Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-10-23
A TIMELY RESCUE.

IPOntOlSe. DrelccC OF Ine lllIle I"uu
Itown of Virentan, lounged back in his
Iarbor, the very picture of full-blown
.content. NJ. lie Comte de Ia Croiserie,
one of the most distinguished residents
in the neighborhood, had asked the
hand of Mile. Melanie Pontoise in
marriage. The happy parents could
hardly contain themselves for JOY. and
were eager to tell their daughter the
honor that awaited her.
Nine. Pontoise soon appeared, fol-
lowed by pretty, fair-haired girl, who
put her hand carelessly on her fathers
arm.
Now, then. petit pere, what is it
YOU have to tell me? | see it is some
thing nice. Another invitation to En-
gland, perhaps?"
mo; you have been too much in
England already. M. lie Comte de la
Croiserie has written to ask for your
hand in marriage"
.'But don't know him, mamma. l
have only seen him twice"
"Who expects you to know himP
We have not yet adopted the English
habit of allowing young girls to form
intimacies with men. Remember, you
have already vexed your father twice
by refusing two very eligible offers. Do
not disappoint him again by rejecting
M. de Ia Croiserie, the most eligible of
all. He is coming to q little dinner
zen familie, so that you may judge
of one another. And now l leave you
to choose your dress
Melane stood by tho window, gazing
drearily out upon the view. Her heart
sank within her. The count was fine
match from worldly point of view.
1t was very flattering that he should
wish TO make her his wife, but she felt
it would be impossible to love him.
Suddenly there came loud peal at the
door. Who could be ringing so vio-
lentlyp While she was wondering, her
mother came rushing into the room,
holding a card in her hand.
''Here is young Mr.. Paget come to
see your father. How provoking! just
as he has gone to the prefecture. Do
go down and tell him. You can speak
English, and you must tell him where
to 60.
Melanie stood transtixed. The event
which seemed so commonplace to the
mother seemed miracle to the girl.
Mr.. Paget was her fathers English
partner; it was at his house that she
had paid those visits of which Nine.
Pontoise disapproved. His daughter
Alice was her school-fellow and friend;
his son Tom was-well, he was her
friend. too.
She ran quickly down stairs. A tall,
sunburnt young man was standing in
the middle of the room, looking eager
ly toward the door.
.Oh, Monsieur Toni" she cried,
"est-il possible?"
"Why nolp" he said, smiling; "am I
so alteredP But. say, you mustn't
talk French, you know. 1 can'tunder-
stand word of that
Melanie laughed, but the tears so re-
Gently repressed were very near the
surface. Papa will be very glad to
see you,' she said, with her pretty ac-
cent.
Mr. Tom looked moderately elated at
the assurance.
II think you might say you were
glad, too, Mdlle. Melanie. for unless I
had expected to see you l should not
have come 100 miles out of my way"
just then her mother entered the
room. She was displeased to find
them deeply engaged in conversation,
and packed him off to the prefecture
without delay. But she never guessed
what her husband would do. He was
in such state of effusive benevolence
that he invited Tom to the important
dinner in the evening! Mme Pontoise
was immensely disguised.
Punctual to the moment, NJ de Ia
Croiserie arrived; well-preserved
man. over so. "A galvanized num-
my!" thought Tom, but his opinion
was not very valuable. He had learn
ed the state of affairs from M. Pontoise
and had at once conceived strong
prejudice against the count He had
always liked his sisters pretty French
friend, but he had no definite plan or
scheme in coming to see her. Now
that he found her again, no longer 3
schoolgirl but beautiful woman
whose life-happiness was trembling in
the balance, his feelings were stirred
and deepened. When they went into
the drawing-room the mother was sud-
denly called away, and the count and
M. lie Prefect had gone into the garden
to discuss matters by the light of
post-prandial cigar. Tom seized his
opportunity.
"1f you don't like him, there is still
time. When you are married it will
be too late"
Before Melanie had time to answer
Nine. Pontoise returned and the young
people separated.
The next morning M. de la Croiserie
sent over mounted messenger to beg
the prefect and his family to lunch at
the chateau.
After the ceremonious lunch was
over the count gave his hand to Mela-
ME and led her into the old-fashioned
garden.
81 wish to thank you mademoi-
selle, he said, gravely, "foP accept
ing my suit. I am older than you;
many think me austere, bat I assure
you that you shall never regret the de-
cision you have made"
Melanie said nothing, but her par
ents were voluble enough to make
amends for her silence. The count led
them through the grohnds to the river,
where he had ordered boat to be in