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

ABSURD! You know Adrian is devoted to
me, heart and SOUL"
about2"
"Yoa."
Me-about me?" And you dare to look
serious, almost sad, when You are thinking of
me? This Is worse than anything, Pray.
what thoughts could inspire you with that
could make you look SD and serious?'
Thoughts inspired by last nights ball
"Why. they should be merry thoughts
dance every dance, and were you not surround
ed by all the young men in the ro0m?"
Eyes, greeted was, and overwhelmed with
wine and refreshments handed to me on all
sides, and that has made me melancholy, for I
am afraid of losing the treasure for which I
have toiled these many years."
"Waya Do You think these young gentle
men are robbers in disguise, or amt you sure
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 Off What pity they shoala be such
dangerous characters, for they waltz so well.
Don't pretend to misunderstood me, Ceclle,
You know exactly what ! mean.-You know
that You were admired by everybody, and you
know what is likely to follow this admiration
Of parcel of young men,"
"No, don't"
at is too bad to think that after life spent
in making You what You are-beautiful, amin.
BILE, good. accomplished because you are
eighteen, am to give You up-yes, give you
up to domestic invader called q son-in-law, q
man who win call You off from me, man
who will assume to love you, and what is
yourself-it is dreadful.
+" But all this is imaginary. I'm ashamed Of
mantle girl"
Imaginary, is it? What do you think has
happened this very morning%
Has there been an invader here already 2"
Eyes. an invader that has actually proposed
for your hand, Col. Santero, an invader who is
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 won't have him."
Monsieur Coulaincourt rose, and clasping
his daughter to his heart, heaved deep Sigh
of relief.
81 thought you would want to get married
all young girls are said to want to get mar
RED"
"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
she was telling the truth, for certainly she was
giving her father to understand that she had
no affection in the world beyond the one she
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
share her affection with jealousy, such almost
as lover might have felt. But with all this,
NJ. 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 wifes and his own
relations were importunate for him to find q
match for bis 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 coun-
try place, where her father had hired resi-.
dence for the summer, had spfei 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.
Not 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 well-behaved 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 had died sudden.
~, pen IN hand, leaving no indication of who
ne WAS beyond his own name, and bat Just
money enough to bury him.
The orphan boy had been turned adrift, and
| bewildered and helpless had wandered on nm
I'll foriorn and wearied, he had sat down by
| the wayside and wept.
Coulaincourt had Adrian, as he was called.
educated, ana now at the time Coulaincourt
was in such trouble about his daughter. Adrian
had taken OH his patrons hands all the respon-
| sibility OF his business-one of the most inn
portant in the commercial city of Havre.
"Cecile has been blessing to me, Coulain.
court would say, from the moment her ami
| laid her in my arms. owe the prosperity
Adrian felt the deepest gratitude to both the
merchant and the daughter. His vss fine
generous nature that does not shrink from
obligation, but the sentiment he felt for fathel
and daughter, as he grew older, naturally AZ
sumed different aspect To both he was de.
voted, but as he saw her expand into lowell.
ness, both of mind and person, he came to love
Cecile, passionately, deeply. But be concealed
his passion a. he would have hidden crime
for he felt it would have been the basest ingra
titude. which is crime, TO seek an alliance
which was 90 infinitely beneath what Cecils
had every right to expect.
But Cecle had not been q blind a her stAe,