Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-30
COURTSHLP IN FRANCE.

Here is farcical one of the present
day. recorded by the lady who was the
nucleus Of the transaction. This lady
shall he called here Madame Enault; she
is the wife Of NJ. lie Sous. prcfet of Rouen,
and her kind heart and charming man.
ners have made her the center of select
society in that pleasant town. She is not
only an agreeable woman, but one that
can be trusted, and then her position has
its own importance. One day last sum-
mer, as she was sitting in her husband s
library, occupied in completing his cata.
logue Of books, she was informed that
three persons were waiting to see her in
the salon, and with this card was pre-.
sented to her-the card of Madame ST.
mon. the wine merchants wife. This
lady lived at x, twenty miles from
Rouen, and was not in the habit of visit
ing Madame Enault, who, indeed, did not
remember that she had ever seen her.
However, she left the catalogue and wendto
the salon. There she found sitting in row
short, plump Madame Simon, with .
young man and young woman of almost
gigantic proportions on either side of her.
All these rose on her entrance, and Mad
anne Simon offered her tightly. gloved fat
hand to shake. The first salutations
over, Madame Enault asked to what hap.
py circumstances she was indebted for
the pleasure of this visit. Upon this
question, Madame Simon smiled knowing.
ly, and patted her daughter on the should
er. Mademoiselle blushcd crimson. She
was Of fresh complexion, with golden
hair. and might have been handsome, but
for cheeks too prominent and rudy, a
slight cast in the eye, and general air of
having too much Of everything. She now
looked down attentively upon the carpet.
Adalbert. her brother, put his hands on
his knees with determination, and said,
ut is proper that should speak on this
subject. You must know, Madame
Enault, that my sister here has a very
pretty marriage portion, that she is Just
eighteen, extremely accomplished in
music, and, as you sec, not other than at.
tractise in appear ancc; under these cir.
cumstances, it is not surprising that eli.
gible marriages should be offered to her.
She has at this moment two suffers, both
eager. and both, as believe much enam.
ored."
"Oh, Adalbert,'' said Madcmo,sclle,
with nervous laugh. ''you really make
me blush. But Madame Enault looked
for the blush in vain, and Adalbert went
on-''These suffers both occupy consider.
able positions at x. The one is
Monsieur Jules Berthior, the Notary; the
other. Monsieur Perrin, the Doctor, they
are worthy men, both, but
'But-" interrupted Madame Simon,
tired Of her sons discourse. "but-my
daughter thinks them both hideous.'
''rhe one" said Mademoiselle, eagerly,
sis as round IS wine. barrel, and the
other as attenuatcd as withcred GRACE.
skin. Can you wonder that don't wish
for either Is husband /? 1t is the Doctor
who is SO fat. and tho Notary who is so
thin
.'But how, asked Madame Enault, 'sam
I to assist you r.
ut is now my turn to speak said Adal-
bert With his hands again upon his knsss,
he resumed-he Was not pleasant to lis
ten to, for he spoke with : thick utter.
ance, and rolled his r's--"My father"
said be, ''being much occupied in business.
it has naturally fallen upon me to assist
my mother in these difficult, and, I may