The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-07-23

iaint away criea daoam Ara
belle.
Madam, / have confession t,
make to you"
"a confession Z"
"To me ?v
Madam, / love you"
Then Mederic talked to her al
hour by the watch.
He executed thousand variation
on the same thcme-"I love you.
And what is surprising, his declara
tion was not idiotic in spite Of his
loving sincerely.
The lady was naturally disturbed
but she was too much of Parisial
lady TO show her emotion.
"If / loved you, SIR" she said
raising her eyes to his. "what woule
become of US ~
IL am not constructing high toned
phrases l will only repeat wbal
probably you may know | was an
orphan when / married. | had 8
great name and g small dowry, and
my husband was very little richer
than !. | endured our moderate cir.
cumstances without complaining, bat
he guessed the trouble and undertook
to increase our means by speculation
which ended disastr ously SO that
when be died be owed l0o, 900 francs.
!
did not hesitate second to give
up my small fortune 10 order to be
queath to my daughter sn unblem.
ished name. A rich relation settled
gu income on me on condition of my
never marrying again Tell me, sir,
can deprive this little daughter Of
those luxuries which are necessities to
50 delicate child f? ! said, and | re-
peat, what would become of US if
loved you, since you are depsnde Mt
on teaching German Cor living? ?n
at is that, Madam, that nv crime
looms up in gigantic proportions
do not know a word of German"
What Yo1 have not even that
resource 2"
NO." said Mederic, smiling; "but
| have an income Of 100000 francs,
which will partly make up for it,
Then be confessed everything-his
name, bis visit to, the church, and his
talk with his friend-except that he
did not mention bis friends name, as
be wished to devise theatrical SEN
sation for the latter's benefit.
He had so submissive an air, his
speech was SO persuasive, that the
lady of the blue hat consented TO al
low the extenuating circumstances in
his favor.
She did not even insist very siren
uously upon knowing the name of the
offcious friend who had trumpeted
her merits so loudly.
Doubtless she said, gayly, at is
one OF my BANKERS friends who per-
sists in thinking | haye done a fue
thing, as the world hoes. We live
in time SO morally disturbed that
they who do their plain duty are re-
gsrded as heroes.v
Mederic went home intoxicated
with JOY. His head was in the clouds,
aud be felt like STOPPING now and
then, lest be should knock of star
or two.
And yet the lady had by no means
said 'yes' Still less she bad seid
mo-
The Marquis found his friend Paul
al his house
"My dear Mederic,n said Paul, 81
have confession to make. When |
came here three years ago, | swear
by my hoary headed ancestors, that
| had the most disinterested desire
to see you married | had a pearl in
my hand that | would have given
you on the spot, but it is well to dis
trust your FIRST thought, because that
is only good-it is second thoughts
which are the best. When | found
myself alone, l still said, Yes, Med
eric shall be happy. | haven't q bet
ter friend in the world Bot as |
walked along / began to reflect:
: Yes, 1 have better friend now than
Mederic--thas friend is myself l
returned to the beautiful widows,
aud begged her not to go to the
church of Saint Roch, OF if she must
go, OF least not TO wear the pretty
hat she wanted TO wear fer the first
time, for good luck Tten i muster
ed all my courage said TO her, 4
love you my cousin And she said,
My cousin, know it. And So nv
dear Mederic, have come TO invite
you to the wedding But now take
my hand for | have betrsyed friend
ship. One word. however, have
come and come again, several times
in hopes of meeting you | believed
sou had closed your doors on ne,
and felt like taking oifense; but final
ly contented myself with writing to
you"
Il did not get your letter.
Il thought you were furious at not
the lady in the blue hat.n
Il did meet her; and met her 10
such purpose that am engaged to
her, and now ask you to my wedding.
Only ii was white and blue hat. I
wrote to you"
Il did not get your leuer"
Il don't understand it,n cried the
two friends in chorus, with as much
unison as if Trey had been actors at
the opera comique.
ii want to own up" muttered the
valet, falling ON bis knees before his
master.
There is only one culprit here,
and that's l."
First / told Monsieur the Marquis
that Monsieur the Viscount was out
Of town; second, | closed the door
On Marquis the yiscount. | sup
pressed the letters of both gentlemen.
ro be brief, | acted like rascal, and,
what is harder to admit, like a fool.
wanted to prevent my master from
marrying, and / was fool enough TO
put him in the way of IT, If it hadn't
been for my folly ycu two gentlemen
would have met the next day after
that fatal Sunday. You'd laughed
little about it at the club. Monsieur
The Marquis would have retired from
.he affair as soon as be perceived the
feelings Of the Viscount toward his
cousin, and that would have been an
= 4.