Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-01-23
From The Overland Monthly,
AN INEXPLICABLE FANCY.

Frenchmen and Frenchwomen are
tragic, or nothing, unless they happen to be
comical.--Nature has endowed tho Gal.
lie mind with an adroit aptneds tint sie.es
with equal facility upon tho terrible or
the srotesque-a revolution or masquer-
ade. This, by way Of preface, and the
story Of "An fnexpl:oable Fancy" be.
gins: s..
Henri Cardone was young French
artist Of distinguished promise. His neat
little domisll and his pretty little wife
were situated in subj rLan Paris. One
early twilight m the month of November
of a sortain year, as he entered his home,
bis wife run unto him, twined her plump
arms about his neck, bestowing q full.
blown affection upon his responsive lips,
and Immediately exclaimed, "Oh, dear
Henril l have had such surprise-such
IN odd visitor-this afternoon man
with such IN exp]ioable fancy that have
been waiting these two hours tor your ar.
rival, and (bestowing playful cut there
upon) your ears.
"And now the ears have arrived. Irene.
my pet, l suppose your merry tongue will
rattle away ss glibIy as newly wound up
music box; and once started, I shall no,
have an opportunity t. put a word in even
edgewise until you have run down com.
pletely. But for this odd man, with the
'inexplicable fancy He could not have
taken a fancy to you for that would have
been neither odd nor inexplicable. Did he
utterly regardless of the divine set of hi
trousers, 90 down upon his knees, and
beseech ofyou to fly with him to some
intensely rural retreatthere to subsist upor
moonshias and hie adorable moustache
and it was bis inexplicable fancy that
you should be accompanied by such little
article of available value ~ this poo,
howell might afford? Or, was hs wan.
dering Gypsy lord, who predicted that you
were to be queen Of all proud France, in.
stead Of one humble French hearth and
did he, just as he was about to surround
your august brow with tho imperial crown
suddenly suspend it and, take. an insxpl:c
able fancy to have bis dirty palm 1firs|
crossed with crown Of silverf Or,
"There,:, there! do cease your badin-
age" said the pouting little woman
stamping her small foot impatiently
You will never become wise listening t
your own wisdom.'
"Not weary listening to yours, my
charming sage" laughed~ tho volubi,
Henri, caressing her soft, brown hair fond
ly. proceed; from this On I am al
ears"
"Well, let all ears listen. At abcu
three o'clock this afternoon, as 1 was sit
ting intent upon taking the finest possible
stitches around the border of your fines
oambric, there came q sharp rap on tn,
street door. / FASTENED, opened il, AM
found myself face to face with a man O
middle age; who bowed politely, in,
inquired If he was on the Rue do Ohalons
On being informed that he was he thanket
me very affably, and was turning to depar
when his glance Glanced to fall on thi
little cornelian Cross, which, then a. now
was lying on my bosom. He stoppe,
short, gazed fxedly at it ~ though it pos
fessed some terrible fascination, tafnet
/ first deadly pale, then livid purple, an,
in u hoarse whisper articulated, Madame
you will pardon me; it is no ordinar,
curiosity that prompts the question, bu
might venture TO ask how that trinke
tpointing trembling finger at the cross
came into your possession-under wha
circumstances ?"
"Well;" queried Henri, in low, inter
ested tone, "what was my little Wife
replyw
"Your little wife told him, sir, that
was present from her husband, and tha
it had been in her possession ABOUT fou
years. How OF where you came by it, Oh
could not inform him."
"Ihen he departed satisfied ?"
Then he inquired your name, age an
profession"
"Did lie I" I do not know whethe
ought to feel complimented or insulted
Did you tell him."
, 81 hesitated and then told him."
!: 81 wish you had not hesitnted and the
not told him. Something of q momer
may grow out Of his curiosity. But it vii
, not matter. Then lie departed p
, No; lie stood absorbed in trouble
} thought few minutes, a. though weiet
: ing = deep problem, and then said he ha
taken very strong and eccentric fame
c tor the trnket, and asked if would for
consideration consent to part with it,
}. "What was your reply to that yer
bnsinesslike proposition ?"
Q "Ihat, being your gift, SHOULD muc
dislike to let it CO."
n "Of course that must have terminate
), the conversation"
"Of course, but it did not, though!
n became more pointed than ever.
~ swell, well! am eager to learn Il
denouement said Henri. elf I a
not at fault in my surmises, somethir
- - will shortly grow out Of this affair tn
~ will interest q very wide circle. Give n
the exact particulars. What followed
~ "lIe said he was wealthy and did n
~ value money and that he had conceive
IS so strong a desire to possess tho cro'
J. that, wild as tho offer might seem,
would not demur at giving five hundr'
IL francs for it."
"Fvo hundred, parbleu! The trink
r Is not worth five francs," said Hen
r excitedly. Tho man is either lunati
At or-what I more strongly suspect him
re being"
ID sand what is it possible for you
'r moro suspect him Of being !" asked Ircr
s. IT," A knave. In spite Of the template
Of tive hundred francs, SEQ that YOU ct