The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-01

ABSURD! You know Adrian is devoted tt
me, heart and soul"
Well, then, what were you thinking
"Yoa." E.r '..
Me-about me?" And you dare to look
serious, almost sad, when you are thinking ol
me? This Is worse than anything, Pray
what thoughts could inspire you with thai
could make you look sad and serious ?"
Thoughts inspired by last nights ball
"Why. they should be merry thoughts
dance every dance, and were you not surround.
ed by al the young men in the room?"
Eyes, greeted was, and overwhelmed with
wine and refreshments handed to me on all
sides, and that has made me melancholy, for
am afraid Of losing tho treasure for which
have toiled these many years."
"Why9 Do you think these young gentle
of the lock of your strong box 2"
"Cecile, Cecile, you are laughing at your
father-the treasure mean is yourself"
"Have these men any intention Of carrying
me of2 What pity they shoala be such
dangerous characters, for they waltz 90 well.
Don't pretend to misunderstood me, Cecile,
you know exactly what I mean.-You know
that you were admired BY everybody, and you
"Eo, I don't"
ut Is too bad TO think that after life spent
in making you what you are-beautiful, amin.
bic, good, accomplished because you are
eighteen, ! am to give you up-yes, give you
up to domestic invader called son-in-laW, q
man who win call you off from me, . man
who WIN ussu%e to love you, and what is
wSTss, IsH who maY probably learn
But all this is imaginary. I'm ashamed Of
mantle girl"
Imaginary, is it, What do you think has
happened this very morninga"
"HAs there been an invader here already 2"
Yes. an invader that has actually proposed
rich, who is well born, an invader, in fact,
against whom there is not single objection to
be made, unfortunately"
"Yes, one that you have never thought Of
but which Is the most powerful of ALL don't
like him, and I won't have him."
Monsieur Coulaincourt rose, and clasping
his daughter to his heart, heaved deep Sigh
81 thought you would want to get married
all young girls are said to want to get mar
ried."
"But they have not such fathers as have
NOW come to breakfast and make yourself
perfectly easy on the score of husbands, for
shall never, as long as live, leave you
Now, when Mile. Cecile spoke in this way
giving her father to understand that she had
no affection in the world beyond the one che
had for him, and that she never intended to
marry. NJ. Coulaincourt had made an idol of
his daughter-after his wife's death he had
consecrated his life to this child, and gradually
he had grown to look on all who sought to
share her affection with jealousy, such almost
Ioo irphf houo fo1f Dat Ill ia
M. Coulaincourt knew that every girl in France
is expected to be married between the ages of
eighteen and twenty. An old maid is q rara
dris in France, and all his wife's and his own
relations were mportunate for him to find q
match for his daughter. She was beautiful,
young and charming and possessed hand.
some dowry. Pretenders were not wanting.
NJ. Coulaincourt felt as if doom threatened
him. He was afraid to talk to Cecile on the
subject. so the positive declaration he had
drawn from his daughter that morning caused
him more happiness than he had known for
many years.
But after all it was an Eve-like, womanish
answer she had given him-she did love some
one better than her father, and the happiness
of her life depended on her marriage.
Many years before, Cecile, being then only
six years old, as she was sitting in her fathers
carriage, driving along the high road in Q coun-
try place, where her father had hired resi-.
dence for the summer, had spfed boy, three
or four years older than herself, sitting on the
wayside crying.
One command from Cecile had stopped the
carriage, and the next minute she was by the
side of the child, inQuiring into his griefs, and
forcing into his hands the cakes and cherries
with which her little basket was laden.
Monsieur Coulincourt inquired, however,
more particularly into the boy 3 circumstances
and condition, and finding him really an object
of pity and believing his story, had taken TWEEN.
ty francs out of his pocket TO give him. But
Cecile stopped him indignantly.
MOT At all" she said, "he is going home
| with u.s.
And home he had accordingly been taken.
1t was found that he had the beginning Of q
good education, that he spoke correctly, and
was welfbehayed boy, confirming his own
story that he was the orphan of gentleman
who had passed his life in writing, the boy
could not say what, and who hsd died sudden.
~, pen In hand, leaving no indication Of who
money enough to bury him.
| The orphan boy had been turned adrift, and
beWidered and helpless, had wandered on nm.
til forlorn and wearied, he had sat down by
the wayside and wept. =
Coulaincourt had Adrian, as he was called
educated, and now At the time Coulaincour1
1 was in such trouble about his dauphter. Adriar
Il
/ sibility of his business-one of the most i'm
portant in the commercial city of Havre.
"Cecile has been blessing to me, Coulain
court would say, from the moment her An n,
laid her in my arms. I owe the prosperit,
Of my house TO her, for she gave me Adrian.
Adrian felt the deepest gratitude to both ths
merchant and the daughter. His vas \ fin,
generous nature that does not shrink frou
Obligation, but the sentiment he felt for fathe
and daughter, as he grew older, naturally ID
sumed different aspect To both he WIs de
voted, but as he saw her expand into lowell
ness. both Of mind and person, he came to Low
Cecile, passionately, deeply. But he conceale,
his passion q he would have hidden crime
for he felt it would have been the basest inxra
titude. which il crime, to seek an allisnc
which was 60 infinitely beneath what Cecil
had every right to expect.
But Cecle had not been - blind a her fatAe