Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-17
THREE FRENCH MARRIAGES.

u
- But the little bOy2' said Alice, with a HIirs
surprise N her blue eyes.
ooh. the colonel was wid0w3r," said mat
anne. laughing. NV cousin lived with b sr
father in a country town. She was the yOunge-t
child. Her mother had been dead many years.
her brothers and sisters were married; sue al
been asked I'm marriage. but she id not like u
leave her father, aud he would have been 50
desolate without her that he had not the neat
10 urge il. My uncle died about two ye ar
ago, his property WAS divided among MS chill
dren. Pauline had a moderate income, which
would not permit her to live in the style T.
which she was accustomed She wrote me A
yeTy sad letter lamenting her fathers de lth
and her own loneliness and desOlatiOus Sne
asked mt 10 Il I'D her a room and board in Paris,
IN convent or in some quiet family. l wrote
that would 30 all could for her. But, ms
de At cousin added, why 10 You not think of
IGarriags2 II will be very dissgreeable to YOU
who have 50 long been the mistress of hand
some establishment, to live in the way yOu
propose. Seriously, marriage is the only solu-
tiOn Of al Your peTpleNities.' / had not long
to wait for reply. Pauline wrote that she
would willingly marry. but sue WAS now thirty
six years old, her tOvry was not excessive, AMI
she feared il would be impossible to make an
advantageous marriage. Difficult wrote in
reply, but cot in possible. Come to Paris,
make me q little lslt, ami we viii see Now
I had n mind Ey friend Colonel dc COuTcclles
whose wife had been dead about year and a
half He often came to see me, and always be-
walled his lOneline and the unhappy condi-
ton OF his children The had but two, a GIRL and
boy without mother. II occurred to me hat
two sOrrCws nightly mingled might make one
joy; and the next time he called and entered on
his usual mOn0lOgue ! interpOlated the queS-
tion, Why don't you marry again, colonel? II
l. the ONLY thing that can make you tor get your
sOTrCwS' Z. know it, said he, but there Is
no lady Pardon me. colonel. | have a
cousin who II Just my age. She has recently
lost her father, she has q dOWTy of tfty thou
sand francs; and she is coming TO spend few
weeks with me- i shall be delighted u meet
your charming cousin, madame"
- In due time Pauline arrived. After the
inst erecting ana condolences | said
Pauline, think have fOUn1 a husband for
yOu-COlCnel lie CCurCelles. | have been aC-
qEainJed with him many years. He has fine
position, and he was very indulgcnt to his wife;
she was very happy with hun. He will dine
with u on sunday, and You Will have an OPP
Iortunity 20 see h.m. have said nothing to
him about It; you may feel completely at your
ease"
tNy American READERS, who have been
brought up, hope, with a strict regard Tor
truth, will doubtless be shocked at madlms's
want OF veraCity. was not sorry to see nv
Young ECStODians exchange a glance of sur
prise, which madame dbl not observe, and
would not have understood ii she had Observed
it Frenchmen appear to regard a lie A. a
thing innocent in itsClf-One which may be
even highly mGritOriOUS, aud which b. comes
criminal only under certain circumstances. de-
irving its moral character entirely from the
motives that prompt it,
% ON Sunday the colonel came. Clarice vas
a. school then, and there were only four Of US
NJ. letOrt and ], NV cousin and the colonel, who
Eat opposite her. They looked at each other
lu8 tiFClA AItiu l4LAC 10 ii1nts anu WNtD IAeiI
eyes net dropped them instantly on their
plates in the most cOmiCal manner. Dinner
over. took my cousin aside. WHAT do YOU
think OF him.? He Is to- fat said Pauline.
anne, how could you? He is immense.' said my
innocent Famine, with look OF distress.
only consider what a fine position he has
said l, and such an excellent mani II YOU
could only see how well he looks on horseback
at the head Of his regiment
Later in the evening had an opportunity
IA .zI lnf
negatively. Madame, your cousin is charm
ing but she is rather too tall The huge col
enc lad giants Penehant for little women.
sfhere Is no occasion for you to 90 any
further said l. Il have not mentioned it 70
my cousin, OF course Il should like to call
tJ-mOrIOE,' said he.
:. In s1N weeks Pauline was Nine. de CoIr-
celles, but up TO the wedding day she continued
TO say pit-oUsly, III be were only not 50 fat! -
q This Is not romantic az all, - said Emily.
" Bat they are very happy" said madame.
Doesn't she think he IS TOO tat now" asked
Belle.
81 dare say she would be very indignant if
you were TO say 70, = laughed madame.
- Now for marriage No. p" said Helen.
"a short time before my cousins marriage"
continued madame, my friend, NJ. AuUer,
called en ne. That is a strange idea of yours
10 marry your cousin to that great rat colonel"
said he ! have a friend who would suit her
much better, 1 am sure at is rather late for
that now she is TO be married in ten DAYS.
How vexatious! said NJ. Auber. But, n1n-
sieur, have sister-in-law, young widow,
several Years younger and Tar nau0 SOmer than
my cousin. Your friend mi ght be pleased with
her. Il wish | could see her. Nothing
easier. Dine with Us the day after to- morrow,
you and Madame Auber, aud will invite
Julia to meet ycu.' Ny sister is really very
beautiful, and VI. AEter could not restrain his
admiration: 'Oh, ID sdame, she is adorable. Ii
my friend can please her he is a man to be en-
wed. Let me see: to day Is Tuesday. Well,
THURSDAY, If you and your sister and NJ. LefOrt
will dne with Us, my friend will be there"
Thursday came, the dinner and the guests.
4 nv gf Sc hat in "a. ~,
ton, and we were naturally little curious to
see Nj. Vernon. He was a goOd-lOOkIng N In.
about nifty years OF age.
Oh, madame, wasn't he bald?" asked
Alice,
"well, he was a little, on the top of his
head
al hate bald men. How old was she?"
"a little under thirty"
Il should not think She would have married
him II she was so beautiful"
"Weil, my dear, he had a fine social position
AND a large fortune, hotel in Paris, house in the
euntry, elegant carriage, and servants in ny-
cry. 1t was great temptation, and then she
Was not very young, yDn know. Well, dinner
was over, and We had returned TO the psrlor
III. Auber seemed restless and iidgety. for he is
OF a very impatient temperament. Madame
Lefort, said he, rising, : should like 10 show
you painting by Paul DelarOche in the next
room l had seen the painting hundreds of
times, but 1iollo~ed without a word. Vernon
wouldn't you like TO see IL too? said VI. A 1ber
No sooner was the door closed than he asked in
his eager way. well, madame, what does
II,
sieur, how should know? / have not had an
Opportunity 10 speak so her. Besides, il wouId
be more suitable TO know NJ. NerROn's impress
sion first ooh, 1 saw that in an Instant
said NJ. Auber. There Is no need of asking
him he is enchanted Truly, she is the
most beautiful creature 1 ever saw said NJ.
Vernon. Far two young and lovely for me,
Am afraid That remains to be SEEM said
his friend. Ask her, madame-just as well
now ss any time But NJ. Vernon must go
away! Certainly, madame;' and he opened
the door into the parlor. Come then, Julie,
don't you wish 10 see this beautiful painting?
Have you no taste fer the arts?' She came.
M Apber wishes 10 know how you are pleased
with his friend 'Heis very WE'LL said she
cooly-'rather DID, 'oh, madame, is that all
yea can say for one OF the best matches in
rrsnce!' Il do not know that have any OBJ
1ecuon,' she added. Then, madame, we will
consider the affair settled"
Early the next morning NJ. Vernon called
70 asf my husband to accompany hin to the
house OF jules mother, and after the usual
compliments OF presentation he Immediately
asked the hand of her daughter. In three
weeks had the pleasure Of being Present &C
the wecding.u
"eh, how dresdful," cried the girls In
chorus. ono love making" !. No walks by
noonliaht!" $50 prosaic.h Everything bur
s rec up 20, jus; hike parcel Of goods bought
"Why. how long are hetrothals In vo,,