The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-11
THE ROMANCE OF A NOTEBOOK.

Everyone in Paris knows barley, the
livery-stable keeper. His establishment
is now half century old, and he fur
nishes the Faubourg St. German with
all the carriages they hire. Many of the
upper ten have their homes in the coun-
try, and never take their horses to Paris.
Therefore Monsieur de Merisi, immedi-
ately after his arrival, went to see Oar
ley to engage a coupe.
After The usual salutations, the follow
ing dialogue began:
"Well, barley, l want handsome
coupe, with one horse; how much will
it be?"
"What will the amount of work be,
sirP''
"Oh, not very much. Inever want it
before five in the afternoon. Ipay afew
visits, and take a drive in the park. In
the evening want it to take me to the
theater, or home from the club"
barley refectively scratched his head.
"Well, how much month do you
want for itP''
Hum-let me see. For new coupe
and good horse, in May, the busiest
month-seven hundred and fifty francs
is cheap"
"What! from five O'Clock to midnight
or one o'clock in the morningP"
"You must remember that during the
remainder of the time l can't use either
the coupe or the horse"
"Well, let us say seven hundred
francs; that's handsome pay for so lit
tie work."
"All right, "grumbled barley. "Same
place, | suppose?"
eyes,
"Well, I'll send it round tomorrow. :"
An hour later barley received, with
the utmost respect, another important
customer, Madame de Belroy.
"Well, madame, what can l do for
youp Carriage, ehP Well, let me re-
commend a landau-in that madame's
toilet can be seen to the best advan-
tage."
"No, sir; as you see, am yet in
mourning, and came to Paris only to
settle some affairs.''
"But madame will pardon me if say
that in coupe her beauty
"No, Monster barley, am widow,
and l live retired. l want carriage
only for my shopping and such things F.;
coupe will do me-a simple coupe with
one horse, elegantly hued, but dark.
How much will it be per month";"
"That depends upon the work"
"Oh, it will not be much. At nine
O'Clock drive to mass; after breakfast
shall have calls to make and shopping
to do; at three O'Clock l shall drive
home. That is all, for never 90 out in
the evening""
"Well, madame, during May, our
busiest month, the price is seven hun
dred francs month"
"Too much, think. 1t seems to me
that six hundred francs
Come, madame, have just what
will suit you; something very elegant,
but quiet; lined with Sikh
"You tempt me. Well, be it so. Send
it around tomorrow morning"
And so it happened that Monsieur dc
Merisi and Madame de Belroy had the
same coupe by the month.
The gentleman found this out soon
One day he saw in one of the coupe
pockets notebook, with gray enam
eled cover and gold border, in which
were several cards. On the back o
some of these were memoranda, such a.
calls to be made, impressions, reflec
tions, etc. He examined a card, anC
read on one side: "Madame de Belroy
On the other side, in delicate feminin
handwriting, were penciled some APP
pointments, ending with cat tire
O'Clock, julius"
The coupe stopped at the club.
She must be a saint" thought Me
risi; "but who the deuce is this julius p
He replaced the notebook where h
had found it, and, alighting, said to tn
coachman:
"Some one left a notebook in til
coupe. Consequently, some one mus
have used it."
The coachman's confusion shove
Merisi that he was not mistaken. Th
name of Madame de Belroy was not ur
known to him, but he had lived so Ion