Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-10-31
ADVENTURES OF A LOFT.
ERER.

oeau1Aui piacK oeard, elegantly trim.
med. a coat cut in the latest style, an
income of 5000 francs, a law licen- !
tiate's diploma in a drawer, plenty Of !
wit, much s~elf-assurance. a good heart |
and an honorable name.
Having nothing to do. he was good
for nothing. And how could he amuse
HIMSELF When a man is poor, the eff.
forts necessary to him. his humble dis
couragements and joys. his disappoint-
cd hopes, are occupation enough for
mis- mind. But it is quite otherwise to
the man who lacks nothing. Agreea-
BILE lodgings. excellent meals, rides in
the Bois aud u box ut the opera. are
all II MIN want, out they IRE not very
satisfying. 10 begin over again cyery
morning, and turn the same mill nil
Gay every day, makes Il pretty poor
life. So thought Leonce, us he tapped
the pavement with his heels in = mel.
a%nc'oty fashion.
Chance, however, gave him an idea,
n rescued hum from his heaviest mo-
notony-that Of living by himself. He
found h unex. cctcu, which is even
more difficult to discover than the
real.
He was mechanically following the
long arcades of the Rue de Riyoli, one
day. when he heard Two tull, JOYOUS,
amusing voices. lie saw before him
two rotund, solid men. with happy
faces. From the conversation, he
soon learned that they were provin-
cials. Happy meu! How they did en-
Joy themselves. and everything and
everybody! And what plans they
were making! For that day, the NOR
row. the next day. and the day after
that. They did not hope to have time
to see and do everything, but they
were going to try.
An idea flashed into Leonce's mind
like lightning. II do not know what
to do" he thought; II will do just
what these men do. Perhaps it will
be interesting. l will follow them all
day. and will be the voluntary slave OF
two men who do not suspect their
power"
Leonce did as he proposed, and at
the end of the day he was surprised to
find that he had really enjoyed him
self. He had seen in the very Paris
where he had been born g host OF
things Of whose existence he had never
dreamed.
The day having proved ",e ii the
most agreeable in his life. J.. once re-
solved to repeat the same method Of
procedure rs often as possible. Every
morning about . o'clock he wnut to
lounge i'll the Rae de E.:volj. ,,nd as
soon AS he saw Il ,.r,yi.. ciul Of attract
i've appearance icesavc the direction
OF his life for that day into his hands.
We must acknowledge that Leonce
soon preferred the !adies 10 the gen
tlemcn; because, to be- sure, the lady
brought him more amusement than the
gentleman. The woman is immensely
superior in imagination; her cap:ices
have infinite variety, the unexpected
has a larger part in her existcncc; she
mist see everything, and nothing ia
tigues her; she is entcrprising, ingcu-
ious, curious; in short, she is 4 wo-
man.
Leonce. then, preferred for his pur-
pose families in which there were wo-
men.
One morning he had good fortune at
the very outset. He was a man about
so years old, square built, rubicund,
and wrapped in an ample cloak; on
bis arm leaned a oma Of 81, tail
and thin. with q remnant of beauty.
mi. Dulaurier," said she, with not
the least caution not to be heard by
the passers, 1--WE can truly say that we
have a beautiful sight before US"
you are right \ thousand times,
Nine. Dulauricr! But there are the
girls far in advance of us!'
Louise! Louisette!" called Nine.
Dulaurier; and two young women,
who preceded their father and mother
by a few steps. stopped and waited.
Louise was evidently older than her
sister Louisette. She was tall and inn
posing. like her mother; she loved
linen Of dazzling wilderness lail in Or
der in great oaken presses. She WAS a
woman OF strong mind.
Louisctte, on the other hand, was
slender, fair and naturally elegant.
though she wore al ili-made dress.
She had small feet, and her long, slen-
der hands sought the green ribbons of
her hat with u gesture instinctive!y CO.
~uuettish, which did not escape L.once's
a~ll-seeing Partisan eye. He Thought
her charming, but awkward, and he
began to follow the four with q special
attention.
About 10 o'clock they all entered a
cafe for breakfast, and Leonce took a
seat at the table nea so rs 10 face
L%ouisette- In u few moments he risk
ed a glance at the young lady, who did
moi turn away her eyes. He attemvt-
ed still more, and threw all the mag.
netism possible into his eyes; but this
time the girl blushed slightly. lean d
to speak to her mother. and did not
look up again .
After breakfast the strangers took
the cars for 81. Cloud. still followed
BY Leonce.
After an hours walk through the
long alleys Of the park. under a
scorching sun. they hogan to fee
greatly fatigued, and Leonce heard
Madame Dulaurier exclaim: Il won.
der if we shall never come 10 Il drop Of
water! lam SO tired | am ready tc
drop"
This was Leonce's opportunity. and
he went straight to Madame Dulaurier,
bat in hand.
MADAME" said he. IL should heve,
forgive myself if l did not come Il
your aid. know this park thorough
"; and I can show you the fountain 0.
Sainte Marie. renowned through the
country"
"A thousand thanks. sir" said Ma
dam Dulaurier. surprised and charmed
BY the young mans grace of manner
He offered to show them the way t.
the fountain, and with much gayety
and kindly feeling they set out to