The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-04-14

Il II
Indeed, still hope" stammered NJ. Ne
rae. ......,ll... e. 49,. ...r... !.
Madame Duhamel Immediately rose and
said .l
"You must excuse me, sir, from listening
to you any longer" ~,
"But," pleaded Louis. twill you not per.
nit me to call from time to time to SEQ you,
and inquire after your health7"
my health, fortunately, good, and I ro-
ceive only my friends"
"Let ,ns." exclaimed N. Nerac, gallantly,
"bccome one of them. To achieve such hap
piness would brave n thousand dangers"
Madame Duhamel made no reply, but,
ringing the bell for her servant, said to her,
as she entered the room- -a
"Mariotte, show this person to the door"
During the next three weeks, Louis called
in the Rue dc Ia Vile l'Eveqno, dozen times
at least, leaving his card each time The
day he left his twelfth card he muttered an
imprccation through his heavy black mus
tacbe as he turned from the door.
81 begin" said he, "to be desperately en-
amored of this pretty widow. who still refus.
es to receive me; and marry her | will, or
avensc myself upon her only love, that whelp,
Folette."
He had no sooner uttered this threat than,
rubbing his hands with satisfaction, he cx
claimed ....r
"I have it. Victory shall bo mine, and
not hair of Toilette will | have to injure."
Stepping into store near by, he obtained
large lump Of sugar, which he attached to
long cord. and hastencd to the garden OF
the Tulleries, where the young widow was
accustomed to walking every afternoon.
Seating himself behind one of tho large or
auge trees on the Terassc des Feuillans. he
awaited her arrival. She, accompanied by
her insepcrnble Foletto, soon arrived, and sat
down on her accustomed bench. Louis, by
strategic usc of his sugar decoy, drew Folette
away from his Mistress to gateway but n
short distance Of, seized her, jumped into u
carriage and hastened to his lodgings, the
noise Of the wheels rattling ON the pavement
OF the Rue Castiglione drowning the piteous
cries and means OF the cherished Folette he
had so cruelty entrapped.
Folette's disappearance was great afilic-
ton to the widow. She advertised hor loss
in all the journals of the day. and even had
handbills. Offering muni6cent reward, post
ed on all the walls and fences in the neigh
borhood. Two weeks elapsed, and Madame
Duhamel was almost inconsolable for her
loss. until, one day. Nj. Nerac called upon
her leading Folette by cord.
Toilette here Is Folette," exclaimed the
servant who answered NJ. Nerac's ring, and
then ran to acquaint the widow with tho
greyhound's safe return. .......
Madame Duhamcl's JOY was mingled with
surprise on seeing NJ. Nerac. Embracing
her dog, she inquired Of her adorer where he
had found her pet.
"Somc two hundred leagues from here, !"
ho replied.
"Two hundred leagues !" said tho widow,
astonished. ........ ....
"Yes. Poictiers is two hundred leagues
from Paris. Learning that your greyhound
had been stolen by adiligcnce conductor, and
conveyed thither, I Immediately, on receipt
Of tho information, posted down there, and
recovered your cherished Folctto. Happy
Folette!" he murmurcd, "to possess such q
mistress I" .H..
"You must have incurred considerable ex.
pcnse. said Madame Duhamol, heistatinsly.
"a nero bagatollo," said NJ. Nerac.
"But II | cannot offer you reward for
your services, must certainly fully repay
you" continued tho widow. ..
"Madaluc." said NJ. Ncrac, rs If hurt,
"my profession is not that OF a dog catcher.
and the question of recompcnsc or restitution
need not bc mentioned in this affair. am
already sufficiently repaid and rewarded by
your kind wish of some months ago, that
God would bless mo; and IL you only will
consent to receive mo MS friend-as an nc.
quaint,nee cven-hereafter, shall feel my.
self indecd blessed. y" ..'
"By the bye," said she smilinsly, show is
your cold now?" .Euan l.s a.,
"The blessing that you evoked in my fav.
or, madame efiectually cured me. Indeed, I
have not sncczed since. ..i. r.. ..... ,...-.
From this time forward, NJ. Nerac was on
the list of Madame Duhamel's visiting &C.
quaintances. She found out by inquiry, that
he was gentleman worthy Of admission to
her salons. .'g.f -.i '.'i1 t''
Louis Nerac soon observed. however. with
considerable delight, that the Grape was re-
moved from her deceased husbands portrait.
One morning early in June, MADAME Du.
hamsl announced to NJ. Nemc that she In.
tended going to her country residence to pass
several months. Louis determined to thwart
this intention, as he could not bear TO be sep.
aated so long from the charming widow.
lie feared, too, that, in the interim Of her
absence, some one else might carry OF the
prize he was 30 anxious to obtain for himself.