The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-30
BLEUET'S FIRST LOVE,
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
HENRY MURGER.

HENRY MURGER.
A blouse Of blue stuff of an elegant
cut aid ~tylishly fastened about the
waist by a narrow belt, cap OF blue
velvet ornamented with silk tassel
aud pan,aloons Of blue cloth-Such was
invariably our hero's costume, and to
it he owed his soubriquet.
AZ the time this history begins,
Blpuet was pretty schoolboy of ten
Years. whose nal urc and character gave
the life To his humble origin. His man
ncrs na, uralil affected Gf such phrase
may be uscd), his delicacy, his fine
features and the choice turn Of his Ian
yuage were not those Of q child of the
ppople, and one would have readily
iakeu him for the heir Of some rich and
noble house, so much Of the superb was
;boce in hi, little person. This defect,
which. however, was merely super
ficial, was due to blind maternal ten
derness. But. after all, is pri de a de-
feet? At any rate, Bleuet's pride pre-
panionships which are formed between
the children OF the same neighborhood I,
and the result was that he knew moth
ing Of the pictures que but vulgar vocab
ulary of the Paris gamin
In the same house W ith Bleuet, and on
the first Hat, lived Mile. B, whose
father was then travelling. This charm
ing lady had not been able to follow him
because Of q great infirmity which
forced her TO keep her room. She had
broken q leg through fall, and the
physicians Lad condemned her to absc-
lutte motionlessness. Conided By her
father to the care of a governess, she re-
ceived at rare intervals only the visits Of
a f.w intimate friends of her family.
The young invalid, who was terrible
weary of her isolation, thought one day
that she would make the acquaintance
Of her youthful neighbor, whom she had
surprised many times standing at her
window while she was singing. So she
asked her governess to invite the school
boy to visit her. But Bleuet judged it to
be in good taste to extort more press
ing invitation, and desired to know the
lady's motive for wishing to see him.
"She has service to ask Of you,"
answered the governess at hazard.
"But," said Bleuet, why don't she
come here and ask it of me herself?"
mile. B. cannot walk, or she GER
tainly would have come; so be good
enough to step down to her for an in
stent."
"Very well. Tell her from me that
shall do myself the honor to call upon
her presently"
The governess retired, greatly aston
ished at the fashion in which the droll
lad had received the invitation. She
told Mile. B all about it.
Bleuet made his toilet. He pomaded
himself for an hour, put on gloves and
got angry with lis mother because she
would not let him carry cane.
"What can she want with me?" he
asked himself, as he gave the bell a
violent pull.
The femme de chambre answered the
summons.
Announce me 10 your mistress" :"
said the schoolboy, briefly.
The servant looked at him with d
mocking air, and in a voice more mock
ing still announced:
"Monsieur Bleuet."
"You sent for me, mademoiselle," "
said the schoolboy, when he found him
self in the presence OF the pretty in
valid.
"Yes, monsieur, and l hope you will
pardon me for the arrangement l have
caused you. I have great service to
ask of you, and rs it has been repre-
sented TO me that you are a very
amiable young man, have dared to
Aope that you would not refuse me-"
Bleuet, who had pushed away the
armchair that had been offered him,
stood as straight as an before tie lady;
and as he did not lack q certain amount
of tact, although he felt dattered by
the politeness of his reception, he had
he idea that all these fine praises might
simply serve as q cover for some trick.
Hence he ,.eld himself on his guard, and
was ready to return fire should it be-
come necessary.
Monsieur" resumed Mile. B.,
with difficulty preserving q serious
countenance, "this is what.I beg Of
Jour politeLes ess You have very
handsome voice, and wish you to teach
me how to sing Meet Me by Moonlight
Alone!"
For an instant, despite his selfposses-
sion, Bleuet was disconnected; he had
not expected anything like this.
A flush OF purple mounted to his face.
But NJ lie. B., who was brave young
lady, wasn't in the least DIT frightened
ut the terrible glance the schoolboy shot
at her with all the fire of his black eyes.
She continued, calmly:
Yes, l would like to know that
beautiful song which you sing so well
and you will be exceedingly obliging if
you willteach it to me. Besides, l will
pay you for your lessons"
At the word pay Bleuet commenced
TO beat the floor with his foot, which
indicated the highest degree in the
thermometer of his anger.
Yes. I will pay you two cakes a
jesson!"
Bleuet grew scarlet and looked around
ior something to break.
"Well, M. Bleuet. you do not an
swer," said the invalid"
But suddenly she saw that she had
gone to far with the sensitive child.
Her innocent pleasantly had deeply
wounded Bleuet's self-love. He burst
into tears and tell upon the carpet in
violent convulsions.
When he revived he found himself
half lying on a divan, his head leaning
upon the bosom of Mile. B, who
was making him smell salts.
On finding himself in the young lady's
arms the schoolboy felt q singular SEN
sation. How did he get there? He
could not tell, but he certainly liked the
sensation, for to prolong the charm Of
his position he feigned a swoon which
no longer existed, and for quite while
he saw the glances of Mile. B fixed
Upon him with infinite tenderness and
i1quietude.
And he heard her mnrmur many
times:
Poor child! Poor child"
Her caressing voice, her beautiful
white hands and her balmy breath
which swept his face, all awoke in poor
Bleuet a commotion before unknown tc
him; but his excitement was increased
when the betwitching young lady
greatly alarmed at his palor and mo-
tionless, strove to restore him by Law
ishing upon him all those charming Ca
jolerins of language which women
know how to invent to appease children
And seeing that he did not stir and thai
he sill kept his eyes closed, Mile. b
more disturbed than ever, clasped the
sehooiboy closer in her arms and kissed
him IN the forehead, saying to him in (
low lone: =.