Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-10-26
THREE PROPOSALS,


course, was not one of the three. Oh,
dear, no! never would choose wife. 1t
is destiny with me or nothing.
In the fall of the year 1870 was one Of
a number Of guests at French country
house, situate out Of the fine old town Of
Troyes, in Champagne; magnificent old
places with the caves of the house meeting
above the narrow street; with its fine inns,
where the traditions Of the old school Of
French cooking are still preserved; where
you can get q pasty such as Shakespeare
heroes would have hOnered; where the girls
are rosy.cheeked and malicious looking;
where the priests live with the people, are
not addicted to reforms, and where simple
praise is the largest part Of Gods wOr-
ship.
There are many interesting things in
Troyes-the old walls outside the city, the
ancient college with quite reputation even
outside the town; but the browning glory
of all it the cathedral, where good King
Harry of England did most peremPtorily,
but CALAMITY, marry Catherine Of France.
bow happened to have time to spend
in Troyes is not a matter for narrative. In
brief, had been invited to spend three
weeks in the country. accepted. Hospi-
tally in the country has a delightfully."- in
viting air. Your hosts are prepared to en-
terrain you. In fact, there is nothing else
to do. Your room is always well aired,
and full Of subtle Housekeeping attentions
which are absent in the Whirl Of city life.
In the city you look after yourself; in the
country the house looks after you.
My host.ss, Nine de St. Cyr, and were
on the best Of terms. NINE. de ST. Cyr was
most positive but amiable woman, not
without good sense, We neverreallY agreed
about anything. But we always agreed to
disagree. And tOevery proposition l would
advance, however parsdoxical, Nine. de St.
Cyr would answer with a smile, and say,
Sweetly:
You are quite right.
This is true urbanity. Have your own
way. but always agree with everybody.
The General de St. Cry, friend and old
schoolmate ofmy uncles, was an excellent
man, also positive, and, for Frenchman,
singularly independent. However, he never
thought Of interfering with his wife in any
matter which he thought came into her
province.
TIE control, the education and the hapPi-
ness Of his daughter, mademoiselle de St.
Cyr, he left entirely to his wife. Was it the
Young lady's lovely face and delightfully."-
elegant carriage, her small Cupifs bow
mouth or general philanthrOpic interest in
the sex which gave me so lively an interest
in her welfare? Who shall say?
Let it be sufficient that one soft, warm
MONDAY Just after a delightful Ito o'clock
breakfast, Madame de St. Cyr and were
discussing the education Of young girls in
general with laten reference to MademOi-
Selle de ST. Cyr.
think that have remarked that | waS
Young. If any evidence Of this fact other
than my bare evidence, WAS needed, it
would be the delightful manner in which,
at that time | was fond of ignoring all
other prejudices save my own.
Doesn't it occur to you. said |, that
there is something wrong in the education
Ofy0ung girls in F'ancey
Yes.
when they should be out in the world
are they not in the convent? And when
they should be in their own home are they
not in the world?'
"Yes," again acquieseed Madame de St.
Cyr, with honeyed smile.
And then this thing of choosing q hus.
band for girl; making the whole matter a
mere transaction CT money! The young
girl, say, has dot Of 100 900 francs and
good character The young man has
fortune of $4,000 francs and a bad charac-
ter. Which is he to make up the good
character in which he is lacking, or the
5000 frsncs|
"The 5000 francs, OF course" again
agreed Nine. de St. Cyr, with graciousness
Don't you see, madame, that your whole
system is all money? Marriage should be
the conservation Of love. If your daughter
is fortunate enough not to fall in love, why
then she need not be married. In fact it
will be an strocity to ask her to do that
violence to her feelings"
- Sand suppose" added Nine. de ST. Cyr
quietly, that my daughter shall happen to
tall in love with young gentleman, and
the young gentleman shall not happen to
fall in love with her. What them
Then she'll have the consciousness of
having loved and lost Her life will be
sweetened with the ideal memories ola hope
unful6lled."
but is not a girl ike that in your couu-
try called an old mAIdT
This argument staggered me little. |
freely confessed to myself that the expires
sion thus wickedly made use of BY NINE. de
ST. Cyr did have an awful sound.
Besides, what viii you say to the many
happy marriages which take place on ex-
actly opposite pr,neiplesT continued Nine.
de St. Cyr susvely. "0f course. am speak
ing now really for the sake of argument.
i am quite OF your opinion, as q matter Of
fact But, in all fairness, We must often
concede that there is something to be said
on both sides. Nile. de St Cyr, as | sup
pose yon, is educated rAnglsise.
"A Ia whatY'
"a rAnglaise-on the English plan.
She is allowed to make free choice Of her
husband"
"My dear madame. you don't say so!'
yes, and this very day NJ, Frederic de
Lambert will arrive from Paris on the noon
rain to receive nv daughters answer"
Poor fellow, said o. how / pity bis sus-
,enseP
M de Lambert is of excellent family;
well Of, and. besides. quite good