Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-17

"And you mean to tell me my brother pro-
poses to marry Marie to Q Prussian7" Mile.
Archaimbault, the sister Of the well-knovn
Strasburg banker, was for once reused from her
ordinary well-bred calm. She spoke shrilly. and
her dark eyes sparkled with rage.
II do" said the ugly little abbe, the great
friend Of the family. and confessor to Marie
Archaimbault and that beloved twin-brother.
AlphOnse. who was killed In the late Franco
German war. The able and Nile Archaimbault
(who kept house for her widowed brother, now
absentfor the moment In Paris) were seated in
the magnificent drawing-room Of the Hotel
Archaimbault In Strasburg
Impossible Marie,-the best
match In the town,-who might marry q VI
cOmte 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 avenues,
cut straightly as II by some sharp giant knife,
ended in a statue or fountain. ''Marie-to
marry Prussian! My brother must be mad, or
you'-turn1ng sharply to the abbe--''are Jest
ing"
II never felt less inclined TO do so, mademol-
selle." And, indeed, the abbe's wrinkled-ieather
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 boquets On the Au-
busson carpet. He understood the letter he had
that morning received from his friend, the
banker. well. 1t was dated Paris and commits
stoned the able to break the news Of his con-
sent to the pretensOns for Marie's hand of
young German officer, the son of q Berlin mil
Honaire. This the able. who had been par
italy In NJ Archaimbauit's confidence. took to
q ole {nr f,fl ~ tot,
great Partisan bankers had SO far imperled the
Strasburg house that failure would ONLY be
averted by this marriage. For Marie's dot had
been temporary stOp-gap. and the young Ger
man was more than ready to marry her without
1t; In fact, to make any arrangements NJ. Arch
aimbault pleased.
But the able did not understand the bankers
postscript. which assumed Marie's consent, and
announced the arrival Of NJ lie pretendu as i'm
mediate 'He wishes to have his first interview
with Marie Alone" wrote NJ. Archaimbault,
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 Archaimbault 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, enslaved Strasburg-
LET him arrive. He will not see me''
mo-" said the able. quantity. s'Your
brother desires that he shall see Marie alone"
No shell thrown into the beautiful city when
beleaguered by her victorious foes could have
produced sharper effect. Mile. Archaimbault
dropped 1t. and burst into tears.
THAT Is all right" thought the able, cheer
fully. "When once they begin to cry, they give
In" Then he gave her time to shave her cry
out and, walking to the window, gazed out
where the town lay spread out around the
proud cathedral, whose lofty spire seemed still
stretching skyward-the beloved city, now all
patches and props like some wounded human
being. But mademoiselle wept on. and he
came back into the stately room, thinking how
experiences Of the hotel; the evenings spent
playing picquet with NJ. ArchaimbauIt. and
teaching the fair, beautiful Marie English. Lat
terly there had been more English and less pic
quet;for the banker. after losing game after game
through fnadvertence, would get up and 90 to
his own room. and the able. after taking few
thoughtful pinches Of snuff, would put away
the cards and join Marie where she sat at work
In the corner with her aunt. They had nearly
finished reading ''IvanhOe;" and to-day an I'M
they dreamed this!
''DO you not think it would be better to think
how We shall break the news to Marie instead
OF crying about it?" asked the able gently.
Then as mademOiselle incOherently murmured
something about ''the shock" and being totally
unnerved." he rang small silver hand-bell.
The yellow satin portieres were lifted, and, as
If by magic, q fO0tman, in the fawn and GRIM
son Archaimbault livery, with heavy silver
shoulder-kDots and loops. spotless stockings
and freshly powdered hair, stood there awaiting
his orders
TELL Mile. Marie" began the able; but the
fOotman stepped aside with q respectful obei-
sance, and young girl came in, dressed in
white with large bows Of black ribbon. She
was tall fair, with serene blue eyes under arched
brows and soft white skin-more like the
Belgian mother who had died shortly after the
birth OF the twins, Marie and Alphonse, than
like the French father and aunt, dark wtry and
determined. Perhaps the beautiful girls most
potent charm was her graceful throat and neck,
which deserved the epithet of ''swan-like,"
anciently bestowed upon the celebrated Matilda
OF Flanders. "Good morning." she began
pleasantly. Marie was always glad to see the
good natured, monkey-like face Of the able,
with those stray whisps Of hair which never
would keep In the right place across his bald
head. Then her welcoming expression changed
to one OF CONSERVATION. Ma tante and
she went quickly to her, kneeling down and
exclaiming, 'Papa?''
us perfectly WE'LL" said the able drily. "your
aunt has been crying-abOut you"
Ab0ut-me?" Marie looked perplexed
YES You have received a proposal Of mar
rage"
Inc auHt cfaSped hef neCeS hands, and
aYerted her eyes. smile fitted across Marie's
face-amused, incredulOus-as stray sunbeam
fickers upon wintry landscape. She had
rarely smiled since her twin brothers death.
But mon pe1e. there is no One," she said In
deed they had led secluded lives since the war
since their terrible loss-at the Hotel Archaim-
bault.
The able cleared his throat. s'Yes, there u.s."
he began.
"DO not tell her. cannot bear It, It Is an
insult" muttered her aunt
Marie glanced quickly from one to the other,
then she compressed her lips. PLEASE tell me
at once, she said firmly. "Whateyer it Is, l
can bear it. i have known grief"
Il have had letter from your father this
morning, In which he desires me to inform YOU
that he approves OF proposal made tor the
honor OF an alliance with you by young Ger
man."
The able repressed the contemptuous term
:" Prussian" out Of respect for the approved
aspirant. Still. 80 strong was the Strasburgian
hatred OF their present rulers that he felt
ashamed when he disclosed the intelligence,
aid could not bring himself to look Marie In
the face. Therefore neither he nor Mile.
Archaimbault, who sat. the image Of despair.
gazing into vacancy, saw the beautiful blush.
the drOOp of the eyes, the happy smile that
dwelt one moment upon the Young girls face