St. Paul daily globe., 1885-02-15

Lorraine, anu an income OF lVu.UOU uVreS.
Win they do as much for you at Poullao-
ueDr''
"No, but I'll be in my element. Would
you ask fish TO take an income of 100000
livres and live out OF water?'
swell, Wen say no more about 1t. l
thought I'd mention the matter, as was
going by. A9t reOir You won't go without
bidding me good-by!"
The baron moved towards the door, smil-
ing maliciously. AS he was going, he turned
to CASTOR and said: Spy the way, this in
come of 100. 900 livres is the revenue from a
magnificent forge-''
CASTOR stopped him on the threshold: IA
forgeg I'll marry her Will you allow me
to call to- morrow to take dinner with my
mother-in-law?'
''No, 10. Marry Poullaouenr'
''Now, my dear baron!'
VERY well; so be it I'll see you to-
morrow -
When the baron had gone, CASTOR dOu-
treville threw himself in the arm chair, bur-
ried his head in his hands, and remained
wrspt in contem plation so long that his
India ink had time to dry. ''What In the
world does 6ougeoise mean by Offering me
her daughter and 1000 year!
know many young men who would
I have experienced no embarrassment
under similar circumstances. They
would conjure up romantic notions
to explain such mystery. But CASTOR was
as free from fatuity as Lucille was from
coquetry. The only idea that suggested it
self TO him was that Nine. Benoit wanted a
well brel forge builder for a son-in-law.
''She hes heard about me,' thought he.
''S0me one has told her about my researches
and discoveries; was well enough known
I in the Faubourg before found out the varie-
ties of the world It is evident that the fac
1 tory needs man to look after it: a mother
and daughter added together don't make q
! master of forges. Who knows but the work
may be neglected, the enterprise threatened.
| Wen, niorJlea. | viii save it! Outreville to
the rescue. as ms ancestors used to say,-
those heroic artisans who forged their own
swords" Hereupon he mixed more ink
and finished his design.
Next morning he walked rapidly through
the garden Of the Luxem bourg, until break
fast time. After y o'clock be shut himself
in reading room where he rumaged over
| the newspapers and reviews of the month.
1t was a long time since he had been
guilty of such q piece OF idleness.
Its fortunate that one does not marry
often; so little work would be done" At
half past six he was at the baron's. He eX-
pected to hear from the baron how Nine.
benoit had taken fancy to him for son-in-
law, bat the baron was as mysterious as an
oracle. He had too much regard for the
young mans pride TO tell him the truth.
When they reached the house on the Rue
Saint Dominique, they found two workmen
perched up on double ladder and engaged
! in measuring something over the main en-
trance.
Guess what they are doing" said the
baron. They are taking the measure for a
marble slab ON which will be inscribed: 'Ho-
tel a. OgtTail7e''7
''That's a good joke ~ replied CASTOR as he
was about to enter the house.
''You don't believe it! Come here, mo-
| nJent. Haloa! NJ Renandot, is that you.''
Yes, monsieur lie barop," said the marble
man. coming down the ladder.
GLOW long will 1t take you to put up that
slab?''
About a month, monsieur lie baron, on
account Of the coat of arms
what! It took you only two weeks to DO
the Marquis de CroiX-Mangars ~
"Ah. sir, the Outrcyillc arms are more
complicated" :"
That is true. Good evening Monsieur
Renaudot. Now sceptic"'
Come, old friend, what fairy tale are you
going to take one through"
well, there is something of 'Puss-in-
Boots in it, and there is a Marquis --''
MANY thanks."
"And of the Sleeping Beauty since the
future marchioDess who has never seen
YOU, is sleeping peacefully in the depth of
your forest of Arrange, waiting for the kings
son to come and wake her,
"What isn't she herc?''
''Wr will tell her how deeply you regretted
her absence"
mime. Benoit received her guests with
open arms. Notified of the way things were
going, she had ben to Carcme's and ordered
dinner fit for an archbishop. Little time
was wasted in introducrons; people become
acquainted so much easier at table. Conver-
SatiOn was carried on pleasantly between the
motheT-in-law and the sOn-in law. Gas
ton talked Arrange. Nine. Bcnoit answered
Fdubourg; and rushed headlong into discus
sous about nobility: be would make a cir
cumlocutiou and come back TO fOrges; thev
both persisted in following their favorite
ideas. This obstinate conversation eulight-
ened no one, not even the excellent baron.
who yielded to the only pleasure of his age,
and did more honor To the dinner than 10 the
conversation. Nine Bcnoit did not divine
her sou-in-aw's passion and CASTOR did not
suspect his nOther-n- laws mauia. He said
to himself: 'One Of two things either Nine
Benoit avoids through a sort Of 5oayyeoise
vanity referring to the subject that interests
her most; or sue is afraid of boring the baron
who has ceased to listen to our con versa.iou. -
Nine. Benoit was ali this time SAYING to her
self: THE poor fellow imagines he is doing
rue an act Of politeness by talking to me on
familiar topics; lac little dreams that / know
the Faubourg as well as be does" Wearied
with the subject CASTOR gave up talking of
iron and metal industries, aud Nine
Benoit found an opportunity of broaching the
subject uppermost in ner mind. She
knew her fathers ledger by heart. that prosaic
book of Partisan nobility. aud 10 make sure
tnat CASTOR was equally no in these matters.
she made him undergo a curious eyamina-
ton which he passed through innOcrutly.
and with credit. She reiOiced in her inmost
soul wucn she learned that CASTOR had diued
here, danced there; was joked IN this house
and scOlded in that one; that he had played
for ten years with such duke, and at twenty
had gone out riding with prince. She
wrote down In her memory upon tables of
stone and oraS- AT tue reiaIlNes. near anQ
distant, of her son-in-law. Had she missed
single one she would have imagined that
she did the family a wrong.
After coffee the party took a walk in the
garden; II was beautiful night Nine Be
mott told the marquis who her neighbors
were.
Here" said she, sis me residence Of the
Count de PreG1; do you know him.''
.'He IS an uncle Of mine, according to the
manner in Brittsuy."
The happy bourgeoise tFium phantly wrote
down the aame Of this unexpected relation
There" she returned, lis where the Mare
cbsIe lie Leus resides. II would be a strange
coincidence II she, too, were Of -FOUR fam
lily"
mo. madame. but she was the godmotber
OF my brother who died