Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-02-05

knows little; sincere, but by no means
violent. Msdemoiselle Charlotte More
was, in short, in that subdued but ever
frame of mind which is perfectly equal [.
the transaction of business. Lenoir found
her in one of the upper rooms engaged
with oneof the msid.servants, in unrolline
some cloth. She did not hear him coming
in, and he could not help shaking his heaC
as he saw her. a plump rosy, good
humored girl of twenty.one, with glossy
black hair, and lively black eyes, and Z
pretty, round, good tempered face Oh
If she had but been boy, he thought
with deep sigh. Charlotte heard the
sigh, and, looking up, saw the old mar
standing in the doorway, with his pen be
hind his ear and a wOcbegOne meaning
on his wrinkleo ''iee. Pfaf. .FF
"Monsieur Leloir" she said, knitting
her smooth brow into frown, "do you
know that this cloth is moth-eaten?"
Monsieur Lenoir was very sorry to hear
it, but begged for five minutes private
conversation with Mademoiselle.
"To be sure" airily replied Charlotte
marie, you will fold up that calico
please. shall be down directly."ii
Monsieur Lenoir sighed again. His er
rand was sad one, but It must be spoken
To his amazement, Charlotte interrupted
him at once. ...
"Thank YOU" she said, "but please tell
that Monsieur Roussel that | shall carry
on the business myself"
If the pen had not been very firm be-
hind Monsieur Lenoir's ear, it must have
| dropped at SO astounding an announce
ment. Without seeming to perceive his
smGzement, as expressed in staring eyes
and open mouth Mademoisclle Morel con-
tinued whenever my poor father came
to see me, he lamented that l was girl ;
so, not knowing what was TO happen, l
| did my best to qualify myself for business.
| learned book. keeping"
! "But, Mademoisele," interrupted Le-
noir, book keeping is nothing-nothiug
| You do not know the intricacies of bust.
ness"
In her turn, Mademoiselle Morel inter
rupted the clerk. She laid her hand upon
his arm, and, looking in his face, she said,
| coed humoredly, but very firmly
know good butter, and good flour,
and good cloth, and good wares, Monsieur
| Lenoir, and none but good wares will
| keep My father neither took nor gave
| credit, believe. His word also was his
| bond he was honorable in his dealings
and prudent in his ventures. What he did,
shall do; and, Monsieur Lepoir," she
added, feelingly, "no cloth of this texture
and this price shall get moth-eaten under
my rule. Why" she added, raising her
eyebrows, pursing her lips, and shaking
her young head, "here are several
hundred francs lost at the very least"
Monsieur Lenoir stared and was dumb
RemOnstrance was useless and he knew It,
OF course this poor deluded young thing
would never get on-never, not even with
his assistance-but she had will of her
own, she was OF age too, and it was plain
that she emerged from her convent with
the determination of having her own way
henceforward.
Monsieur Lenoir was simply and sadly
sceptical but Verrieres was bitterly iron
ical. 1t foretold Mademoiselle Morels
downfall, and watched her going down.
The process was not a rapid one. Char
lotte got on very we'll Monsieur Lenoir
did the travelling and the going about and
she stayed home and minded the business
1t was hard for one so young to lead this
dull, confined life and so Charlotte soon
found; but pleasure is unknown in Yer
rieres, and she had no choice. Sometimes
she wondered if she should go on so till
old age buying and selling, and making
money but she was so far true daughter
of Verrleres, that she never thought of ex-
changing the dullness of her native place
for the gayeties of large city. Now and
then she longed for the country, and gar
dens, and green fields but she could not
have these and attend to business, so she
tried to be content with her shop, and her
store-rooms, and the yard, and the creep
ers, and to find music in that chink of
money which had SO long charmed her
fathers ears. In the meanwhile, Verrieres
went on wondering how long she would
last At first, Mademoiselle Morel knew
nothing of the commotion her unexpected
resolve had excited. But by and by good
natured people, who felt bound to tell her,
let her into the secret She thus learned
that her downfall, slow, but sure, was pre-
dicted, and that not even in her own
family was voice raised to prophesy her
success. Louise Roussel, little chatterer
OF some seven years old, whom Charlotte
was very fond of, gave her more informa.
ton on that head than Charlotte cared to
hear, She came in to her one evening,
flushed and breathless with excitement.
cousin" she cried, running up TO
Mademoiselle Morel, who was in the yard
watering the creepers, Z" such neWs My
big brother Henri has just arrived"
"Indeed."
Eyes; for week only, you know.
They all say l am so like him. Am |
like him?" And she raised herself on tip
toe, and shook her auburn hair, for Char.
lotte the better to see the likeness.
hademoiselle Morel looked down into
the child's bright face.
Yes, you are like him." she said, alb
stractedly, and she remained thus, with
the wateringp pot in. her hand, like one in
dream.
"And they told him about you, you
know" pursued Louise, "and papa
groaned, and said you would never do.
And Uncle Joseph laughed, and said you
would never do and Henri you know,
said, Why not ? Women do very well in
business when they have brains and not
heart"
Charlotte was silent; if it were not that
she changed color little, she looked as if
she had not heard the child.
"And Henri is going to Uncle Joseph's
tonight" continued the little thing "and
as he will not be back till Friday, mamma
will ask you to come and spend to-mor-
rows holiday with us. They asked Henri
If he would mind seeing you-he said no;
but il would be awkward for whole
day"
Still Charlotte was silent
How hot II is under the skylight I" she
said, atlast; "come out with me, Louise !"
and, passing through one of the out houses,
they came out on the brink of the river
behind it. Charlotte had awooden bench
placed there, and of an evening, when the
shop was shut, she liked to come and sit |
here and breathe little fresh air II was
also favorite haunt of Monsieur Lenoir's I
who wasa great angler, and who devoted !,
70 ms tavorite pursuit everything like \
ing on stone, stiff, straight, and still, like /
an old heron watching for his prey 1
Charlotte sat down on the bench without |
speaking TO him, aud Louise nestled
against her. The evening was very calm
and still The stream was ,silvery and
grayi above the willows and aspens on
the opposite bank rose a pale crescent
moon the lowing Of distant cattle came
from remote pastures, and fromthe neigh. |
hnrinn M he