The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-10
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nected with clanship and it cannot be denied
that union in families is delightful to witness
but of even such good things as these one may
possibly have little too much. So, at least,
thought young Hugh Lestrange when his
grandfather affectionately intimated to him
that the family of which he had the honor to
be the eldest bachelor representative, unani-
mously considered it his plain and obvious
duty to marry his cousin Pauline. Hugh's
father had been dead some five years, and his
great-uncle's grandson, Pauline's father, had
fallen in the Franco-Prussian war; for the
branch of the Lestrange family to which she
belonged was of French nationality, and had
but recently migrated across the water.
There had been family conclave, whereat it
had been resolved and carried mem. con. that
the common interests, pecuniary and otherwise
OF the house OF Lestrange would be materially
advanced by the matrimonial union of the two
young people. The result of this important
conference being duly communicated to Hugh
by his grandfather, and to Pauline by her
mother, twas confidently expec ed that both
cousins would regard the alliance in the same
light as their seniors, and enact their respect
i've parts with willing concurrence. Indeed,
SO far as Pauline was concerned, there could
be nothing unusual or despotic to her in this
parental arrangement of her future; for her
French education and surroundings had ac-
eustomed her to the idea of family arbitration
in matrimonial affairs, and she was not, as are
emily independence. She received the news Of
the proposed union with calm acquiescence !;
her cousin Hughes, as she called him, was not
likely to prove an unknd husband, and she
was content to let matters drift quietly 10 the
desired contamination. Not so, however, the
bridegroom-elect. Hugh Lestrange felt dis
tinct and deliberate injury had been done to
him, and he resolved to resent 1t. But being a
young fellow Of amiable nature, hating argu-
ments and dreading open rupture, he confined
the expression Of his dissatisfaction to a few
words OF mild remonstrance, secretly deter
mining the while SO to conduct his part of the
affair as TO demons rate unmis akably alike
to Pauline's mother and to the young girl her
self his utter inability to en- er in tile spirit
of the new character allotted to him.
1t was arranged that the necessary proposal
should be made, and the courtship inaugurated
at a certain country house to which, during
the hunting season, both parties had been in
vited. Pauline had but lately Quilted her
school in Paris, Hugh had not long left Ok
ford, and some years had elapsed since their
last meeting. Under such circumstances this
renewal OF old ties with new intent was re-
garded by the family confederation as an
event Of critical interest.
On the evening of the day which witnessed
the arrival at Shireton Manor of Madame Le-
strange and her daughter, Hugh was deputed
to conduct Pauline to dinner; and as the two
cousins placed themselves side by side at the
table, many inquiring and speculative chances
were turned toward them by those OF the
guests who had been admitted to the secret
Indeed they were couple any family might
have been proud to escort to the altar. The
young man, now in his twenty-fifth year, was
tall, bearded stalwart and fair-faced: Pauline.
thoroughly French in feature and complexion,
was not yet mean Of stature; and though the
national petulant and impulsive temperament
showed itself In the curves of her lips, the
truthful steadfastness of her brown eyes stood
sponsor for heart that was not empty of En-
glsh blood. What pity it was that, being SO
handsome couple, and carrying with them
the good wishes of all their mutual relatives,
and fine inheritance to boot, they could not
find each other charming But Fate will have
her way. Throughout the whole Of that criti-
cal dinner, young Lestrange, meditating on
his wrongs, was unsociable, monosyllabic and
unpleasant. Pauline disposed at first to &C
cept with affability such affectionate advances
as her cousin might make, when she perceived
that none were vouchsafed, assumed frosty
reserve, and stood aloof on her dignity.
During two hours-five courses and dessert
the pair sat side by side, prim, morose and
mutually uncivil; and when the hostess rose.
n thorough misliking had been established.
The incidents OF the remainder Of the evening
confirmed the opinion each had formed Of the
other. The ice froze harder and harder over
the hearts OF BOTH and before Pauline retired
for the night, she disburdened her mind to her
mother In voluble French, very much after the
following fashion,:
mamma, 1t is perfectly useless to tell me to
marry Hughes; he is altogether odious and
insupportable. As for him, he hates me; that
you must all have seen plainly enough He
hardly spoke two words to me all dinner-time
and directly he saw me go TO the piano. he
went of to the smoking-room with Captain
Lowell. He thinks himself to good for me, nc
doubt; you can Gee how abominably conceited
he is by the contemptuous way In which he
looked a. everybody, and by his air Of ill-bred
reserve" .s.E.
"But, Pauline, dearest,r pleaded Madame
Lestrange, deeply ehagrined, "suppose ali this
arises from shyness on his part Remember.
his position u rather a difficult one; and .
young man brought up in English WAYS, as he
has been, may feel more embarrassed than
would Frenehmaan uuder similar circum.
EtAncesn e tl
"Awkwardness Is not eharming," returned
faulinei land shy man Is hardly better than
arude ope. However, will give him another
chance tomorrow. but II he Is not nicer al
himaeif at dinner, | will have nothing more ia
DO with him, He Is not the only husband to
De nad In the world, suppose; and l am but
eighteen, after ali, and Just az good-looking
Ms other girls. Good night, dear mamma. 9
And with parting kiss and satisfied. glance
in the mirror, Pauline passed ligbf~hear ed to
her chamber
But next day things wore no better an
aspect, aud mademoiselle's second denoTncia-
fion OF her intended spouce was unequi vocal
and decisive. Hugh, on his part, saw reason
to congratulate himself on the course he had