, 1884-01-12


where tOgether--at the theatre, on
the street, walking out for a, days
overwhelmingly leaning upon
one another the future wife already
under the protection of her future
husband. Never has this prelimin-
ary Intimacy shocked anybody;
never has this prologue to marriage
been aught else than a prologue.
One day when she was Is years
old, Aunt Ess had introduced into
her family the man whom she had
honored with her affection, and who
had solicited her hand.
A poor little shOp-keeper like her
But he was even poorer, and in
business Ona smaller scale for Aunt
Ess lad a shop, II counter, paste
board boxes full Of reams Of note
paper, and an old glove box full of
metqllic pens--whereas the man of
.'her-vnoicS had no shop at all.
Or if he could be said to have one,
it was so small that he could carry
it under his arm.
Karel was "A dealer in cigars-but
not one of those big spectators who
fill their huge warehouses with frag-
rant stock imported directly from
Havana. His whole stock in trade
"a peddler's stock-cOnsisted Of
little box that had contained extra
superfne regalias before it fell into
his hands, and in which he displyed,
with astounding ostentation, choice
cigars at two centimes piece. lie
would offer these to the smallest re-
tail dealers never having Wore than
hundred cigars at time, and sell
dom being able to get rid of them in
less than fifteen days.
This calling could not certainly
bring him in any more than what
her intermittent sale Of pencils, pens
and letter paper brought into the
purse of his betrothed.
Their engagement was thus effect
ed under rarely well balanced con-
ditiOns.
1t wasa love match because they
had mutually chosen each other
through affection.
1t was a strictly suitable match in
view Of the absolute equality Of both
parties in regard to fortune.
1t was also a sensible match, rs it
had been agreed they were not to
marry until they had each put by
some money, 50 rs to begin house
keeping without improvidencc.
They were very particular about
the last point.
Aunt Ess had formally announced
that they would not marry until
they had been able to accumulate be-
tween them the sum Of a thousand
florins. That was the least possible
sum needUu To rent larger store
to combine the confectionery bust
ness with the tobacco and cigar trade
to secure better sleeping accom-
mediation than an armOire, where,
in fact, two could not possibly sleep
and to bring up properly a lot of
babies who would take up a great
deal, very great deal Of room.
So from the day she was bctrothed
to Karcl, Aunt Ess-whom the
neighbOr5 had been wont to hear
singing at the bottom Of her cellar
as merrily as a nightingale on the
top Of poplar tree-Aunt Ess,
whom all the quarter had unani-
mously declared to be inclined to
giddIness-Aunt Ess became totally
metamorphosed.
She suddenly became hard per-
son to deal with when it came to
buying, and sharp bargaincr-
greedy for money! Nothing could
equal her business zeal, except the
zeal and ardOr Of Karel.
But it was not so easy to make
money after all. The larger dealers
absorbed all tine trade. The COM
bined efforts of the betrothed result
ed in little or nothing. Then he
tried to deal in higher priced cigars,
while she ventured to speculate in
the famous Bath paper, just import
ed from France. But this double
commercial operation was dOuhly
disastrous, and almost resulted in
bankrupting the little underground
stationery store and the puny cigar
business, together with all the mat
rimonial hopes Of the lovers.
"Let us not go so fast" they said
to one another, terrified at their
audacity; Het us leave speculation
alone. We know what we have got
and we don't know what we might
get, Wait We'll pull through all
right in time anyhow"
And they waited. They continu-
ed to live side by side, in that ten
der and discreet intimacy which
their betrothal permitted-rich in
love and richer in hope.
As for hope, indeed, their hearts
were full to bursting with II. And
they nursed illusions which nothing
was ever able to destroy-and long
caressed projects which they chatted
about every evening over and over
again-she sitting behind her coun-
ter. and he before it, gazing upon