The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-28
OUR STORY TELLER.
MY PORTER'S DAUGHTER.

Bon jour madame; any letters for me
to-dayT 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 du sirieme, but n i'm
porte; they were light and airy, and from
the windows beautiful vista of house
tops and chimney pots, with the Pantheon
and the pavilions of the Louvre, met our
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 ones
DEATH"
Jules took the letter, and was soon
deeply engaged in reading its contents.
"Read It, mon ami, and tell me shall /
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 a year. Therefore I shall not
neither weep nor laugh; so we will dine
at the Trois Freres,' and drink to my
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 soonl 1t
is my little Marie, messieurs," said the
portress, 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 1, grasping
his arm, for he stood rooted to the spot
gazing at the blushing Marie, "come
mon ami, long 10 taste the Burgundy
said /, fairly pulling him to the door
"Good morning, ladies'" added, and
we were on our way down the street.
al 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 il
handsome. Did you notice the bewitch
ing eyes she had land such teeth anC
as for her hands, they were as small anc
white as those of a duchess. am SURF
she has a fine foot and ankle, for he
figure is perfect. But forgot to con
gratulate you on your good fortune
Why, what is the matter? You are il
the clouds, mon cher"
No, no, not in the Clouds" salt
Jules. "I was thinking, that is--yes-
1 was thinking of my poor aunt. Blu
Mademoiselle Marie is beautiful; yol
are right; it is pity she is a porter
daughter"
Having honored the memory of tn
deceased aunt in a glass of Burgundy, w
drank to Marie, and we spoke of Marie
and Marie it was for the whole evening
Even the petit Uerr with our cafe wa
emptied in Marie's honor.
Alas, my poor friendl saw he wa
badly off when, for the twentieth time
the next morning he descended the si
-etdges to see il there were any letters
but Marie was not there, and madam
was out, so Monsieur Jacques kept hous,
and yules's pride would not permit hir
to ask the old porter concerning her. ii
was proud, was my friend Jules; of
good family in the provinces, he ha
been brought up to regard good birth q
one of the essentials which a wife mus
possess. 1t is thus with all Frenchmen
notwithstanding the many Democrat
principles they possess, pride or family
with them as striking as it was und,
Louis XVI. Though in the ordinar
intercourse of life they forgot or 10
sight of these principles, yet when Il
question of marriage is discussed the
revive in all their pristine force.
Eyes, mon ami" said Jules, layir
aside his pipe, and smoothing his lu
uriant mustache and beard, @now tn
am rich man | feel it duty / o,
my family to marry. But my wife mu
be Of good family; and Marie is not.
know what you would say; you Anne
cans, when you fall in love, forget
social distinction, but we French ha
more firmness, and can conquer o
feelings. We marry for our family, a
we grow old and feel happy that we ha
done a good action; this is true gre
ness. You Americans cannot comp
hend it,"
"Then you'll forget Marie" said
"and won't see her any moreT
"But j will see her again" he repli,
"and only to speak to her, that / m
forget my unfortunate penchant; for y
know an illiterate woman disgusts n
and am sure she is without an edu
ton"
An hour afterwards as l passed
porter's lodge on my way to the pc
Office saw my friend engaged in an a
mated conversation with Marie.
"You are disgusted with her, Jules
I asked on my return that evening.
az am more in lovezthan ever" he
piled; 81 she is as welf-informed and
complished as she is beautiful; but wi
would my father say?-she is but p
ter's daughter"
"Ah," thought ], "he thinks Of wi
his father would say; assuredly she
own pride,v