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58 Her bosom thrilled with feeling as he talked about his wife and babes, and her heart’s earnest desire was that she possessed the power of mind to aid him effectually with her pen. She once thought of bestowing upon him as a gift all her manuscripts. But then Modesty interposed, and asked of her what good that would do. Could they supply the place of the contributions of him whose arti cles were received in the stead of those of M. Beranger ? She thought not, and had al most come to the conclusion to go away and not offer her manuscripts. Finally, however, she concluded to present them to the editor, and tell him that if they could do him any good they were at his service. This she did with so much diffidence that she won still far ther the confidence and good-will of Monsieur Bland. “Let me see them.” said he, taking them from her hand and running his eye eagerly over the fair chirograph}*. -If they will sup ply the place of those which should have come from the hands of the young,gentleman about whom I was speaking to you, l shall be happy to pay you the price for them which has been set upon his manuscript.” Pauline assured him that she would not ac cept anything for her productions. M. Bland did not hear this, so intently was he engaged by this time in reading. After he had finished, with joy and satis faction beaming in his countenance, he look ed at Pauline and congratulated her upon her successful efforts. Then, drawing his purse, he took out fifty francs and gave them to her, in spite of her efforts against receiving them. “I would willingly double the amount,” said he, “ did my means allow it. Permit me, madam, to consider you my regular contribu tor in the place of the dissipated young man whom I shall dismiss. As far as lam able, I will pay you liberally for your contribu tions.” This closed the interview, and Pauline departed. About this time the clerks and printers began to make their appearance. As she was proceeding to her residence, and had just turned the corner of Rue St. Simon, she met a young man, pale and haggard in his looks, but whose countenance at the same time beamed with the fire of genius. After passing him, a little interest as well as curios ity to know who the young man was, prompt ed her to turn her head and take another view of him. She found he had done the same. With mutual haste they ceased to look at each other, and proceeded on their journey with accelerated speed. As Pauline went along, she could hardly contain herself for joy ; but at the same time she felt sad for M. Bland, and also for the young gentleman who had been deprived of his place on account of his dissipated habits. She almost reproached her self for not interceding in his behalf. But then she recollected that that would be doing injustice to the editor and his family. What a pity it was, thought she, that a young man who could supply the place of M. Beranger as a writer, should indulge in habits of dissi pation! If she could see him, and tell him of his error, she was certain he would reform! What a noble young man he must be! And if he only had some kind friend to speak gently to him, and encourage him in his good resolution ! With a multitude of such thoughts as these, she fell into a revery, from which she w r as awakened by passing someone in the street. Her cheek was mantled in blushes for fear that someone had read her thoughts. In her interest for the dissipated young man, she had forgotten the intellectual young man she had just met. The former she had seen, the latter she had not seen. So much ad vantage has the ideal over the real in woman’s mind! Pauline soon reached her room, where we safely leave her for awhile, and turn back with all speed to overtake the intellectual young man who was going towards the office Oa QIfS!E AIE ¥ ® ASSI?IF IS ♦ of La Publiciste. Have we not lost him ? No —there he is just entering the office ! Let us stand unseen and learn who he is, and hear what he has to say. He addresses the editor. “Good morning, Monsieur Bland.” “Good morning, mon ami ,” returned the ed itor kindly, and with a smile, as he handed him a chair. “ l am afraid you could not decipher my manuscript,” continued the y'oung man, who, we can tell the reader, since Pauline will not hear us, is the dissipated young man that had sent in the manuscript that morning. The young man of bad habits, and the intellectual young man, are one and the same. “ I must tell you candidly, though it gives me pain, mon amif replied M. Bland, “that I have dispensed with your services, and em ployed in your stead a young lady of talent who came here this morning very opportune ly with these manuscripts. [Handing the pa pers to his friend.] Only think what would have been the consequences if she had not come almost providentially with her compo sition. This is the last hour I can receive contributions for my next issue.” This was spoken in a spirit of kindness which to our hero was more bitter than a re buke would have been. It is ever thus with the sensitiveness of nature’s nobility. Reader, for the sake of convenience we shall call our young hero Duval, though his true name will not be known until the last scene of the drama. Duval took the manuscripts and commenced to read them, apparently not hearing anything the editor said, though every word sunk like a dagger into his breast. It was his philos ophy to keep all his feeling to himself. Af ter he had hastily run over the papers, he raised his eyes to M. Bland and said : “ I am certain I met the authoress of these manuscripts at the corner of Rue St. Simon as I was coming here. . The very same soul which I saw beaming through that lady's eye as a jewel in its setting, I see flashing in the sentiments contained in these pieces. Nay, she has left the impress of her soul in the very chirograph}*. Such is immortal mind. — It pervades all space, and the mere body can no more contain its ethereal essence than yon astral lamp can incarcerate the spirit-like lu minous particles which radiate in all direc tions when it is lighted up.” “Why, Duval,” saidM.Bland, “yougrow eloquent. Who would have thought that the most talented young man in France, who has never been known to bow at Beauty’s shrine, would now become so enthusiastic over the charms of an unknown fair one ? It is true the young lady is beautiful, but who would have thought that you would be captivated by beauty 1” “You deceive yourself,' 5 answered Duval, “I candidly confess I feel an interest in the unknown, and, if you will have it so, that I am in love. But ” “Ha! ha! M. Duval in love!” “Hear me out, M. Bland. lam in love, but it is in love with your fair correspondent’s mind. If I had never seen her face, this true index of her mind and character, —her writ ings,—would kindle in my breast such a soul passion as has never yet glowed there.” “Now, Duval, if you could only cease drinking and marry this young lady, how hap py -would you both be, and how happy would 1 be, too, to retain you both as contributors to my journal With such twin-giants of in tellect, I could rival any paper in Paris, and soon be enabled to pay for your articles as their merit deserves. I will tell you who this young lady is, and where she resides.— I may rely upon your secrecy'?” Duval nodded assent. “Well,” continued M. Bland, “her name is Pauline de Meulan. Her address is No. 8, Rue de St. Germain.” Duval bade the editor good day and depart ed. As he went, he began to think more se- riously about himself than he was accustom ed to do. He had been in the habit of regard ing dissipation in an improper light. The hab its of body which morality generally con demned he was wont to consider of little im portance. “If I keep my head and heart right,” he would say, “it is all-sufficient.— What matters it about the casket, if the gems are of pure water ?” Duval should have rememberetd that it is impossible to keep the mind and heart right without proper habits of body. If the casket be not kept properly burnished, the jewels may become tarnished. lie now thought of this, and resolved, for Pauline’s sake, to re form. and to make her his own. What were the thoughts of M. Bland after Duval’s departure'? Always an admirer of this young gentleman’s genius, he had been more than ever dazzled by the soul-flashes which irradiated with so much splendor the conversation which had just terminated. He had become enamoured of both the gentleman and lady who had left his office a little before, and he thought it would be promoting a truly laudable purpose to throw these young peo ple into each other’s society, and bring about their union. He felt certain that Duval, for Pauline’s sake, would forsake his cups. Oth erwise he feared that the most brilliant mind in France would hide its light in the gloom of the drunkard’s grave. Time passed on, and Pauline continued to write for La Publiciste. Her articles were universally read* and admired. She wrote over a fictitious signature, and thus remained incognita for some time. Her contributions were attributed to some of the ablest, mascu line pens in Paris, and no one dreamed that such articles as “ La Communismecn Franee" 1 came from the pen of a maiden of sixteen. M. Bland had a wealthy and fashionable friend by the name of Suard. M. Suard was in the habit of giving literary soirees , at which he assembled much of the wit and talent of Paris. He was the confidential friend and adviser of the Editor of La Publi cistc, to whom he had rendered considerable assistance. He was therefore aware of the secret of Pauline’s contributions, and had de termined, as soon as she had fully established her reputation, to invite her to appear at his soirees , and be known as one of the best wri ters in the city. M. Bland had also informed him of the flame which Duval was cherishing for her. and had asked him to second his ef forts to bring about the marriage of the two. Behold Duval and Pauline at one of M. Suard’s soirees ! Pauline had thrown off’ her incognita , and therefore excited much interest and received much attention —a most propitious circum stance for the kindling of a more ardent flame in the bosom of Duval, who had been for mally introduced. He had been recognized by her as the young gentleman whom she met on her return from her first visit to M. Bland, but she did not dream it was he whom she had supplanted as contributor to La Pub liciste. She had some soul-stirring conversa tion with him during the evening. At last the company adjourned. Duval was unfortunate enough, to see some other gentleman conduct Pauline home. He, from this hour forward, spent his time in restless uneasiness, such as the reader may imagine, if he has ever been in love. Pauline went home full of admiration for Duval. Perhaps there was a little Cupid away off in a remote corner of her heart, but she told him to be still and he obeyed her. Soon after her attendance at the first soiree , a most unfortunate circumstance occurred to Pauline. She was taken sick of a fever, and was confined to her bed several months. When first attacked, the most embarrassing difficulties smote her bosom. Not fully aware of her own mental powers, and of the repu tation she had acquired as a writer, she was fearful that M. Bland would employ another contributor during her illness, who would su persede her as a writer, and thus she would be thrown out of employment. But she was not long troubled with this fear, for one day she received a small package containing an article written in her own style, with a note, asking her to receive the favor from an “Un known Friend.” The note was written in a gentleman’s hand, and it promised to supply her with contributions until her recovery. She determined to accept the proposition, and, writing a line as she lay in bed, toM. Bland, explaining the circumstances, she sent him the first MS. from her “Unknown Friend.” This the editor very readily accepted, espe cially as he knew who composed the article,, and published it over Pauline’s signature.— Thus was printed, contribution aftei contri bution, until our heroine recovered, and was able to resume her pen. Need we say that it was Duval who composed the pieces for Pauline, with M. Bland’s and M. Suard's knowledge ? After the recovery of our fair authoress’ she and Duval again met at one of M. Suard's soirees, and after the party was over, Duval accompanied her home. On the way, he avowed his passion for her, and begged her to accept his hand and heart. Her answer was, that she admired and respected him, and could love him, but that her heart was pre possessed for another. Avery common an swer this, and rarely a sincere one. Its sin cerity is undoubted in the present instance, however, for Pauline had indeed fallen des perately in love with the “Unknown Friend,” who had supplied her place during her ill ness, as writer for La Publiciste. She loved Duval but did not know it. Duval did not know it either; and Duval was in agonies. The next time he saw M. Bland, he was asked how he had succeeded with Pauline. “She loves another,” was his simple reply, as he left the kind editor. Duval’s passion was a heart-seated flame, and therefore did not give vent to itself in wordy complaints. M. Bland, who had seen something of hu man nature, half suspected what was the matter. He resolved to set things right, and for this purpose, at an early opportunity, called upon Pauline. He acted in such a way, and conversed in such a manner as to induce her to make him her confidant. They conversed about various things. She ad mired Duval’s talents, and lauded them with out stint. She enquired about the dissipated young man, whom she had surperseded, and expressed a good deal of interest in his fate. The editor assured her he was likely to do well. The next topic that came up was her “Unknown friend,” about whom she spoke in ecstacies. Siie gave M. Bland to under stand, in a round-a-bout way, and in a very delicate manner, that she was in love with her “Unknown Friend.” “Just as I expected,” thought the Editor, as he was going off. “ I must seek Duval quickly, and let him know this, or I fear dis appointment will send him to his cups again.” Pauline tried to get M. Bland to tell her, if he knew, who her “Unknown Friend” was. This he refused to do, but told her that she would be invited to tea at M. Suard’s next evening, where the mystery would be solved. He immediately sought Duval, and gave him joy, by letting him know that Pauline loved him. The next morning, Duval and Pauline both received notes to the following effect: “M. Suard expects you to tea this eve ning.” Evening came, and Pauline was ushered into M. Suard’s parlor, where sat M. Bland. “And you really would like to see your “Unknown Friend'?” said M. Bland. “It would afford me much pleasure to do so,” answered Pauline blushingly, for she now began to suspect that the “ Unknown” would make his appearance.