The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-03

lent him money on security. Then
mon pere. he died. and my mother al
ready had passed to heaven. My SIS
ter and my aunt remained. Young M.
Desmoulins assisted us, for he pretend
ed to love Pulcherie, monsieur; aud i,
like fool, went away and left her.
His attentions aroused the fears OF my
aunt and sister. They wrote to me. I
was in the South; / could not come.
Then they found the wretch Desmou-
Inns had n claim on them; he broke up
their home. Oh, monsieur, 1 wish L
had diedl"
Peter Whitney noticed that the
young man felt very bitter against the
young Desmoulins, and feared he would
proceed to violence, SO he said:
Never mind; 1 can explain it. nj.
Bernardin is dead. Julius Bernardin
was the partner in my patrons Office.
have come to claim the property. L
will manage M. Desmoulins. Leave
him to me-"
A sudden inspiration had seized
the middle-aged bachelor lawyer. He
had already a romance; he would
find Desmoulins and Pulcherie, and
then So he persuaded the young
| soldier to return with him, and assume
his civilian attire; to quit the army if
he liked afterwards, but first to come
to England and find Pulcherie and the
kind aunt. After much parley, this
was all agreed to.
Next day the lawyer called on M.
Desmoulins; found him bully and a
rote; quelled him by stern threats of
exposure in the tribunal and in the
village, where he was hated. Finally,
he succeeded in getting from him a
quittance of oil claims, and, with the
French avOcdt who had accompanied
him, took his leave.
In fifteen hours he was in Lon
don. The business had developed
into a romance and Peter Whitney was
as eager as boy.
"Then you do not think the place
will suit me-" said Mr.. Barnstone, after
talking the matter over. 1T is dull,
quiet, not near the sea. No; will let
it to some young couple who want to
live and love alone. They may have it
for song. It's no use to me, and only
farmhouse after ALL
"May-I-have the-refusal, sir p
asked Peter, timidly.
"You, Whitney, vo1I? Are you going
to be a benedict, after all? Well, L am
surprised. My good sir certainly. You
are faithful, good fellow. Take it as
wedding present. Ii will cost me
little, remember, and may do you
good, !" he added, hastily. mo thanks,
please"
Miss Mallys wants to see you, sir,
said lad at this juncture.
"Let her come up" said Mr.. Barn
stone. my charming French client,
he added: "You shall see her. She is
connected with this very house-my
tenant All here she is.
As he finished speaking, Mademoi-
selle Pulcherie entered with little
woman, whom she called INA tante.
She at once greeted Peter Whitney,
and in broken English and more vol
uble French explained to Mr.. Barnstone
and her aunt alternately how she had
become acquainted with the "mon-
sieur.
"Then you actually directed made
moiselle here?" said Mr.. Barnstone. IF
you had known, you might have saved
yourself the journey. Have you any
news of your nephew, madame?'
ALAS! no; he was in Africa, in the
Hath of the line. He will come and
find it desolate-our home. We must
return, monsieur, to Dieppe. You have
been an angel to us, indeed"
an OF bit, madame, only doing my
duty; in this instance positive pleas
ure. Have you-pardon me all neces-
saries for your journey?"
Madame need take no journey to see
her nephew said Peter, in French.
"How, monsieur? Is it possible-he
is-he is dead?"
"No, madame; alive, we'll, and in
London. He returned with me; 1 will
bring you to him. L met him near the
old home yonder"
thetic way, told his story, and the
ladies' eyes filled with tears of Joy and
+happiness.
60" said Mr.. Barnstone, wiping his
spectacles. "Run away, good people /;
am busy"
So they went and found Antoire, as
had been promised, and after awhile
the three returned to Dieppe. The fol-
lowing month, plain, good Peter Whit
ney crossed the Channel, and spent
three weeks in France near his new
friends. Lo and behold the year after
the old farmhouse was again inhabited !;
not by Antoine, who had gone away on
promotion-an officer; not by the kind
aunt, for she lay in the village church
yard: but by IN. and Madame Veet-
nee," as they were called. who had
come for "their honeymoon.
So Peter Whitney, the"old bachelor, !"
met his fate-a charming wife and some
fortune-in Pulcherie Malais-all, as
some think, "by the merest accident, J"
but you and know better.
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Some Notable Manuscripts.
1 had much to do with Mrs. Stoves
II n.