Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-09-02
Se1eft geadiug.
THE TRUE.vERSION OF THETA
DY OF LYONS.o
BY MARK TWAIN.


mind with the sentimental lady to whom
Bulwer introduced us many years ago.
l looked for her all along the Rhine, and
could not discover her. When I had
despaired of getting at the facts in the
case, heard Of man who knew them.
Having long RETAINED suspicion that
the story had not been rightly told, So
licited an interview, contrary to my GUS
tom. and had the tale from his lips. He
said Pauline was not interesting nor ro-
mantle. He thanked me for the interest
l had shown in the sentimental history
and favored me with these prosaic de-
tails.
Claude Meinotte was in truth a gar
dener's son, who fell in love with Pau
line while she was buying radishes of
him one morning when her father, having
been drunk the night before, refused to
purchase the household necessaries, as
was his custom. Claude was rather sus-
ceptible, and sold her the radishes at
half price, on account of her pretty face,
as he said, which pleased her, and SO de-
lighted her practical parent when he heard
it, that be insisted on Der going to mar.
ket every morning. She did not like to
do it; but papa being obdurate, she
obeyed. Claude finally became so inter-
ested that he gave her radishes for moth
ing, and even went SO far as to purchase
mutton and cornbeef, presenting them in
the name of love-
Her mercantile papa was in ecstacies
with Claude, declaring him very gen.
erous person, who ought to be encouraged
He demanded that Pauline should take
everything tina. was given gratis. Pau
line became the regular market-goer for
the family and at last Claude told her that
he would like to marry her if the old gen.
tleman would come down handsomely.
She felt affronted, and informed the elder
Deschappelles. who, living only in money
inquired into Claude's circumstances, and
found that he had not returned any reve-
nue. to the assessor for several years. He
then called on the sentimental youth and
threatened to take away bis license.
Claude got mad and brought suit for
the things he had given Pauline He
failed to get judgement, and, resolving on
revenge, induced one of Deschappelles's
clerks, who had been refused by his lady,
to introduce him as a wealthy chap that
cared no more for thousand dollars than
A. t. Stewart for ten cents.
Old Deschappelles was taken in and SO
was Pauline for Claude dyed his whiskers
and put on new wig to WOO her in. She
did not care how he looked or talked ); for
the old man having gotten hard up couldn't
pay her bills, and she was found to have
wealthy husband When Claude pro-
posed she asked him to make out state
ment 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 at once, but after
the ceremony Deschappelles discovered
the trick and put his new son-in-law out
of the house. receiving black eye in his
laudable labor. Claude would have been
sent to prison for his scoundrelism, but
he offered to 60 Into the army. and thus
escaped punishment. He didn't fight
very well, lut played an excellent game
of draw-poker, and in two years made
money enough to get out Of the service.
He then returned to Lyons and offered to
live with Pauline The old man said he
would consider his case; that two more
men had proposed in his absence, and
that the chap that had the most money
should take the girl.
Claude fell short by several thousand
dollars, and was in consequence ordered
to keep out of the way,
Pauline married one Of the other fell
lows (the report that she went to Chicago
to get divorce is without foundation) and
Claude took to cognac SO enthusiastically
that he fell of one Of the Rhine bridges
on certain night, and the coroncrs af-
terward made twenty-five dollars by hold
ing an inquest on his body.
Pauline was happy, as women usually
are, in her second marriage, for her hus-
band paid all hcr bills without grumbling.
She nsd several children, grew fat and
froway. and died at last of chronic and
combined attack of beer and dropsy.
Claude never knew line Of poetry in bis
life. and could't have told the difference
between the Lake Of Como and Dutch
capal. ..Dost thou like the picture z