The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-10-15
The True Version of the LADY of
Lyons. T..
BY MARK TWAIN

Lyons has always been associated
in my mind with the sentimental lad V
whom Bulwcr introduced us many
years ago. looked for her uIl along
the Rhine, and could not discover her.
When | had despaircd of getting at
the facts in tho case, / heard Of u man
who knew them. Having long enter.
taincd II suspicion that the story had
not been rightly told. l solicited an
had the tale from his lips. IIc said
Pauline was not interesting nor 70
mantle. lie thanked me for the inter-
est had shown in the sentimental
history, and favored me with tho pro-
sale details: ..
Claude Mclnottc was in truth n
gardeners son, who fell in love with
Pauline while she was buying radikhcs
Of him one morning wheii her father
having been drunk the night before
refused TO purchase the household ne
cessarics, as was his custom. Claude
was rather susceptible, and sold her
tho radlsl,c| ut half price, on account
or her pretty face, rs he said, which
pleased her, and SO delighted her prac-
teal parents when he heard it, that
he insisted OH her. going to market
every morning. She did not like to do
it; but papa being obduratc, she obey
cd. Claude finally became SO interest
cd that he gave her radishcs for moth
ing, and even went so far rs to pur-
chase mutton and corn beet, present
ing them in the name of love.
Her mercantile papa was in &C.
stacios with Claude, declaring him
very generous person, who ouSht to be
encouraged. lie demanded that Pau
line should tako everything that WAS
given gratis. Pauline became the
regular market gocr for the family.
and ut last Claude told her that lie
would like to marry her if the old gen-
tMman would come down Handsomely.
She felt affiontcd, and informed the
elder Deschapclles, who, living only in
money, inquired into Claudc's circum-
stances, and found that he had not re-
turned any revenue to- the assessors
for several years. lie then called on
the sentimental youth and threatened
to take away his liconsc. !"
ClandcSot mad and brought suit for
the things he had givon Pauline. He
failed to got Judgment, and, resolving
on revenge, induced one Of DcSchapcl-
lcs' clerks, who had been refused by
his lady, to introduce him as wealthy
chap that cared no moro for q
thousand dollars than A. IT, Stewart
for ton cents. .,.' ......
Old Deschapcllcs was taken in and
SO was Pauline; for Claude dyed his
whisllcrs and put on a new wig to WOO
her in. She did not care how ho look
cd or talked; for the old man having
gotten hard up, couldn't pay her bills,
and she was bound to have wealthy
husband. When Claude proposed she
asked him to make ont statement Of
his effects, and having sworn that he
owned ten corner lots in Lyons, she
accepted him, and her father ratified
the contract. ...!
They were married ut once, but
after the ceremonies Deschapelles dis
covered the trick and put his new
son-in-law out of the house, receiving
II black eye in his laudable labor.
Claude would have been sent to prison
for his scouudrc1ism, but Inc offered TO
so into the army, and thus cscapc
punishment. lie did't fight very well,
but played an excellent game Of draw
po.tcr, and in two years made mopcy
enough to got out of the service
He then returned to Lyons and offered
to live with Pauline. The old man
said that hc would consider his case;
that two more men had proposed in
his, absence. and that tue chap that
that had the most money should take
the girl. = :
Claude fell short by several thous-
and dollars, and was in consequence
ordered to keep out of the way.
Pauline married one of the other
fellows Qhc report TINT she went to
Chicago to get divorce is without
foundation) ,an6 Claude took it so en-
Enthusiastically that lie fell off one of
the Rhine bridges on certain night.
! and tho cofoncrs afterwards made
twenty-five dollars by holding an in
quest on his body. -. d.. ....i 0..,.....
Pauline was happy, as womcnusual-
~ are, in her second marriage, for her
husband paid all her bills without
grumbling. She had several children,
grew fat and frowsy, and died at last
OF 4 chronic and combined attack of
beerand dropsy.-- Claude never knew
line Of poetry in his life, and couldn't
tell the difference between tho lake
Of Como and a Dutch canal. 'tfDost
thou like the picture?" .r :. .:a,r