The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-04


search for some Cne else. He lived in
hope, and left his daughter safe behind
| convent walls till she was twenty-one, when
grim Death settled his perplexity by calling
him very suddenly away one summer
morning.
Verrieres was much startled by the
news, and Verrieres' first thought on the
subject was a pithy homily on the vanity
of human sorrow. Verrieres grieved very
little for the dead man, but wondered
very much who was going to step into his
shoes.
Several individuals for whose business
talents Monsieur Morel had entertained a
strong contempt had visions of purchas-
ing the business, and lording it in the great
old house; they sounded LenOir, the old
clerk, and as he heard them out and re-
turned diplomatic replies, they one and al
felt pretty sure of success. Monsieur
Lenoir was very much perplcxed. He
consulted with Mademoiselle MOreps
nearest relatives, and they all came to the
conclusion that Monsieur Roussel, her
unclc's brother, ought to be the successful
applicant; he was not, indeed, the success
sor such a man as Monsieur MOrel should
have had, but he was the least objections
bic of all the claimants for the dead mans
fortnight when Lenoir thought he could
broach the subject to his late masters
daughter. She had come back for the
funeral, and, being of age, had no thought
of returning to the convent. Her grief
was such as good d-hearted girl must feel
for the death of parent of whom she
knows little; sincere, but by no means
violent. MaGemOiselle Charlotte MOrel
was, in short, in that subdued but even
frame of mind which is perfectly equal to
| the transaction of business LenOir found
her in one of the upper rooms, engaged
with one of the maid servants in unrOlling
some cloth. She did not hear him coming
in, and he could not help shaking his head
as he saw her plump, rosy, good
humored girl of twenty one, with glossy
black hair, and lively black eyes, and a
pretty, round, good-tempered face. Oh!
| if she had but been a boy, he thought,
with a deep sigh. Charlotte heard the
sigh, and, looking up, saw the old man
standing in the doorway, with his pen be-
hind his ear, and a woebegone meaning
On his wrinkled face.
Monsieur Lenoir" she said, knitting
her smooth brow into frOwn, "dO you
know that this cloth is moth-eaten?"
Monsieur Lcnoir was very sorry to hear
| it, but begged for five minutes private
conversation with Mademoiselle.
ITO be sure" airily replied Charlotte.
"Marie, you will fold up that calico,
please. / shall be down directly"
Monsieur Lenoir sighed again. bis er-
rand was a sad one, but it must be spoken.
To his anazement, Charlotte interrupted
him at once.
"Thank you," she said, "but please tell
IkI.z = @1,o% l,ol1
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
amazement, as expressed in staring eyes
and open mouth, Mademoiselle Morel con-
tinued: "Whenever my poor father came
to see me, he lamented that | was girl
so, not knowing what was to happen, l
did my best to qualify myself for business.
| learned bookkeeping
"But, Mademoiselle," interrupted Le-
noir, book keeping is nOthing-nothing
You do not know the intricacies of busi-
ness"
In her turn, Mademoiselle Morel inter
rupted the clerk. She laid her hand upon
his arm, and, looking in his face, she said,
good humoredly, but very firmly
81 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 We
credit, l believe. His word also was his
bond; he was honorable in his dealing;
; and prudent in his ventures. What he did
l shall do; and, Monsieur Leroir," she
added, feelingly, "no cloth of this texture
and this price shall get moth-eaten under
my rule. Why" she added, raising hel
eyebrows pursuing 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 1t
Of course this poor deluded young thing
would never get on-never, not even will
his assistance-but she had will of he
!. own, she was OF age too, and it was plail
; that she emerged from her convent will
|, the determination of having her own way
henceforward.
Monsieur Lenoir was simply md sadl,
8 sceptical but Verrieres was bitterly iron
ical. 1t foretold Mademoiselle Morep
: downfall, and watched her going down
! The process was not rapid one. Char
: lOtte got on very well. Monsieur Lenoi
did the travelling and the going about, an
. . she stayed home and minded the business
, 1t was hard for one so young to lead thi
j dull, confined life, and so Charlotte 500
found but pleasure is unknown in VeI
rieres, and she had no choice. Sometime
, she wondered if she should go on so til
old age, buying and selling, and maxim
money but she was so far q true daughte
! of Verrieres, that she never thought of ez
changing the dullness of her native plac
T for the gayeties of large city. Now an
! then she longed for the country, and gal
dens, and green fields; but she could nc
have these and attend to business, so sh
. tried to be content with her shop, and he
q store-rooms, and the yard, and the Greer
!. ers, and to find music in that chink {
money which had so long charmed he
fathers ears. In the meanwhile, VerricrC
went on wondering how long she woul
last. At first, Mademoiselle Morel kne'
nothing OF the commotion her unexpecte
I resolve had excited. But by and by goot
70 natured people, who felt bound to tell he
let her into the secret. She thus learne
that her downfall, slow, but sure, was DR.
/ dicted, and that not even in her ow
Il family was voice raised to prophesy b,
;, success. Louise Roussel, a little chatter,
IL of some seven years old, whom Chariot
was very fond of, gave her more inform
"a ton on that head than Charlotte cared
u hear She came in to her one evenin
&c flushed and breathless with excitement.
. go cousin" she cried, running up
~ ~ Mademoiselle Morel, who was in the va
IL watering the creepers, such news!
| hiu brothar Uopr; boo ;rr,t