Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-09-22
From the Evening Wisconsin,
A CLEVER WOMAN,
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

side, that only those interested can see,
This IS the history of great many
unions, a history that is often turned in
to bloody drama, as was the Benoit
marriage.
M. Benolt was smart commercial man,
well known In the town of Arlanges, where
he practiced with honor as his ancestors
had done before him, the trade of mer-
chant. Short of stature with round full
face, and rather thin grey hair, he looked
well enthroned behind his counter, and,
what was better, he gained a great deal
of money there. His friends spoke with
envy of the many thousands of francs
he had made-fruits of fortunate specu-
lations-and it must be said hard work.
With all this it would seem that NJ.
Benoit had nothing more under heaven
to desire. The public said he was hap
Ply, and everybody knows the public is
rarely if ever mistaken. Besides, how
could one fail to be happy with wealth
and wife like Nine. Benoit-a charm
ing little brunette with a well poised
figure and the owner of two big black
eyes sparkling with intelligence, hair
and teeth superb, and complexion so
fresh and velvety it made your mouth
water? Supreme happiness should have
consisted in being the husband
of Nine. Benoit. Young and pref
ty, but poor, she had contracted
this marriage for the sake of a position.
Once the sacrifice achieved, her lord and
master seemed very old and ugly to her.
He did not come up to her ideal at ALL
Disguised with the reality, she fell back
upon shadows. The vows made before
the priest were only for the body; the
soul could surrender itself to every
possible pleasure She fell in love sue
cessively with all the heroes of romance,
and above all the heroes of Alexandra
Dumas-those were greater than nature.
But at last one fine day all these in
offensive personages did not suffice for
madame. Her senses got the upper
hand. She passed over to the living,
and without disturbing herself; a new
Diogenes, she sought for a man, and
found one. He was not noble, he did
not wear the helmet of musketeer, but
he had blonde, or rather tow hair, red,
brutal face, and for social position, this
rare bird was the coachman of M. Be-
mott. What fall Nine B. loved him
at once and tod him so. The unfortu-
hdUC Iudl1, WIZ was Cd11Su OOSSDu, WIS
astounded and thought it was a jest.
When he found it was serious, and after
all he was not descendant of the great
Joseph of pure memory, he made no
ado and the sacrifice was accomplished
and he became the favored one
Poor M. Benoit He was ignorant of
all the evil. The guilty ones took great
precautions. But, unfortunately, at the
end of fortnight the unlucky merchant,
opening a door without forethought,
found Joseph in the act of plentifully
embracing madame. He became red,
then green, then white-unable to utter
a word. He shut himself in his room,
crouched with grief, and was seen no
more that day. From that moment his
wife, who before had shown him COM
plete Indifference, now hated him. He
became odious to her; she could not
bear to look at him or even his portrait.
On his side, NJ Benoit, one can
easily understand, could scarcely love
the woman who had brought dishonor
under his roof and whom he had found
in the arms of bis servant. His char
acter was too weak to resort to violent
means, nor had the courage to avenge
affront by killing the insulter. He con-
tented himself with discussing and for
bidding him to return, and trusting to
the tears of his better half he generously
pardoned her. Twas the act of a COM
moner, one can see; but still NJ Benoit' s
heart was sorrowfully stricken by the in
cident.
No one knew of the affair in Arlanges,
and they continued to cite the felicity of
this united pair to young couples as an
example.
In spite of the commands of his old
master, Joseph visited the house, and as
his visits always took place when M.
Benoit was away on business; they were
not less innocent or frequent. They OBJ
serve every thing Id the provinces. These
visits were soon remarked and caused a
great deal of talk.
M. Benoit knew nothing as vet, but a
letter charitably written by one of his
and teeming with details appraised him
he was being deceived. He flew with
no weapons but his righteous indigna-
ton and found in verify Joseph closeted
with madame.
He spoke emphatically, but his late
coachman, robust and hearty, pounded
him well and went out quietly, kissing
Nine. Benoit before his very face. On
the morrow the latter demanded di-
vorce
The day after his clerk knocked at his
door with some urgent affair and receiv-
ing no answer, entered and found M.
Benoit stretched on his bed, stone dead!
1t was an extraordinary event in Ar
langes. Every one knew that NJ. Benoit
had desired a separation, and they also
knew that owing to the disposition of the
marriage contract madame would en-
tirely lose her financial position that her
union with rich man had brought her;
but on the contrary as a widow she alone
would inherit fortune relatively con-
siderable. An assassination was spoken
of. and strange rumors were ahoat. Tt
was worse when on the morrow Joseph
presented himself to the magis-
trate and declared he had killed
M. Benoit, his mistress Nine.
Benoit being his accompEce; that she