The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-04-14
MONSIEUR, MY HUSBAND.

AHu you mead TO CelI me my DfOtlor
proposes to marry Marie to Prussian?"
Mile. Archaimbault, the sister of the
well-known Strasburg banker, was for
once reused from her ordinary well bred
calm. She spoke shrilly, and her dark
eyes sparkied with rage.
L do, said the ugly little abbe, the
great friend of the family, and confessor
TO Marie Archaim bault and that beloved
twin brother, Alphonse, who was killed
In the late Franco German war. The
able and Mile. Archaimbault (who kept
house for her widowed brother. now alb
sent for the moment in Paris) were
seated in the magnificent drawing room
of the Hotel Archaimb bault in Strasburg.
Impossible prepos6erousl Marie,
the best match in the town-who might
marry vicomte at the very least" and
the aunt glanced complacently around at
the tapestried walls, the heavy amber
satin draperies, the massive gilt furniture
and marqueterie cabinets arrayed as
primly as the garden outside, where ave-
nues, cut straightly as if by some sharp
giant knife, ended in q statue or a
fountain. "Marie-to marry Prussian
My brother must be mad, or you"-turn-
ing sharply to the able, ARE jesting."
q 81 never felt less inclined to do so
mademoiselle." And, indeed, the abbe's
wrinkled-leather face was twisted into an
expression of grave perplexity as he
leaned his elbows on his knees. loosely
clasping his thin hands, and staring
vaguely at the huge rose bouquets on
the Aubusson carpet. He understood
the letter he had that morning received
from his friend, the banker, we'll. It
was dated Paris, and commissioned the
abbe to break the news of his consent to
the pretensions for Marie's hand of O
young German officer, the son of a Ber-
lin millionaire. This the abbe, who had
been partially in NJ. Archaim bault's con-
tidence, took to mean that the recent
alarming failure of certain great Partisan
bankers had SO far imperiled the Stras
burg house that failure could only be
averted by this marriage. For Marie's
fortune had been temporary stop-gag.
and the young German was more than
ready to marry her without it; in fact to
make any arrangement NJ. Archaimbanlt
pleased.
But the able did not understand the
bankers postscript, which assumed
Marie's consent, and announced the ar
rival OF NJ. le pretendu" as immediate.
He wishes to have his first interview
with Marie alone, wrote M. Archaim.
bault. Request my sister that it may
be-
1t was necessary for the able to break
the ice. The roses on the carpet did not
help him. At last he blurted out:
This gentleman arrives to day."
Let him arrive" Mile. Archaim-
bault leaned back in her chair, folded
her arms lightly across her bosom. and
the neat black dress she was
still wearing as mourning, not only for
the young nephew murdered by the
Prussians, but for captured, subdued
and enslaved Strasburg-as grim and
as prison portcullis. "Let
nim arrive. He will not see me-"
No." said the abbe, quantity. "Your
brother desires that he shall see Marie |
llone."
No she'll thrown into the beautiful
,ity when beleagured by her victorious
oes could have produced a sharper
fleet. Mile. Archaim bault gasped,
oaled, choked; took up her fan, then |
iropPed it, and burst into tears.
That is all right" thought the able,
when once they begin to
'ry, they give in" Then he gave her
lime to have her cry out, and. walking to
ne window, gazed out where the town
ay spread out around the proud cathe-
iral, whose lofty spire seemed still
stretching skyward-the beloved city.
low all patches and props like some
wounded human being. But mademoi.
'elIe wept on, and he came back into the
stately room, thinking how much more
unpleasant this was than his usual expe.
fences OF the hotel; the evenings spent
playing picquet with M. Archaimbault.
Ind teaching the fair, beautiful Marie
English. Latterly there had been more
English and less picquet, for the banker
'fter losing game after game through in
'dvertence, weuld get up and go to his
'wn room, and the abbe, after taking a
ew thoughtful pinches Of snuff, would
'ut away the cards and join Marie.
Vheye she fat at work in the corner with
Ter aunt. They had nearly finished read
ng "Ivanhoe. and to-day an unknown
night would appear. How little they
ad dreamed of thisl
DO yon not think it would be better
o think how we shall break the news to
larie, instead of CRYING about it?" asked
be abbe, gently. Then as mademoiselle
ncoherently murmured something about
the shock" and "being totally nm
erved, ''he rang small silver hand bell.
The yellow satin ssportieres" were
ifted, and, as il by magic, footman. in
he fawn and crimson Archaimbaulk iiv-