The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-29

there was no struggling against him-so
she determined to cut the knot and es-
cape from the equivocal position which
chance, her heart, and Jean Louis. had
combined to form for her. She was
perfectly aware that Jean Louis was one
of those lads that are supremely happy
hand, or the shadow of kiss; she knew
very well that, happy in loving, happy
in knowing himself loved, he was quite
capable of asking no more, and of
going on waiting till eternity. Wait
ing for what? He himself could not tell;
but he felt q presentiment that there
were almost insurmountable obstacles
to his marriage with La Belle Bruno
with her rich dot; and he felt that he
was not in the position to overcome
them.
Now, La Belle Bruno began to see
very clearly that instead of falling, the
obstacles closed around them, and that
at some early day they would become
insuperable-so she took up her pen
and boldly wrote to Jean Louis as fol-
lows:
MY father has desired me to marry
some one. Go to him tomorrow, and
say that you love me, and that 1 like
wise love you, and ask him for my
hand.
Seldom had young girl taken like
step; never to her knowledge had
maiden said to young man, who had
not addressed single word of love to
her: you love me, and ] return your af-
fectiop. Yet, what was to be dope2
The following day Jean Louis dressed
in all his best, presented himself before
old Monsieur Martin, and said 'Pere
Martin, hear that you wish to get your
daughter married; and am come to ask
her hand of you
For q moment Pere Martin was as
founded, and then looked sternly at the
applicant. Are you mad, Jean LOUISE
said Pere Martin, with harsh tone.
NO, my father interposed La Belle
Brune, as she came unshrinkingly be-
tween them during the conference, as if
in order, by her presence, to establish
an equality of strength between the
speakers. No father, Jean Louis is not
mad. He loves me, and knows that
love him, and it is in consequence Of n1y
avowal OF my love for him that he asks
my hand. You told me to choose hus-
band. have chosen; and Jean Louis is
my choice
L will not attempt to describe to you
the fury of Pere Martin, for at that time
he was accustomed to see all about him
bend under his hand and before his iron
will. He saw his own child declare her.
self in open rebellion against the pater.
nal authority. He answered in loud
and imperious tone of voice. He heaped
curses and threats on the heads both of
Jean Louis and his daughter, and swore
hat as long as he lived, his daughter
should Never be the wife of common
laborer, who had not even ! to shell
ter her, nor fixed business 3 support
her. After having threatene& he beg
ged and prayed; after having expended
his vocabulary Cf curses, etbegan to
reason with the couple, and laid before
them the following propositions:
AS for my rich daughter, it is neces-
sary that she should have a husband
who has some means; as for myself, L
require son -in-law who will carry on
the business to which owe SO much
Let Jean Louis-since it is this young
man that you love so well-let him lay
aside the pick and the plow, which r
to this Gay have only just kept body and
soul together;let him put on Positions
jacket; prove himself to be Jealous, ac-
tive and economical-most absolutely
essential this. latter; let him amass dot.
and then you, my daughter, shall be his
If he can't do that, he shall not have
you.'
The conditions were sufficiently ea.
sonable, and La Belle Bruno accelAe
them. 1t was agreed upon, after much
discussion, that the day when Jean Louis
should become possessed of fifteen hun
dred francs, Pere Martin would call him
son-in law. In order to arrive at this
little patrimony, five years were granted
to Jean Louis. If at the expiration of
five years he did not produce the requir-
ed sum, then the engagement should be
at an end, aid La Belle Bruno must be-
come the wife of the man whom her
father should choose.
The following day Jean Louis pulled
on his long boots.
In less than year he had become the
most agile, the smartest, and-wonder-
full to relate-the boldest position OF
Bourget. His savings increased daily,
and you can well understand how beau
tiful and seductive were the hopes en-
tertained by the two lovers.
One fatal day, toward the end of 1916,
during fearful storm, post chaise
stopped at Pere Martins house. One
young man alone occupied the carriage.
Pere Martin urged upon him the pru-
dence of waiting until the storm had
somewhat abated, for the thunder rolled
with deafening violence. The young
man declared that it would be impossi-
BILE to stop. alleging that few minutes
delay might be of serious consequence
to him. We learnt later that he was the
cashier of one of the largest banks in
Paris, and that he was flying across the
frontier carrying with him a large