A ROMANCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1105, 10 February 1869, Page 3

A ROMANCE.

An interesting little romance is related in the Melbourne papers, in which a colonial young gentleman has played one of the leading parts. Some six or seven years ago, the gentleman referred to left Melbourne to complete his education on the continent of Europe. During a collegiate vacation, while enjoying himself at a ball at Ostend, he met and danced with a young French lady of considerable personal attractions ; and by ten days, when he resumed his studies, the acquaintanceship so casually made had ripened into a friendship, and ultimately became au ardent attachment. The young gentleman was prevented from communicating with his mistress by the rules of the college, and she, ignorant of the fact, wrote on many occasions to him ; but, of course, her letters were intercepted, and the person for whom they were intended never saw or heard of them. Under these circumstances both parties lost sight of each other, and were deprived of hearing of each other again, or at all events of meeting any more. About three years ago the gentleman returned to Victoria, when his father handed him a goodly bundle of billet deux, which had come to grief at the college. The recipient heard nothing more of his lady love till within the last few days when he learned that she had ascertained of his return to Australia, and resolved to follow him. She is now a passenger by the ship Somersetshire, which is expected daily in Hobson's Bay. The lady, it appears, is of a very good and wealthy family, her mother having been waiting maid to the late Queen of Belgium, and her father being the possessor of medals from most of the crowned heads of Europe — Queen Victoria included — for bravery displayed in lending assistance to shipwrecked persons, while Comptroller of Customs on the Belgian coast. — ' Melbourne Paper.'