The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-03-01
2aiscel(aneolls.
That VicEed Frenchna0 az,
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.


|
| "Oh, what a handsome man. cried Mrs.
Hunter sand such a charming foreign accent
too"
Mrs. Hunter was a widow, rich, childless,
| fair, fat and forty, and she made the remark
above recorded to Mr.. Baniing, bachelor, who
had come to pay an afternoon call aprOpos of
the departure Of Professor La Fontaine, who
| had, according to the laws of etiquette, taken
his departur9on the arrival of Mr.. Bunting.
"Don't like to contradict lady," said Mr..
| Bunting "but can't say agree with you and
these foreigners are generally imposters too"
| Mrs. Hunter shook her head coquettishly.-
| She was rather coquettish and rather gushing
| for her age and size.
"Oh, you gentlemen you gentlemen :" she
| said; II can't see that you ever do justice to
| each other p and then She rang the bell, and
/ ordered the servant To- serve tea, and pressed
| bachelor Bunting to stay and partake OF 1t.
| There was q maiden aunt of eighty in the
house to play propriety, and allow her the priv
| ilege of having as many bachelors to tea as she
chose; and Mr. Bunting forgot his jealousy, and
was once more happy.
| He was, truth to tell, very much in love with
| the widow, who was his junior by ten years.
He liked the idea Of her living on the interest
| of her money, too. She was splendid house.
keeper and fine panoist. She was popular
| and good looking. He intended to offer himself
| for her acceptance as soon as he felt sure that
| Professor La Fontaine, with black eyes as big
| as saucers, and long side whskers, black also
| as any ravens wing, and the advantage ofbe-
ing the widows junior. The opportunity to
make fool of herself is SO irresistible to most
| widows, it troubled his dreams good deal
not that he thought him handsome, oh, no--but
still, at fifty man does not desire rival, how
ever he may despise him.
"She did not ask him to stay, and she did ask
| me-" said Mr.. Bunting, and departed after a
most delightful evening, during which the
maiden aunt, who was, at best, as deaf as
post, snored sweetly in her rocking chair
But, alas on the very next evening his sky
was overcast. Professor La Fontaine took the
widow to the opera. lie saw them enter the
doors of the opera-house, and having followed
and secured seat in retired portion of the
house, also noticed that the professor kept his
eyes fixed upon the ladys face in the most i'm
pressve manner, during the whole perform
ance, and that she now and then even returned
his glances.
at can't 60 on" said Mr.. Bunting to him
self. 81 can't allow it. She'd regret it all her
life. l must demonstrate with her. No woman
likes coward. Faint heart never Won fair
lady. She'll admire me for speaking out"
And that very evening Mr.. Bunting trotted
up to the widows house, full of a deadly pur
pose, and with setspeech learned off by heart.
The speech he forgot as he crossed the threshold;
the purpose abided with him.
There were the usual remarks about the
weather. The usual chitchat followed, but the
widow saw that Mr.. Bunting was not at his
SiTecu Al laaee lest with the sort of plunge that
ed into The s1biect ngatfegt tfR ST. hls rsaft. A
GILES rascal, Ma'am, give you my word"
"Oh dear Who is 2" cried the widow.
"That frog-eater," replied the bachelor
"Upon my soul, speak for your own good, |
am interested in your welfare. Don't allow his
visits. You don't know thing about him."
''Do you allude to Monsieur La Fontaine?"
asked Mrs. Hunter solemnly.
"I allude to that fellow" said bachelor Bunt-
ing. "Why, mis- very countenance proves him
to be a rascal. I'D enjoy kicking him out
so much. L"
"Sir," said the widow, "if you haven't been
drinking, really think you must be mad
"Ma'am ~ cried Mr.. Bunting.
"Perhaps, however, should take no notice
of such conduct" said Mrs. Hunter. perhaps
should treat it with silent contempt"
''Oh, good gracious y cried bachelor Bunting.
"Dont treat me with silent contempt ltsmy
you. Have me. Accept me. Marry me and
be mine, to cherish and protect from all auda-
cious, frOg-eatiDg Frenchmen."
The widows heart was melted. She burst
into tears.
"Oh, what shall say?' she sobbed. 81
thought you merely friend. I-am-l-l-l
am engaged to the Professor he proposed yes
terday evening"
Bachelor Bunting had dropped down upon
his knees while making his offer. Now he got
up with sort of groan-not entirely caused by
| disappointed love, for he had had the rheuma-
| tism.
farewell, false one," he said, feeling for his
hat without looking toward it. 81 leave you
| foreUer."
He strobe away, banging the door after him.
| The widow cried and then laughed, and then
cried again. In fact she had genuine TIT OF
what the maiden aunt called "stericks," and
the chambermad "highstrikes," she was
brought to- and prevailed upon to take glass
of porter and something hot and comforting in
the edible line. After which the thought OF
| her fiancee consoled her.
| Days passed on. Bachelor Bunting did not
drown himself or sup cold poison. The wed,
ding day was fixed. The house-mald informed
her friends that Mrs. Hunter "kept steady com
pany.' The maiden aunt, who had no income
Of her own, curried favor by being almost al
| ways in a state of apparent coma. The widow
| was in the seventh heaven of bliss, and all went
! merry as a marriage bell until one evening, as
the betrothed pair sat before the fire in the pol
ished CRATE, there came ring at the oell, anu ha
the girl who answered it soon looked into the
parlor to announce the fact that a little girl in
the hall aoould come in.
"Oh, let her in," said Mrs. Hunter. "Tm so
fond of the dear children in the neighborhood.
It's one of them, presume" But while she
was speaking very small but very old LOOKING
little girl in q short frock, with tambourlne
in her hand, bounced into the room, and throw
ing herself into the Professors arms, with
air-.s E-~s.~l' a@-->-I---'ee .ss,,ad =, o,,
Darling papa, have l then iouha you -, -
How glad mamma will be! we though' you
dead"
"I am not your papa," said the Frenchman,
turning pale. care you then crazy, my poor
little girl?" - .u
"No, no, no; you are my papa! crled tne
child. "Do not deny your Estelle; Does sne
not know you All, my heart, it tells me true
Dear mamma and have almost starved, bu'
she has never pawned her wedding ring, never
She PLAYS the organ, the tambourlne. We
have suffered, but now papa will return to US
Alb, Heaven"
6My gracious the morals of furriners:: He'e
have married Missus~ cried the girl at tn
, door.
''She tells one black lie. Never before hay
seen her; believe me, Madame " screamed tn
poor Frencbman. "Ah, mon Dieu, am dream
ing?"
"Oh, Alphonse !" cried the widow. "Bu
there, will be firm. My best friends warne
me of you. Take your hat-go. Neeer ente
nv presence again. Go with your unfortunat
cGhildNvour CHI poor half-starved little girl. G
home to your deserted wife. Go"
"Ah, Madame, zese is dem lies, cried the un
fortunate Frenchman, losing his English IN nl
excitement. "Belief-"
"0ut of my house erred the Wido"'
ov. omen the door. Go! What an escape haV
y had!"
The Professor departed. Mrs, Hunter thre
berealf unon the sofa in tears. The made
aunt who had not heard word, demanded
explanation. Bddy howled it through her ca
trumpet in these words
mT6e blatherin scounthrel has iver 80 man
wifes and families already, playin tumborln'
for their bread. God help em. The rascal
Hn6 in tho midst the door bell rang, and M
q. Bunting walked in, with polite bow:
a, Bddy and the aunt slipped out of the roor
Mr.. Bunting approached the widow:
~ called to apologize" he said. "Iwas has
Yesterday. Had I known the gentleman w
" dear to you, should have restrained my speec
l. wish you happiness. /"
=, "Don't, pleaseP' cried the WI, WIDOW. SVnd t II;
ont. hate him AS for me never can he ha