Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-13

educated he might have become q philosO-
pher, and philosopher, stingier.
1t often becomes an easy matter to gain
access to the confidence of men of like
age and character; their hearts are
readily touched and their pocketb00ks
opened with little difficulty. They become
credulOus and are easily practiced upon.
Thus it was with friend Theophile, to an
extent; his purse strings were continually
being lo0sened and his prospective heirs
were secretly trembling with anxiety
lest some unfortunate affair should con-
siderably diminish their Inheritance. NJ.
st. Pol, however, was, like many credit
lous old men, remarkably sensitive and
self-willed. He thought himself fully
competent to manage his moneys and
properties to their best advantage; at any
rate he chose to do SO; wherefore, credu-
lOus, but self-willed. he lived, and withal
generous and kindly disposed he died.
Gabrielle, his daughter. was one of
many; vain Of her looks, trifiing and
needless, yet fairly good-hearted, confid-
ing and agreeable from the viYacity OF
her conversation and the gayety Of her
department. Probably six months after
her acquaintance with Massey had he
asked her in marriage she would have
been delighted; but had she heard of his
betTothal TO some one else she would have
been disappointed, have cried a little,
have gone to the wedding to see the
dresses and ceremony and have cherished
a transitoTy pique. She seldom sounded
the depth of her feelings. AS it was,
however, she had not knewn Lucien in
timately quite year. He was passion
ate fellow, with the DEVILS elOquence; so
he made love to her in a way which,
taken with his personal comeliness, was
truly irresistible. She did not t-y to re-
siSt it; she revealed in it, and her black
eyes had so scintillated for the past
months that Babeau, her devoted mulatto
maid, was afraid they would be altogether
consumed-was it not that the eyes are
salamanderesque, and was 1t not that re-
Gently they had begun to shoulder with
tears and repidation-though intermit-
tently to blaze with anger on account of
Gaspard Rachal-''Le miSerGblew
Oliver had related an incident which
occurred In Paris many years before
something altogether extraordinary. st.
Pol, who had been listless and grave
against all custom, suddenly said: "You
know-that l don't like this protege of
yours to pay attention to my daughter as
he does?'
''He is an unexceptionable young man,
mon ami"
s'She has other suitors whom prefer''
''If you speak of my brother you honor
me, NJ. st. Poll
Il speak of your brother in particular;
he is man of position, of respectability /;
l esteem him very much"
Oliver shuddered mentally a little as he
reflected that it was Gaspard's money
and not his spiritual qualities which gave
him this responsibility. "DOes he please
Mademoiselle Gabrielle as much, cher
GHi?' he stealthily asked.
"Ahi there is truly some slight difficulty
there, we must admit, my dear Oliver;
your devil of gdilldrd has those advan-
tages of fire, youth, beauty and address by
which the foolish girls heart is somewhat
won over; but tout pdSSe, you know, it is
believe me-"
pardon me, my Theophile, but | do
not think il, ~ interposed Racial.
swell, sir,' replied st. Pol, crustily,
'there must be an end Of it. The boy is
no match for a daughter of mine. Ga
brielle shall marry with man able to
maintain her in the position she now
occupies"
MASSEY will be able to do so, some
time, depend on it," pleaded RACIAL.
why do you urge his interest and not
your brothers.? Is there something
wrong?1 cried the other sharply.
The lawyer flushed. ''Pdrbleu! no."
said he, and then after a pause, ''To
speak candidly, NJ. st. Pol, 1 have had
your daughters welfare IN my mind, so
much so as-I acknowledged make me
overlook consanguinity. / think deal
of Massey, and know him to be what l
have represented him to be-a man of
ability, family and good qualities. But,
of course, you know best. My brother
will undoubtedly make dutiful husband;
he will, l think, try to be a good one-at
any rate, he will take all possible care of
her. She will shine in society. Yet, /
must say, my TheOphile, where there is
no love there is no happiness. Here, be-
lieve-and it pains me to say it-there
will finally be disgust. l beg you wait
and consider. Who knows but third
a more eligible persOn-may shortly
appear"
But st. Pol shook his head in negation;
the lawyer prudently changed the subject
Of conversation, and they hobbed-nObbed
over their cOgnac very pleasantly till
late hour.
RACIAL left Theophile's house with a
check for several hundred dollars, signed
by Theophile. After a day or two had
gone by-for several days, Babeau, Mile.
Gabrielle's maid, went TO visit certain
sickfriend. On each occasion she carried
bundles. One evening, nearly two weeks
having passed, Mile. Gabrielle, Lucien
Massey and Babeau alighted from a fast
closed coach at the levee, a little before
the Flying Cloud backed out into the
river, and them the Flying Cloud counted
among the passengers on that trip up the
Mississippi to st. Louis.
".
Several weeks passed away. There had
been a domestic and social storm, the