The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-04

|sumeT ~ 81
Bat, while she was speaking small,
but very odd-looking little girl, in short
frOck, with a tambourine in her hand,
bounced into the room, and, throwing
herself into the Professors arms, with
strong French accent, screamed:
Darling papa, have / then found you?
How glad mamma will bel We thought
you dead"
Il am not your papa" said the French
man, turning pale, "Arc you crazy, my
dear little girl"
No, no, no; you are my papaP' cried
the child. DO not deny your Estelle.
Does she not know youf All, my heart,
it tells ME truel Dear mamma and |
have almost starved, but she has never
pledged her wedding-ring-never. She
plays the organ, | the tambourine, We
have suffered, but now papa will return
to us. All, heavenl"
"My gracious! the morals of furriners.
He'd have married missus" cried the
girl at the door.
"She tets one black lie. Never before
have seen her; believe me, Madame|
screamed the poor Frenchman. "Ah,
mon Dien, am I dreamingT
"Oh, Alphonse!" cried the widow.
"But there, | will be firm. My best
friends warned me of you. Take your
hat-go. Never enter nay presence again.
Go with your unfortunate child-your
poor, half-starved little girl. Go home
to your deserted wife. Cop
hnI,,,n =, e. ~ nn.al
the unfortunate Frenchman, losing his
temper in his excitement. "Belief
"Out of my house!" cried the widow.
peggy, open the door. Go! What an
escape have had p
The professor departed.
Mrs. Hunter threw herself into her
chair and burst into tears
After while she grew more calm, and,
taking a letter from a drawer, she pc
rused it.
"Ah ME! what deceivers those men
are" she said, as she pensively lay back
on the cushions. "Only to think he
could write letter so full of love, and
prove such a villain; but am warned in
time"
And she tore the letter into frag-
| ments.
The maiden aunt, who had not heard
word, demanded an explanation.
Biddy howled it through her ear trum-
pet in these words:
"The scoundrel has ever so many
wives and families already, playin' tam
bourines for their bread-the rascal"
And in the midst the door bell rang,
and Mr. Bunting walked in, with polite
bow.
Biddy and the aunt slipped out of the
room.
Mr.. Bunting approached the widow.
II called 10 apologize" he said. 81
was hasty the other day. Had | knowr
the gentleman was dear to you, ] should
have restrained my speech. ] wish yor
happiness; /"
"bon't, please" cried the widow. "He''
worse than you painted him. I've fount
him out, hate him. As for me, car
never be happy again"
"Not with your own BuntingW crlet
the bachelor, sitting down beside her.
"I'm afraid not" said the widow.
"Are you sureT' asked Mr.. Bunting.
"No, not quite" said Mrs. Hunter,
l "Then marry me, my dear; and try ii
l Do oh, doH
Mrs Hunter sobbed and consented.
2 After having white-culGred silk mad
up and trimmed with real lace, it wa
too bad not to figure as n bride after al
t She married Bachelor Bunting an
was very happy.
1t was well, perhaps, that she had nc
t the fairy gift Of the invisible cap pand di
not put it on and follow Mr. Bunting
a a mysterious recess in the rear of thei
:, ter, whittier he took his way after d
is parting from the widow on the night {
his engagement.
VI There he met little girl, small bJ
old looking, the same indeed who ha
v claimed the professor as her lost pap
p and this is what he said to her.
r "Here is the money! promised yo'
l. nv child, and you acted the thing exec
It lently we'll. l know that by the effe
YOU produced. She believes that he's
l. married man, and he can't prove to Il
contrary. l knew you'd be able to act
e. out when | saw you play the desert'
oe child in the tragedy"
" Then 500 were counted out into Il
little brown hand, and Bachelor Buntil
It walked off triumphat.
st TO this day his wife does not know t
truth, but alludes to poor innocent Pr
La Fontaine as that wicked Frenchma