The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-04-06
OUR STORY TELLER.
MY PORTER'S DAUGHTER.

Bon jour madame; any letters for me
to-day" asked my friend Jules of the
porter's wife, as we descended from the
three rooms and kitchen we occupied,
and were wont to call our apartments. 1t
is true they were az sirieme, but n i'm
porte; they were light and airy, and from
the windows beautiful vista of house
tops and chimney with the Pantheon
gaze. "Any lettersT repeated Jules, as
Madame Jacques, the FORTRESS replied to
his salutation.
The good dame smoothed down her
apron, adjusted her cap, and having as
sumed an air of profound woe and COM
miseration, produced letter, deeply
edged with black
All, fear monsieur will have bad
news" said the little woman, "for | am
sure such letters always tell of some one
DEATH"
Jules took the letter, and was soon
deeply engaged in reading its contents.
Read it, mon ami, and tell me shall l
laugh or weep" said he, having read the
letter, and handing it to me.
My dear aunt" he resumed, "peace
be with her, whom have not seen for
ten years, has died, therefore shall ]
weep; but she has left me ten thousand
francs year. Therefore | shall not
neither weep nor laugh so we will dine
at the Trois Freres, and drink to nv
good aunt's rest in their famed Bur
gundy, for it was her favorite wine,
and"
Good morning, mamma; how de-
lighted / am to see you," cried asweet
voice at the door of the lodge, and in an
other minute the speaker was in the
arms of Madame Jacques.
+" My dear child is it your exclaimed
madame; well, well, who would have
thought of seeing you back SO soon 1t
is my little Marie, messieurs," said the
FORTRESS, her little eyes twinkling
with pleasure in answer to our mute
inquiries.
Marie turned, and, bestowing on us
a roguish glance, made us profound
bow.
Come, come, jules" said l, grasping
his arm, for he stood rooted to the spot,
gazing at the blushing Marie, "come,
mon ami, long TO taste the Burgundy"
said l, fairly pulling him to the door.
oOod ldulCS, L duutu, duu
we were on our way down the street.
verify believe you have fallen in
love-" continued. "Come, old fellow,
it won't do for Jules de Ruenille, with
ten thousand francs year, to fall in love
with porter's daughter. But Marie is
handsome. Did you notice the bewitch-
ing eyes she had land such teeth and
as for her hands, they were as small and
white as those of duchess. am sure
she has a fine foot and ankle, for her
figure is perfect. But 1 forgot to con.
graduate you on your good fortune.
Why, what is the matter? You are in
the clouds, mon cher"
No, no, not in the Clouds" said
Jules. 81 was thinking, that is-yes-
] was thinking of my poor aunt. But
Mademoiselle Marie is beautiful; you
are right: it is pity she is a porter
daughter"
Having honored the memory of the
deceased aunt in glass of Burgundy we
drank to Marie, and we spoke of Marie.
and Marie it was for the whole evening.
Even the petit Uerr with our cafe was
emptied in Marie's honor.
Alas, my poor friend ] saw he was
badly off when, for the twentieth time,
the next morning he descended the six
etages to see if there were any letters
but Marie was not there, and madame
was out, SO Monsieur Jacques kept house,
and Jules's pride would not permit him
to ask the old porter concerning her. He
was proud, was my friend Jules; of a
good family in the provinces, he had
been brought up to regard good birth as
one of the essentials which wife must
possess. 1t is thus with all Frenchmen
Notwithstanding the many democratic
principles they possess, pride or family is
with them as striking as it was under
Louis XVI. Though in the ordinary
intercourse of life they forgot or lost
sight of these principles, yet when the
question of marriage is discussed they
revive in all their pristine force.
eyes, mon ami,' said Jules. laying
aside his pipe, and smoothing his lux,
uriant mustache and beard, 3now that
am rich man feel it duty l owe
my family to marry. But my wife must
be of good family and Marie is not. |
know what you would say; you Ameri-
cans, when you fall in love, forget all
social distinction, but we French have
more irmness, and can conquer our
feelings. We marry for our family, and
we grow old and feel happy that we have
done a good action; this is true great
ness. You Americans cannot compre-
bend it,
Then you'll forget Marie" said /.
and won't see her any more7"
But will see her again." he replied.
"and only TO speak to her, that may
forget my unfortunate penchant; for you
know An illiterate woman disgusts me,