The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-04-07
MONSIEUR PAUL'S HEROISM.

How the Blanchards came to be liv-
ing in the little American Boarding
House: Fishballs, Buckwheat Cakes,
Baked Beans, No. II Albert Crescent,
South Kensington," is more than
know. They could no more speak En-
glish than worthy Mrs. Nesmith, our
Cockney landlady. could speak French,
and they were as unlike the young art
students who as rule RECALLED upon
Mrs. Nesm;th's American cookery as it
is possible to imagine. To us, the art
students, they were combination of in
scrutable mysteries.
Monsieur Blanchard was tall, stout.
forid, easy-tempered and young.
Madame Blanchard was tall, stout and
easy-tempered, like her husband; unlike
him, she was old and wore a wiy-a
stupendous construction of which she
was very proud, and the fabricator of
which she took pleasure in recommend
ing to her acquaintance. Why she wore
wig was one of the mysteries; for,
after all, she was old only by contrast
with her husband, being no more than
forty-tive years of age, whereas Mon
sieur Paul was just twenty-one.
That Nine. Blanchard should be very
fond of her husband, and proud of him
as well, "goes without saying" that
he should be so fond of her was another,
and one of the most inscrutable, of the
mysteries. Fond of her he certainly
was. however-fonder than French hus-
bands are generally supposed to be of
their wives. He enjoyed her society,
though he laughed at her peculiarities,
which were many, and she enjoyed the
laughter, and laughed back again at his
boyish pranks; for, in spite of his great
stature and his antiquated wife, Mon
sieur Paul was very boyish, indeed.
In this trait. although she made merry
over its manifestations, seemed to lie
Nine. Blanchard only trial. He will
never be a hero" she would lament;
land yet he has such surprising ca
pacity! His mother and used to be so
proud of him when he was little. Such
wonderful things he used to do! If he
would only exert himself, what hero
he might become"' But Monsieur
Paul was inclined to anything rather
than to exertion.
The Blanchards were very social, and
endured with the utmost good humor
the bad French which, in our eagerness
to practice that language, we all in
hicted upon them. The peculiar favor
with which they came to regard me
was due rather to the excellent French
governess of my childhood than to any
attractiveness inherent in myself.
Nine. Blanchard used to take me out
with her shopping or sight-seeing-that
might interpret for her, she said, but
in reality, as was evident. because she
liked to give me pleasure. Gradually
she came to consider herself my chap
eron, since, as she insisted, / was far
too young to go about without one.
And thus it came to pass that when
the time arrived for the Blanchards to
return to France they were very urgent
that should go with them. You can
study art much better in Paris" urged
Nine. Blanchard.
land she certainly ought not to be
here alone after you are gone. Julie, |"
added her husband.
In fact, you are perfectly right, as
usual, my child" she replied, patting
him on the shoulder.
We had been playing the game which
they were pleased to call vheesk, mon
sieur, madame, and I, with dummy for
. fourth. NJ. Blanchard he'd taken q
cold, and was being treated to trans
piration by his loving spouse. Hence
he could not appear in public, and
Nine. Blanchard had implored me to
come and help her amuse him.
Paul was wrapped in no end of dress
ing-gowns and muffiers, and his head
was adorned with q night-cap. This
decoration he had been inclined to sup
press on my entrance, but his wife
would not hear of it: " In this shocking
climate. mees, one cannot be too care
ful, and Paul has been subject to colds
from an infant. Impossible to figure to
one self how he suffers! Thank God
that we are going back to France"' and
she shuMed and dealt with rapid dex-
terity.
We played in silence, both monsieur
and madame intent upon every chance
of raking in the two halfpence which
invariably formed the stakes" Just to
give one an interest,"" as madame said.
Very soon. however, observing that the
invalid, in the excitement of the game,
was in danger of extending his arms too
far from the shawls which enveloped
him. the attentive wife put away the
cards and exhorted her husband to wrap
up his hands and keep quiet. Il was
then that my plans for the winter came
upon the carpet. and, as the result of
much discussion, 30 soon as due regard
for NJ. Blanchard's health would per-
NIT, after the perils of the Transportation
Al r n 4 n 60