The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-04-26
MONSIEUR, MY HUSBAND.

And you mean to tell me my brother
proposes to marry Marie to Prussian?"
Mile. Archaim bault, the sister of the
well-known Strasburg banker, was for
once reused from her ordinary we'll bred
calm. She spoke shrllly, and her dark
eyes sparkied with rage.
Il do" said the ugly little able, 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 Archaim bault in Strasburg.
Impossible preposlerousl Marie.
the best match in the town-who might
marry a vicomte at the very least" and
the aunt CLAN ed 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 . statue or q
fountain. ''Marie-to marry Prussian !!
My brother must be mad, or you"-turn-
ing sharply to the abe, "are jesting."
Il 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. 1t
was dated Paris, and commissioned the
able to break the news of his consent to
the pretensions for Marie's hand of a
young German officer, the son of Ber-
lin millionaire. This the able, who had
been partially in NJ. Archaim bault's con-
fidence, took to mean that the recent
alarming failure Of certain great Partisan
bankers bad 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. Archaimballt
pleased.
But the able did not understand the
bankers postscript, which assumed
Marie's consent, and announced the ar
rival of m. lie 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"
lie. him arrive" Mile. Archaim-
bault leaned back in her chair, folded
her arms lightly across her bosom, and
looked-in 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
forbidding as prison portcullis. "Let
him arrive. He will not see me-"
mo" said the able quantity. "Your
brother desires that he shall see Marie
alone"
No she'll thrown into the beautiful
city when beleagured by her victorious
foes could have produced q sharper
effect. Mile. Archaimbau gasped,
paled, choked; took up her fan, then
dropped it, and burst into tears.
s'That is all right" thought the able,
cheerfully. when once they begin to
cry. they give in" Then he gave her
time to have her cry out. and. walking to