, 1875-04-01
A French Husband.

A French Husband.
Ny lodgings are. and have been for
some months, in the Rue Chaussee
d'Antin. Ny land-lady is pleasant. in-
telligent, quito comely. in the neighbor-
hood, perhaps, Of five and thirty. She
always has smile, il tastefully Dress
ed. and has something of a coquettish
air inseparable from Partisan women of
an education. Often. in coming and 60
ing, have observed spruce, genteel
man of forty or thereabonts, who. had
supposed was one of my fellow dodgers.
have never exchanged word with him
though, according 20 French custom,
we dof our hats to one another when
We pass.
had made up my mind that my un-
known friend was o retired, well-to do
merchant. probably bachelor. living
comfortably on snug income. was
confirmed in this opinion when saw
him lounging on the Boulevards. sip
ping his after dinner coffee in front of
the Maison Dorse or Cafe Richie, and
dining in the Bois with woman, pref
ty. young, and plainly fast.
A fortnight since I encountered him
in earnest conversation with my land
lady. Tie same afternoon, having some
business with her, We CHANGED to drift
into talk on miscellaneous subjects
She told me that the stranger I had mis-
taken for q bachelor was her husband.
They had been married for ten years.
When she became acquainted with him
he had wine shop; but he disposed Of
it after their union.
"He has another and better business
now, no doubt." remarked.
o, no. Monsieur; he has had no busi-
ness since. He does not like work; he
is too genteel for that. He loves to
lounge ON the Boulevards, to dine at the
fashionable restaurants, to amuse HIM
self elegantly. And love to support
him in such luxuries. I can afford to.
have quite an income from these lodg-
ings. lie gets most of it: he ought to
for he is nice fellow and 1 am proud
of and fond of him. Don't you think
him handsome? He says many fine
ladies on the Bou levards look after him
admiringly as they roll by in their car
riages. All! Twas very lucky to get
him."
He assists you. I suppose, in your
accounts. by llecting yonr rents?"
"very far from it. would not al.
low him to. Besides, he would not soil
his hands with bills and accounts.
manage everything. He yawns if I speak
to him of money matters, which / sell
dom do. 1t is not right to annoy him
with such vulgarities. All. he is dear
fellow. He takes me out sometimesf
not very often; that would spoil me. -
Then ve have very delicious times. I
know the fine ladies envy me, seeing
me at his side. Every once in a while
he kisses me when he goes away in the
morning. AM l am very happy then for
whole week. l have asked him some-
times if he does not kiss other women.
He does not reply directly. but says
gentlemen of gallantry mnst have their
recreat:ons. All, yes. I presume they
must. I hope, though. that he only
kisses their hands or cheeks. That is
not SO bad. Oh, he is noble gentle
man, my noble husband"
The little woman's eyes suffused as
she contemplated the manifold peifec-
tions of her illustrious liege. She was
perfectly sincere in every word she
uttered. She had no idea that she was
revealing him to my supreme contempt;
that he was base wretch. pensioner,
a sneak, bastard. And pitied and
esteemed her too much to tell her my
opiuion Of him. What a genuine French
Turveydrop he was. and is! And to
think that this woman, intelligent,
shrewd, no longer young, should be so
blinded by her affection as not to see
him in his true light. When she had
ceased speaking, new color had come
to her pale olive face. 1t was partly
love. partly gratitude to the miserable
scoundrel for his generosity in living
upon her aud spending her money for
his vulgar pleasures. She looked
almost beautiful. 1 could have kissed
her from commiseratlon. but did not.
I babe her good evening, and went
away.