The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-31

doughnuts.'
eyes, it is T." 1 replied hanging my KNAPP
sack upon the wall, 81 come from the house
of the inspector. Has no one been here|,
eyes father, Jean Mulin came to make MS
report, but he has gone away"
'Ah, he is gone away. Well! well! lie
has not gone very far hope. We must talk
together on some grave business"
| walked back and forth watching the
cakes, the basket full of eggs, the little bas-
ket of flour, and Marie Rose, hurrying, hur-
rying without opening her lips. At last
stopped and said:
"Come, come, it is good 10 work, but we
have something else to do now. What is
this that have heard at the house Of the in
spector's? Is it true that you love Jean Mu-
limp
As spoke, she dropped the roller, turning
scarlet.
eyes," said to her, ''listen, do not wish
to reproach you. Jean Mulin is noble
youth. good forester. 1 am not angry with
him. Myself, once, loved thy mother, and
father Bruat who was my superior, did not
drive me away, did not curse me for it. IL is
natural when one is young to think of mar
riage. But when one wishes to marry vir-
tuous girl, one must at first ask her of her ia
ther, that every one may understand"
She was greatly troubled at having me
speak thus. She ran quickly, took up pot
of migponette and placed it upon the sill of
the open window-a movement which filled
me with surprise, for my wife Catherine had
done the same thing. the day l asked her in
marriage, to call me; and almost as soon Mu
lin scame out of clump of trees upon the
rocks in front, where l had hidden myself,
and came running across the field, as 1 had
come myself twenty years before!
Then seeing these things, did the same
as old Bruat. 1 placed myself in the door
way, my daughter behind me, and as Muln
came up all out of breath, turned to him
and said,
''Mulin, is it true, what the inspector has
told me, that you love my daughter, and wish
to marry her?'
eyes, Brigadier," he replied, placing his
hand upon his breast, 81 love her better than
lifev'
At the same time, he would have spoken
to Marie Rose, but cried,
sWait momenti You love her and Marie
Rose confessessthat she loves you also. TIL at
is very good. 1t is very pleasant to love. But
one must think of others-of the old people
I, when married Catherine Bruat, prom
ised to take care of the father-in-law and
mother-in-law as long as they lived, and 1
have kept my word as an honorable man. I
loved them, cared for them, respected them.
They always had the seat of honor at the ia
BILE, the best glass of wine, and the best bed
in the house. Grandmother Anne is still
alive, and will tell you so. 1t was only my
simple duty. If had not done it should
have been a scoundrel. But they have never
| found any fault with me, and on his death
bed father Bruat blessed me, saying, Fred
ric has been to me always the best CT sons
have merited the same, and wish ii, be-
cause it is only my right. Well, now that
you have heard me, do you promise, Mulin,
to do and be the same to me, that was to
father Bruat?"
Sab, Brgadier," he answered, 81 shall be
! the happiest of men, to call you my father.
Yes, yes, 1 promise you 20 be good son.
promise to love you always and to respect
you as you merit"
Then yielded, and said:
"Now all is well. I give Marie Rose to
you. She is yours
And they kissed each other before my eyes,
two brave children that they were! Marie
Rose cried warm happy tears. called grand
| mother Anne from her little room. She
came out leaning on my arm, and blessed
them saying:
CHOW 1 can die happy. 1 So my little
child happy-loved bysan 2onest man."
And all dscy iiiIil evening she did not
cease praying and recommending her little
children to God. Marie Rose and Jean Mu-
lin watched each other, and talked without
restraint. I walked back and forth in the
room, and said, "from this hour you are affi-
anced. Jean can come when he likes; when
am at home or when am away. The IL
spector has told me that he is the first on the
list of promotions, and that he will without
doubt replace me. That will not be long de-
layed. Then we will celebrate the marriage"
This good news augmented their happi-
ness. Night having come, Jean Mulin rose
to go, that his mother might not be anxious,
and kissed his betrothed again. We went
with him as far as the great peach tree. The
weather was beautiful, the sky sparkling with
stars, not bird, not leaf was stirring;
everything was asleep in the valley, and as
Mulin clasped my hand, I said to him again:
''You will ask Margredel, your mother, to
come without delay tomorrow before noon.
Marie will cook US good dinner, and we
will celebrate the engagement all together.
1t is the greatest fete of life. If uncle Daniel
can come also, we shall be glad to see him."
'sAll right Father Fredric;;" then he
started off on the run.
We entered the house with fearful eyes,
and thinking of my poor Catherine said to
myself:
"There are still some beautiful days in life;
why is not my good, excellent wife with us ?"
1t was the only moment of bitterness had
during all the day.
Loo al