New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
MILE. BARRIE.


worn IN its maguiGcence. drove IN one summer
stsrnoon to the old town of Saint-Jean sur Lor.
Tbe dark narrow streets were full OF life the race
before the cathedral was crowded with stalls carts
Dmbrellas and people. On the cathedral steps two
stout citizens in white waistco3ts were stahdlng,
Zach of them umbrella in hand. talking over win
"o,e excitement the latest news from Paris-the
possibility of war; for this was market-day IN tne
frst week of July, 1870 o,o
little lady IN black, with elderly Abbe beside
her who talked to her increasingly and Two youns
men smary dressed as # dor IN nise sIsom Though
handsome be was not nearly such Pleasalt ooJoo' @
as his brother who smiled great d9ai, a ,s ;nLes
times made joke in low voice PernaPs i1s tn
had malice in them, which naturally nane tno'n
nnpalatabe to the gloomy one. OF ihse, tha IelT %
broiher drew attention to those two w0rthies Oh
'ns IooE. Charles quick there is your father-in-
N. Charles frownod severely. @Hush l believe
it is ~ he said in tone of horror. ,,,<
"There he is. He sees us; he is coming, the Ao9e
was saving at the same moment TO the lady beside
him. "Come, come, Charles, NJ. Duval Is an eAcei-
The Able showed little irritation. Madame de
Mesnil threw a glance at her son. in which anger
and amusement and pity were ouuly lh'Ao"
aDo You see, Charlesp she said, "Thers is NJ
see NJ. Duval. mother" replied the melancholy
The carriage stopped, and NJ. puval came up to it,
frS s reh his sbny bad head There was great bow
inc and introducing and complimontng. 1t was
the Abbes business to fuse these discordant ele,
ments these families of noble and bourgeois whlch
were about to ally themselves for mutual benefit
The Abbe from his position, understood. both Sides
loved both, angry with tn he IN tne depIiiis i
of his heart was ready to punch NJ Duyal ior hls
vulgar boastful satisfaction, as well Charles for
his Qlum and naughty indifference. A., .s.;.,
After some talk, in the eyes of all the admiring
market, the two young men got ont Of the carriage
and NJ Duval was obliged to obey, Madame de
esn BY getting m for the fat little citizen to dash
through his native streets by the side OF countess
This the reward OF good Cathoo; heg'tl nnd
imperialist townsfolk, They would not give hin
any pablc office at Saint-Jean.s -Loir What did
stretched out hand to hnn. and chose his only
daughter the heiress Of his earned milions 10
be the wife Of its head This Eas the DONG U sss
by Madame de Mesni to find wife for her son. Nj
Duval was so much excited that he did not even
son.in-law Charles, who was Comte de Mesnil to
the ends of his hair, and Louis. quite contented
with s & E0fe tho BRAIN of DaIa
The yorng men meeky followed their mothers
carriage through the streets, and out into the the
ionable people lived Charles made no attempt to
escape from his fate though he had several chances
OF doing So For they crossed the river they passed
a train for Paris was just starting. Inc young
Count. however. seemed to feel nothing but stern
resignation. He had even arranged his future life
according to necessity.
aThis poor denOiselle will find 'Mesnil desper
atey dull place. after all the distractions of her
town. remarked Louis, as they passed some public
gardens where band was playing Sa opera muslG r,,r
win hsra be mon said anS Charles f% ss
She may prefer Mesnl after alL'
al hope not. ! hope she will prefer lrouville or
Biarrtz, with Paris in the intervals. The gayer she
is the better shall be pleased. The less see OF
her the happier shall be. person who wishes TO
live with at the chateau-a person brought up by
H. Duval, do you see-would be past endurance"
AN Duval is good CATHOLIC a steady. old fellow.
! fear she may be respectable" said Louis. .
mo. no. In that case shall refuse to marry her."
said the Comte de Mesnil.
He was sorry for him, too, though he laughed at
his oddities This poor Charles was one of the |
Quietest and most studious young men IN France. |
found strayng alone among the shady alleys OF the |
park or in the woods that clothed the hills about |
shot anything. In the evening he would brighten
up and entertain his mother with all sorts OF odd
fsness He He. was perfectly ct a hapPya na wanted no
ever. The family was very poor the chateau was
falling to ruins. Charles must marry, and he must
marry an heiress 10 retrieve their fallen fortunes
He was obedent, but miserable. and his dream now
was that marriage should make no alteration in
his habits; that his wife and he should be quite
independent of each other. amusing themselves III
their own way, and only meeting now ana then.
Thus quiet. domestic woman, who would not care
possibility dreaded by Charles. A young bour-
gecise, to be entertained and considered with the
right 10 follow MIN even INTO his library! HOW
was such horror TO be bornef
They soon came to NJ. Duvars house. standing
back from the road in smart English garden, with
of geraniums and groups of tall elegant shrubs
In the drawing room they found everybody assem-
bled sitting in a circle of armchairs with foOstoos
before them and here and there plant with great
red leaves reflected in the shining floor The two
young men took their places IN the background
behind their mothers chair. She, the Abbe. and
NJ and Madame Duval were quite equal to keeping
up the talk, which flowed in sparkling stream.
Charles and Louis had nothing to do bat to use
their eyes. which they did without scrupe, not a
primace of poor Madame Duyals escaping them.
She was dark. thin woman. with long nose and
eager eyes Most likely, in ordinary life che was a
sensible person. in fact. people said that NJ. Duvals
success was greatly owing TO her prudent manage
ment. But just now her head was little turned,
like her husbands. She was full OF airs and COM
pliments, and made odd jumps and bOunces now
and then as If she would have darted to kiss
Madame de MesDPs hand but that little lady's
cool business like manner seemed to discourage any
such outburst
Behini her parents, curious contrast, sat
Mademoiselle Barbe Duval, tall, round, softlo0k
ing girl with pale complexion and large brown
eyes, and quantity of fair hair frizzed over cush
ions Apparently she thought the occasion serious
She sat motionless very grave. without CLEAN
of life fun anywhere about her. Once she lifted
circle Unfortunately, she met his eyes quite full
fixed intenty upon her, on which she dropped hers |
and eazed at the back of her mothers chair.
This visit had been arranged on purpose that the
young people might meet and make acquaintance
with each other all the opening negotiations having
been carried on between their parents with the help
of the Abbe The consent of the two most interested
now the only thing wanting, and that was a |
matter of form. NJ. de Mesnil could not well draw
back now that he had allowed himself TO be offered
and the only feeling possible to Mademoiselle
Duval was thankfulness for her good fortune Her
parents might just well have married her TO some
worthy man IN their own class who would GER
tainly have. provided himself with much longer
purse than Monsieur de Mesnips before he presumed
to ask for NJ. Duvals daughter. Ii was charmingly
romantic OF the Dnvals TO scorn such low alliances
and to choose such son-in-law as Charles-nOble |
fbanasSme, tbnns Ell mss,ia5eholy poor perfect hero
sulky look only made her say to herself: lie is |
VKha tiovf To- alxoh