The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-04-14
B1DDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING,
THE STRATEGIC fRENcHMAN.

Eve years old, was seated one April morning
near noon. outside the Cafe do Paris. smok'
ing his after-breakfast cigar and rejecting
sadly and drcamily upon thevagabond sort o.
life ne was compelled to lead. Here and
there. in his glossy black beard and hair. q
line Of silver grey WAS to be seen, and rheu'
matte twinges began to trouble him from
tins to time In fact. he was becoming
painfully aware that he was fast slipping be.
yond the prime Of lie; hastened on, too, by
the career which his position, that Of q
wealthy Partisan bachelor, necessarily com.
PEELED him to continue.
81 must get married." no exclaimed men,
tally, as his thoughts constantly reverted to
the different manageable ladies of his ac-
quaintance.
An April sun exercisesas curious an inHu.
ence on the human brain Us the first kisses OF
spring upon the circulation of sap in the tree
trunks and flower stems; but rs chilling
frosts accompanied the warm sunshine, so
did raw wind, despite the suns warm rays,
chill NJ. Nerac to his bones, and caused him
to sncezc loudly.
"God bless you!" swcctly murmurcd la.
dy who was passing rapidly by.
Glancing at the uttcrer Of this exclamation,
he noticed that she was tastefully and ole
gantly attired. As she passed along he nd.
mired her general appearance. and followed
her in the direction Of the Madelaine.
"Thcrc is form that would willingly
marry" thought NJ. Nerac; shut does II
belong to young girl or widow? or has
some brute of a husbanda partial right to it?
Parbleu! will follow her to the Place dc
Concorde if necessary to ascertain. But,
bah have not seen her face, and she may
be rs ugly as a hag."
Suddenly turning to speak to beautiful
little Italian greyhound, which was bounding
frantically about her, she disclosed q counte.
nance full of charms.
.Shc is adorable" said NJ. Nerac; al will
follow to the Barriere de l'Etoila, even."
Turning again. she 80 excited his admra.
ton that he added
"Ycs, even to the bridge of Neuilly,"
which. to an inhabitant Of the Boulevard de
Grand, was equivalent to saying 10 the end
of the world"
Fortunately for NJ. Nerac, the lady did not
lead him so far in his pursuit. Turning into
the Rue de Ia Vile fEveque, she called ia
her greyhound, us she entered spacious
mansion in that street.
"Folette! here Folette ~
Louis, with smile on his lips. and five
frank piece in his hand, approached a CON-
missionaire. who was standing little farther
on, and asked him
"Do you know the lady that resides in
that house?"
~ do" was the reply.
"Her name?"
"Madam Duhalnel."
"Is she marred?" he again nsked.
"She is widow" the commissionaire re.
piled.
docs shc reside alone?" ho again ques-
toned.
"Shc resides with an old lady-her aunt,
think"
"Does she walk out oitcn?" continued NJ,
Nerac.
"Every day." he replied, "when tho wea'
ther is fine. and always accompanied by her
little dog Folctte. to which she is most pas.
sionately attached"
Louis Nerac went at once to tho house,
and, ringing the bell, gave his card to the
concierge, who opened to him the entrance Of
this garden Of Hesperides, and asked II he
c,uld see Madame Duhamel. llewas shown
into an elegantly furnished saloon, decorated
with several splendid paintings, conspicuous
among them u portrait, whose frame wal
drapcd with crape, the counterfeit presenti'
mcnt of the dctunct NJ. Duhamel. Madam
Duhamel politely asked him to be seated, and
then waited for him to explain tho object o
his visit.
"Madam," said NJ. Ncras, alter u long 81
lcnce. "you do not seem to recosnizc moi?
"No, SIR" she quietly replied.
"Not at all ?" ...... ..-.
"Not in the least" H
"werc you not promonading tho boulvard
short time since?" ..... .-.
eyes, sir. was" ......
"And yet you do not recognize me2"
al do not"
"Do you not remember saying God bless
your"
"Perhaps, did," she replied smilingly
"but have no recollection Of It..
"well. madam, you did utter that expires
sion, and Won made that pious and charits
bic wish in my behalf"
Madame Duhamsl, gazing at her visitor in
astonishment. exclaimed
Admitting. monsieur, that did, what
does il prove?" af
"what does Il prove!" echoed NJ. Nerac.
Certainly" replied the widow. "You
were undoubtedly suffering from q severe
cold; passed by you; you sncczed; made
rsa of the eo,nmon.nlace rol;ta e;sc,,Iat;on