lay lightly on her breast, and thus pine out the remaining period of his existence.

Full of this resolution he repaired the night she was buried to her tomb and after digging up the earth, discovered her coffin, fetched a deep sigh, and was about to stretch his wearied limbs, when to his consternation, astonishment, and affright, he perceived signs of life. He tore open the coffin, and found it even as he suspected. His wife was almost suffocated. He snatched her up in his arms, conveyed her to the house of a neighbour, had her put into a warm bed and in a few weeks she was perfectly restored to life and tolerable health.

As she had a real affection for her first husband she made no scruple in choosing him for her companion--but as the affair soon made a prodigious noise throughout the country, the second husband, who also doted on her to distraction, no sooner was informed of the particulars than he attempted to force her to live with him. The prior claimant as resolutely persisted in keeping her to himself. In short a law-suit was commenced, and the most learned advocates in France were employed; a redundancy of erudition was displayed, and after being litigated for a length of time, a solemn decision was made in favour of the former husband.

The story has so much the air of fable and romance, that to leave an impression of its truth on the minds of our readers, it is necessary to inform them that the French lawyers have selected all the famous trials with the decisions that have been given in their courts for a series of years.

This work which is contained in several folio volumes, is entitled "Les Causes Celebres." The above very extraordinary relation is recited therein together with all the subtle and ingenious arguments used by the opposite advocates for the different husbands. So there can be but little doubt of the truth of the narrative so expressly and well authenticated.