Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1876 — The Denouement of a Dumb Courtship. [ARTICLE]

The Denouement of a Dumb Courtship.

At the time that Francis I. of France was taken prisoner at the battle of Pavia, one of his officers, the valorous Chevalier Beauregard, smitten by the charms of an Italian lady of noble family named Aurelia, declared to her his passion. Aurelia, though flattered by the declaration of the gallant soldier, refused his suit on the ground of the levity of the French character and the natural indiscretion of that people. But Beauregard was not to be put off s»r easily. The depth and fervor of his love led him to propose to the lady to put his constancy to any proof she might think proper. Aurelia at length accepted the terms of the proposition and agreed to marry him if for the space of six months he would remain utterly and entirely dumb. The'chevalier promised, and then, with a silent bow, withdrew from the lady’s presence, and from that moment he opened not his lips with the sound of human speech. He returned to Paris, where his friends and relatives were STftftlten with sorrow at the terrible infirmity which had fallen upon him—for his had been a voice musical and entertaining. Beauregard expressed all his wants by dumb signs, ana seldom smiled. The best physicians were sent for, but he refased to see them. The captive King was at length set free and restored to his people; but his joy on his return to his capital was diminished by the sad misfortune which had befallen the chevalier, who had been the monarch’s chief favorite. Francis sent his best doctors to toe stricken soldier, who, out of respect for his royal master, took the medicines prescribed, but with no effect. The King even went so far as to employ the charlatans and necromancers, who then, as now, professed to hold specifics for all sorts of diseases. The news spread abroad and great was the sorrow. The court and toe people had become hopeless of his cure, when a fair Italian maiden, professing to be a fortune-teller, appeared before toe King and informed him that she would undertake to restore the chevalier to his speech. The Kingwould not cast away an opportunity. He summoned Beauregard to his presence, and told him that a physician had come who promised to cure him; but toe chevalier bowed low in silent discredit. The King nodded, to toe fair stranger, and asked her wnat she would do. “ Beauregard, my tried and cherished,” she said, turning to the chevalier, “ this must endure no longer. Speak to me!" The chevalier instantly recognized his beloved Aurelia, who had truly loved him, and whose heart had been deeply touched by the proof of his constancy and devotion, and he pronounced her name in rapturous tones as bp flew to take her outstretched hand. Francis was sensibly affected by toe romantic event, and he presented his restored favorite with a rich estate at his marriage.