The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-04-10
THE WIDOWS STORY.

N. O. Times Democrat Trans. from L. Figaro.
1t was six years ago; aud [ bad
then been two years widow. You
know whether loved my husband
you still remember, i am sure,
how passionately lie loved me. l
still wore mourning for him. My
daughter was five years old. We
were both visiting some country
friends, at the hOuseo of old Madame
MatOuchka, whom you all know,
and who lived about twelve versts
from Moscow. She had determin-
ed to get me married again and
in the hope OF maturing her designs
she had invited me 10 PASS the first
half OF the autumn season at her
place.
The only circumstances which
could have justified anybody in
speaking to me of a second mar
riage was that all my fortune had
been in certain manufacturing en-.
teIprises once very lucrative, but
at the time l speak of gradually
diminishing in financial Importance
through the lack OF firm aud skill
full management.
had not been in the country
residence | spoke of quite twenty
four hours when a friend of my
hostess came to ask her hospitality
IA Frenchman quite a handsome
young fellow, and highly educated
IA graduate of the EcOle Centrale.
| had always liked the French,
without regarding their prOteSta-
tious as altogether sincere. They
are quite charming, tOO-the des-
sert of the human species, or GER
tainly the entremits. AT least L
now tell you what | used TO think
of them in those days. Still, had
always been told that while the
French make the most adorable
lovers in the whole world, they
make the most execrable husbands
imaginable. Such were our ideas
in Russia.
Well, this young man, Nj. Claude
MarbIllOt, had completed his stu
dies with the highest honors, and
aud only needed small financial
start in order TO make his fortune.
Madame MatOuchk, who wished
him we'll, Immediately thought OF
me. l did not Immediately com
prehend my danger and exposed
myself to it with absolute inno-
cence.
NJ. MarbillOt rode we'll indeed
We used to take our ride through
the country every morning. NJ.
MarbillOt sang quite agreeably ;
our evenings werer spent at the
piano in the execution of duets.
NJ. MarbillOt knew a host of fairy.
tales and chIldren's games - the
funniest things conceivable. He
could cut out paper men as well as
aud was never afraid to go
down upon all fOurs in order to
play at "wOlf;" my little daughter
would cry if sue passed only five
Or six hours without seeing him.
Nj. Marbillot was in constant cor
with the mosC eminent
engineers aud scientists in the
whole world. Every morning at
breakfast-time, when the mail was
brought to him, he would hurrIedly
glance at the envelopes and ex-
claim: ats from that dear old DE
Lesseps'-or; "At last there is
the reply of friend Edison'-or
i'Here is note from my dear friend
Pasteur.'
SO finally, one day Madame Ma
doubtless thinking i had
become sufficiently fascinated, said
10 me:
"Haikona, there's Just the hus-
band you want-you will never be
able to find a better one. That
young Frencbman is just charming,
very charming 1 think, aud so well
educated and so full of good, posi-
live poetical knowledge. He needs
only one thing to make him per
Iect-a nice wife like you. Why |
be swears by your name he is al |
ways talking about the beautiful
Aud if you have rs much |
good common sense as you have
charms aud fine qualities, your
will be celebrated in less
than q month";
Now this brusqne attack upon
me proved a very unfortunate thing
IOr Madame Matouchka's protege.