True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-01


cool as ice, obdurate as granite, to any ad-
vance from that quarter. Lucille had
made fool of him once, long ago, when
he was poor and inexperienced, but now he
was rich-comparatively so, at least, (two
thousand crowns had been accumulated by
Madame Truquet-not to speak of the bu-
siness and stock in trade and, moreover,
knew the world, lucille Dupre, veuve, if
she entertained any thought, as his deceas-
ed relatives words seemed to intimate, of
hooking him for second husband, was mis-
erably mistaken; upon that point, she might
depend he was rock-adamant.
Error, Monsieur Paul Verdot A young
and pretty widow, and especiallya French
widow, aware of how and where, and when,
she once drilled hole in your susceptible
heart, will, if it be worth her while, REQ
pen the wound in way that all the defen-
sive armor in tho world can avail nothing
against. 1t so fell out. Paul Verdot was
standing at his shop-door one afternoon,
smoking screnely, spite of the hurly-burly
of fierce politics raging in all directions, of
which he kept himself studiously aloof,
when all in moment pair Of eyes that
had not their equals in all France flashed
upon him, and a voice which he had never
ceased to hear in his dreams, exclaimed in
softest, sweetest tones, Bon jour, cit6yen
Verdot! All. Isee you do not remember
old acquaintance as we'll as do. Pm in
want of a nice light pair of sabots, and I
thought might as we'll give you the pre-
ference
Tucillev exclaimed Paul, letting fall
his pipe and staggering back into his shop
as if struck by blow. "a thousand par
dons that is, I mean Madame Lucille
Dupre, veuve,' he added, mechanically re-
peating sentence that had been seldom
out of his head since Madame Truquet'S
death, some five months previously.
'Helas! yes, monsieur was the reply
'and for nearly twelve month now! A
light vanished pair Lucille added
bright smile chasing away the demure ex.
preston into which she had momentarily
constrained her features, as she seated her.
self, and extended one of the prettest feet
in Amiens for admeasurement. Not Of
that Wagoner's size, my dear Paup-so fal
had lucille Dupre, veuve, got already
mot that Wagoner's size! Surely my foot
is not such q monstrous one|
/ It's my firm belief that citoyen Verdot
did not, at that precise moment, know
whether he stood upon his head or his
heels, or the foot to which he had applied
the measuring stick was six Or tixty inches
long. Presently, however, he became more
composed, the sabots were fitted, and the
result of the meeting was, that half an hour
had barely passed before Paul had oncemore
offered his hand to the Lucille who, in
days gone by, had so scornfully rejected it
This occurred in the sitting-room, at the
rear of the shop, where the young widow
had allowed Paul to induce her to take a
glass of wine and some cake.
ITS very kind and generous of you,
replied Lucille-a real emotion filling her
eyes with tears as she spoke; but you were
always kind and generous; and 1 hope ad-
versity has somewhat improved me. My
past welded life was not happy one,
Paul; but with you,' she added, in a gay
er tone, Il think I may venture to hope
for
We will skip, with the readers leave,
the next two or three minutes, as non-es-
scntial to the story-resuming the conver-
sation when Lucille is readjusting her cap,
which had been in some way slightly dis
ordered, and putting on her gloves prepar-
atory to Paul escorting her home. you
will be charmed, Paul. the young widow
is saying, as she gives final finger twist
to one of her dark curls, and turns smil-
ingly away from the glass; you will be
charmed with my beautiful and gentle Lu-
cille.' H.... ..
'Yow own daughtcr?' exclaimed Paul,
greatly surprised -
Lucille seemed to hesitate, and her face
flushed vividly-as Paul afterwards remem-
bcred; but she replied, 'Yes--I thought
you might have been aware of that?'
Not I, ; replied Paul. But what then
I shall love all that belongs to you, dear
Lucille; we shall be happy, us three, l
make no doubt, as people in a fairy tale
Precisely one week from that day, Paul