The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-23
Loves StratageIn.

| The Baltimore Gazette says "Thi
is the story of dowry gained by STRAIT
agem which comes to us from abroad
Two wealthy bachelors lived in the
vicinity OF Paris. With them lived q
| young girl named Marie. French here.
ines in humble hfe, nine times in ten,
are named Marie, ard the tenth time
Lisette. Marie was pretty, fresh, mod
est. Like most French girls of her sta.
ton, she was frugal and neat. She
must have a lover, of course. Such a
prize was not born to bloom unseen.
The lover was o young artisan Of Paris.
Need we say he was all manly perfec-
tion Z? he was. So at least Marie, all
confusion and bushes, informed her
employers, the two rich old bachelors.
She was sorry; she must leave them !;
she was to be married. In vain tn V
tried to dissuade her. III they could
find place for her husband she would
stay, she replied; otherwise she could
not. She csuld not Be happy without
her Henri !; and Henri (and hero she
lifted up her facs and applied the cor
ner of her apron to her eyes) would go
mad, he loved her so he was so de-
voted so good such an angel without
wings. So Marie carried her point.
Before she had gotten through her lit
tie piece of acting. the old bachelors
were crying, too. 1t was so affecting
Marie was so true; so sincere so fond
of them, and so loath to leave them so
and without guile.
They resolved that they would bring
her name before the municipality as a
candidate for the prize given to the
Rosiere' of that year. So Marie wss
to go-poor Marie. But then she was
to go with Henri-happy Marie But |
Marie had resolved otherwise, and when |
a woman will she will, depend on it. |
Stay she would, and put money in her |
purse also, and Henri should stay, too. |
She knew the bachelors had IN the |
house nearly D hundred thousand francs,
about which they were always in flut-
Ter. The residence of the old men was |
some distance from the main road, and
stood near the river Seine. 1t was n
onely, gloomy location, and on the
night in question the winds swept
through the tall larches surrounding
he mansion with doleful and moaning
1t was the night after Marie
lad announced her determination to
cave them. Robbers were in the
house. The bachelor brothers shivered,
lnabled TO speak with terror. In
-ushes the brave Marie. you have n
yun, cried she protect yourselves"
The terrified old men shivered the
more, and stared at her. towards =
aid the brave girl, scornfully. wish
were a man for five minutes.' just
haa.yvy och ha |
partments below. 'We shall all be
'e murdered in our BEDS said the
,irl. I'VE will be found by the
,olce in the morning with our
hroats cut from ear to ear. Pesje
ools, give me the gum She seized
he double -barrelled gun that was lying
n the shelf, and started down stairs,
Vhile the two frightened men watched
er without saying a word. Presently
ang went the gun, and a groan was
card. Bang went the second barrel,
nd a scream of pain resouuded through
he house that caused the blood of the
rothers to run cold. No one slept
hat night. In the morning marks of
lood were found III the hall anu the
ath along which the bleeding body
ad been dragged. The robbers had.
seemed, been severely wounded, but
ad gotten off The bravery of the
retty and modest Marie was the talk
the country side. The two old bach
lors were profUse in gratitude They
ffered her q dowry. She accepted on
ondition that she was not to leave
hem. you might be again attacked
y robbers, said she ingenuously. So
ley settled it that Marie and her faith
nj Henri were to live in the lower part
the house and see that the whole es-
abhshment was kept in order, ard es-
ecially that no robbers were allowed
n the premises. Henri married Marie,
nd they accepted the dover and the
ouse. Years passed, and recently the
sal facts of the midnight robbery came ,
} light. Both the old bachelors were
cad, and had willed Marie another
lirty thousand francs. The brave girl ,
id not refuse it. 1t turned ont, how |
YER that the robbers were not plural.
[enri acted as The burglar, the blood
as from lamb killed for the purpose,
nd the plot was but q ruse of tie two
,vers to open the hearts and purses of
le two old misers."