The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-05 00:00:00

A STORY OF PARISIAN LIFE.

bY FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEY

Translated from the French.

CHAPTER XlV.—(Continued).
M.Paulet conducted the negociator to the door, not a
'word further being said, and returned thoughtfully
to his desk when a slight noise caused him to raise
his head. His daughter Marguerite had just half
Opened a door which communicated with the draw-
ing-room, and was standing on the threshold of the
office.
"May I come in ? " asked she smiling.
"Yes. lam quite alone."
"Only since a few seconds. I thought that
person would never go away."
"You knew I was engaged with some one ? "
"I was coming in to see you, when I heard two
voices, so I waited."
"I trust, at any rate, you did not listen at the
door ? "
"Not exactly; but I have quick ears, and you
spoke loudly."
" And did you understand what we were speaking
"Not altogether. I just caught the sound:of one
name."
"What
"The name of M. Paul Freneuse, and I was sur-
prised. What could that gentleman have to say
about him?"
"You are curious!"
"ho lam not; not too curious. It cannot:be a
secret."

"You are wrong. I was conversing on3business
Which does not at all concern you."
"Have you then business with M. Freneuse?
"Marguerite, you tire me. Tell me what you
have to say, and leave me."
"I want to know, father, whether the soclusinn to
which I have been subjected during the last four
days is to continue ?"
. "What do you mean by seclusion ? Have I
locked you in your chamber? Are you not free to
do as you have always done ? "
"Oh, I know I am not under arrest like a sub-
lieutenant who has committed a breach of discipline.
I can move from one end of the rooms to the other.
There is nothing to prevent my going to the
'wind< Nv and looking down the Rue Ferne du
Mathurnis, where no one ever passes. And if this
does not amuse me I can go out with my companion
Miss Betsy, who will take me for a walk in the
Champs Elyse, or else to eat English cakes in the
Rue de
"What more do you want ?" said M. Paulet,
Shrugging his shoulders. "Do you imagine I can
give dinner-parties, or take you to the theatre, when
WO are all in mourning, and such recent mourning?
My brother just dead, as you know."
"He died two hundred leagues away from here,
and I never saw him. You would not insist on my
aPpearing miserable, for I am incapable of pretend-
ing to a feeling I do not possess."
"I understand that ; nor do I feel obliged to
grieve for this unfortunate Francis, who for years
has taken no notice of me, aa.. has done all he could
to disinherit me. But there are social laws which
I must not disobey, or every one would be ready to
cast reproaches at me."
"Oh, Ido not ask you to go into the world. I
myself have conformed to custom. You see I am
ITS mourning from head to foot; and please to
observe also that my dress is only wool. But there
are ways of getting some amusement. I do not
think we are interdicted from visiting our friends,
for instance."
"10, certainly not; but I was not aware that
any of my friends would amuse you."
" You certainly have many who could not amuse
me at all. But it seems to me you promised M.
Paul Freneuse the other evening at the theatre to
pay a visit to his studio."
" °bp ho! is it there you wish to go, little
trickster? Had you not better have told me out-
right ?''
"Then, you don't see any objecti, n to it?"
Objection? no, not precisely. This yoang man
0 very Well ; he has not the defects artists usually
have, or else I would not receive him. Since I
said
I Would go to see him, we will go one of these
days.,,
" Why not at once?"
"Because I am expecting every moment tho
arrival of the notary who has my brother's will."
"What is this notary coming to Paris? I thought
M. Bo zer had disinherited you.
"He did intend to do so, but something has
ciceurred—it would take too much time to explain;
and, besides, thou understandest nothing of business;
be oontent to know that everything is going on
favourably. I shall leave thee a pretty fortune, and
thou wilt not, aa I feared, 10-e that of thine unelP.
Thou
liclacr than 'I
had expected, my little
Marguerite," concluded M. Pselet, rubbing his
balsas,
"All the better. I can then marry just as I
choose," cried the young girl. "I shall have money
enough for two."
Ah! I understand. That means, does it not,
that you are entertaining the idea of marrying Paul
Freneuse ?
Marguerite blushed slightly, but was not dis-
concerted.
"Well, and if it shoiild be so ? " said she.
"You have not forbidden me to think of M.
Preneuse.'
"Assuredly not," replied M. Paulet. "You may
add that in receiving this young man as I have, I
gave you to understax that I should not be
unwilling to give him - hand—if he asked
for it."
"Re will ask for it, fath
"flow came youato be so well acquainted with his
intentions? Ah, I see. I left you the other evening
te'te a tet: at the theatre, and he took advantage of my
absence to declare himself. It would have been
nicer if he had addressed me first—as is customary
in such cases. But I know artists consider they
are entitled to act differently to the rest of the
world."
"But' I a sure you, father, that M. Freneuse has
not made the slightest declaration."
"How, then, does it happen that you know his
intentions so well ? "
"I should not be a woman if I had not guessed
them:,
" And did you give him any encouragement to
Proceed? "
Encouragement ; no ; that would have been
going too far; but I did not discourage him."
"Dost thou love him then ?"
'He pleases me very much," murmured Mar-
guerite, dropping her eyes.
" That is no answer," sal M. Paulet. "YOU
girls are astonishing; when ,ne speaks to you of
marriage
and you feel entitled to , ut on an air of denial,
one cannot get a word of sense out of you. Tell
me plainly. Dost thou love Freneuse or not ? '
"Would you have the real truth ?" inquire 1
Marguerite, after a slight hesitation.
" Good heavens! ti whom should you tell it—if
not to your father ?"
"Well then; I don't know whether I love him or
not"
" This is something novel with a vengeance! You
are joking with roe. It is impossible you should
not know your own sentiments."
sk "it is strange but true nevert -less, father. You
me if I love. You must first explain the means
mg of the word 'love ! "
_ "You do not expect me to be able to lecture on
Such matters. Thealuestion is, would you willingly
marry 11. Paul Freneuse ?"
'Yes, very willingly, and of all the gentlemen
Whom you have introduced, he is the only one I
Would accept as a husband."
"Well, that is plain," cried M. Paulet, laugh-
" You need not have used so much ceremony
in showing me your mind. You have chosen a
man without consulting me; but I do not blame
You. I have studied him since I have known him :
moreover, I have made inquiry about hina, and
11°W, knowing him well, I believe he is suited for
_ Ile has no fortune—his father left him penni-
'.ea. but he earns plenty of money, and has the
good__ ma to
sense not to spend all he earns. For a young
I_ll, to economise is a very good trait—it is a
Fparantee of wisdom; and when a man so conducts
himself it shows he is fit to enter into matrimony.
feel sure that he will make you happy."
~," It is not money which brings happiness," said
'llarguerite, softly.
__",?ret always, but it greatly contributes to it,"
.V_Viascl. her father, who was a practical man 6• and
;.4pr.ttihat matter the thing is decided. With thy
iretturrie and Paul's income from the sale of his
aPPe esnee°lloewill be quite rich enough. His
ought to .please you for he is a fine
Young man, and
-2
for you to disc over be
_f clever and gentlemanly. It Is
"What should I rk his temper suits you.'
%ban he does of mine ii:3N° of his temper? Not more
"Nevertheless, you have often met each other."
"ITSSSociety 5;y—y 5; b
Wesfects there." e do not exhibit our
"Certainly not. Nevertheless that is how mars
are contracted. Unlessd:aocut.ictabke one
Lather on trial—which is not
lust judge by appearances. I myself
naaraxileed-37" your
lether in that way, and had no reason to regret it.
had not seen her ten times before our Union;
diereas you--"
" I—l am more exacting; I must know ray hue-
I well and enter into his life "
" la that easy ?
There are simple means."
sl ow them to me
71 ,and YOU Will afford me plea-
" Have you forgotten that M. Freneuse` offered
Paint my portrait ?"
No; but I hardly see--"
a 4.
Portrait cannot be completed in one day. It
mires several Sittings?
" Well ? "
"Well, if I went to sit to M. Fresseuse I 'should
What passes in his studio."
suppose that nothing but what ca proper
*qYa there. If I thought aherwise I shoul,.; st at

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