| Citation |
SCGCJ.771.034
25 Jun 1771:21 (290)
The following story is taken from Madam D'Auney's letters,
the authority of which was so much regarded by Mr. Addison,
that he adopted from them the story of Madam D'Maintenon's
fortune having been foretold her by a bricklayer; and odd as
it is, it is believed universally to have its foundation in
truth.
A lawyer's clerk was in love with an extream pretty girl,
courted her, and agreed to marry her. The wedding
entertainment was provided, and amongst others the clerk's
master was invited. In the heat of dancing, a sigh, caused
by indigestion, or windy food, escaped the bride the
contrary way, and loud enough to be heard by the whole
company, who burst into a laughter: She blushed, and the
bridegroom was so confounded and enraged, that he instantly
broke off the match, to which no remonstrances or treaties
could reconcile him. He imagined his acquaintance would
jeer him forever upon this accident, and he left the house
in a pet. Great was now the disorder of the guests; the
clerk's master, who was one of them, and though a man in
years, had eyed the girl with great attention, and was
smitten with her beauty, not only condemned his clerk's
excessive delicacy, but proposed to repair the injury he had
done the girl, and offered her marriage on the spot. Piqued
at her lover's desertion, and pressed by her friends, who
foresaw the advantages of such a match, she consented, and
they were married immediately. After marriage, she behaved
to him with so much modesty and discretion, that dying soon
after, he left her mistress of a very opulent fortune.
Being now a widow, handsome, young and rich, she had many
offers of marriage, but accepted only of the Marshal de
L'Hopital's, Governor of Paris; who also dying soon after,
left her once more a widow, though with greater additions of
honors than fortune. Her person and character were now so
amiable, that Casmir, king of Poland, residing in France
after his abdication of the throne, fell in love with her,
and married her. So great a fortune, never took its rise
from a FART.
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