The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-08-20
THE TRUE VERSION OF THE LADY OF
LYONS"
By MARX TWAIN.

|
| Lyons has always been associated ia
my mind to the sentimental lady to
whom Btllwer introduced us to many
years ago. looked for her all along
the Kline, and could not discover her.
when had despaired of getting at the
facts III the case, heard of a man who
knew them. Having long entertained
suspicion thai the story had not been
rightly told, ! solicited an interview,
contrary to my custom. and had the
tale from his lips. He said Pauline was
not Interesting nor romantic. He
thanked me for the interest had shown
in the sentimental history, and favored
me with these prosaic details:
Claude Melnotte was in truth gar
dener's son, who fell in love with Pau
line Willie Size was buying r;ldishes of
him one morning when her father, hav
ing been drunk the night before, refus-
ell to purchase the household .necessa-
ries, as was his custom. Claude was
rather susceptible, and sold her the
radishes at halt price, on account other
pretty fdce; as he said, which pleased
her; and So delighted ief practical pa
rent, when he heard it, that he Insisted
on her going TO market every morning.
She did not like to do it; but papa be-
ing obdurate, she o5eye.l. Claude fl
lally became so Interested that he gave
her radishes for nothing, and even went
so far as to purchase mutton and corn
beef. presenting them IN the name OF
love.
Her mercantile papa was in ecstacies
with Claude, declaring him very gen.
erolls person. who ought to be enc0ur-
aged. lie demanded shat p d uIin
sitoltld take everything that xas given
gratis. PaIilne became the regular
for the family, and at last
& Claude told her that he would like to
marry her If the old gentleman would
come down handsomely. She felt af.
and informed the elder Des-
who, living only in money,
inquired into Clautle's circumstances |
and found that he had not returned any |
revenue to the assessor for several |
years. He then called on the senti- |
yolitli and threatened 20 take |
away his license.
Claude got mad and brought suit for
the things iie had given Pauline. He
lied to get Judgment, ahd, resolving
IN revenge, iiidiiced one of Deschappei-
les < clerks, who had been refused by
lis lady, to int. otuce him as a wealthy |
chap that cared no more for a thousand
lolars than A. L. Stewart for ten
cents.
Old Deschappelles was taken in and
30 was Pauline; for Claude dyed his
S5lskers and put on new wiz to WOO
Ter in. She did not care how he look
"a or talked; Tor the old man having
sottei' hard up, couldn't pay her bills.
lnd she was bound to have wealthy
husband. When Claude proposed she
lskel him to make out statement of
his effects, and having sworn that he
'wncd ten corner lots in Lyons. she az
epted hlnl' and herfather' ratified the
contract.
They were married at once. but after
he ceremony Deschappelles discovered
he trick and put his new son-in-iaw
mt oj tle house, receiving a>black eye
m his laudable labor. Claade would
ave been sent;to prison tor his scoun-
IrellSm, but he offered to go into the
rrny, and thus escaped punshment,-
ie ddn't fight very well, but played
n excellent game of draw-poker, and
n two years made money enough t.