The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-09
GA LITTLE GOOSE. -

GA LITTLE GOOSE
There are many charming sentiments con
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 iestrange when his
grandfather atfectionately intiula ed 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 ia her, 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 conclaye, whereat t.
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, it was 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
French education and surroundings had ac-
eustomed her to the idea of family arbitration
in matrimonial affairs, and she was not, as are
English girls, familiar with the notion Of maid
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 unkind husband, and she
was content 10 let ma tiers drift quietly 10 The
desired cOnsummation. Not so, however, the
bridegroom-elecf. Hugh Lestrange felt q dis
tincL and delibera injury had been done to
him, and he resolved to resent it. But being a
young fellow of amiable nature hating argu-
ment, and dreading open rupture, he confined
the expression of his dissatisfaction to few
words of mild remOnstrance, secretly deter
mining the while so to conduct his part of the
affair as 10 demons rate unmis akably alike
to Pauline's mother and to the young girl her.
Of the new character allotted to hun.
1t was arranged that the necessary proposal
should be made, and the courtship inaugurated
at 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 - an
event OF critical interest.
On the evening of the day which witnessed
the arrival at Shireton Manor of Madame Ee-
strange and her daughter, Hugh was deputed
to conduct Pauline to dinner; and a. 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 q couple any family might
have been proud to escort to the altar The
young man, now in his twenty-nfth 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 he. brown ewes stood
sponsor for heart that was no. empty of En-
glish blood. What . pity it was that, being 90
handsome a couple, and carrying with them
the good wishes Of all their mutual relatives,
and a fine Inheritance to boot, they could not
find each other charmingl 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, distressed at first to &C
cept with affability such sffectionate advances
rs her cousin might make, when she perceived
that none were vouchsafed, assumed a frosty
reserve, and stood aloof on her dignity.
During two hours-fve courses and dessert
the pair sat side by side, prim, morose and
mutually uncivil; and when the hostess rose,
. thorough msliking 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 yoluble French, very much after the
following fashion:
MAMMA, it is perfectly useless to tell me to
marry Hugues; 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;
an ho ~ ma 90 N
went of to the smoking-rOom with Captain
Lowell He thinks himself to good for me, no
doubt; you can see how abominsbly cOnceited
he Is by the contemptu0us way In which he
looked a. everybody, and BY his air Of ill-bred
reserve"
"But, Pauline, dearest" pleaded Madame
Lestrange, deeply chagrined, suppose all this
arises from shyness on his part! Remember,
his position is rather q difficult one; and q
young man brought up in English ways, as he
has been, may feel more embarrassed than
would FrenchmAn under similar circum-
stances"
"Awkwardness is not charming" returned
Pauline; sand shy man is hardly better than
Q rude one. However, will give him another
chance tomorrow; but II he Is not nicer at
breakfast and luncheon than he has shown
himself at dinner, / will have nothing more to
do with him. He is not the only husband to
be had in the world, I suppose; and am but
rs other girls Good night, dear mamma"
And with a parting kiss and . satisfied glance
in the mirror, Pauline passed light-hear ed to
her chamber.
But next day things wore no better an
aspect. and mademoiselle's second denouncia-
ton of her intended spouce was unequlvocai
and decisive. Hugh, on his part, saw reason
10 congratulate himself on the course he had