The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-14
niddle-aged bachelor lawyer. He had

LiluuiC-uSCA OdSuCtOI ldWyCTs liz udu
already romance; he would find Des-
moulins and Pulcherie, and then.
So he persuaded the young soldier to re-
turn with him. and assume his civilian
attire; to quit the army if he liked af-
terward, but first to come to England
and find Pulcherie and the kind aunt.
After much parley, this was agreed to.
Next day the lawyer called on NJ.
Dcsmoulins: found him bully and a
roue; quelled him by stern threats of
exposure in the tribunal and in the vii
lagc, where he was hated. Finally, he
succeeded in getting from him quit
tance OF all claims, and, with the French
avocat who had accompanied him, took
his leave.
In fifteen hours he was in London.
The business had developed in ro-
nance and Peter Whitney was as eager as
boy.
:
''Then you do not think the place will
suit me, " said Mr.. Barnstone, after talk
ing the matter over cit 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 r'
MAY -I-have the-refusal sir,
asked Peter, timidly
You, Whitney. you? are you going to
be Benedict, after all? Well, am sur
prised: My good sir, certainly. You
are a faithful, good fellow Take it as
wedding present. 1t will cost me little,
remember, and may do you good" he
added, hastily. ''No thanks, please"
''Miss Malais wants to see you, sir, :"
said a lad at this juncture.
'Let her come up, said Mr. Barnstone.
''My charming French client, "he added !;
''you shall see her." She is connected
with this very house my tenant. Ahi
here she is"
AS he finished speaking, Mademoisclle
Puicherie entered with little woman.
whom she called ma tante. She at once
greeted Peter Whitney, and in broken
English and more vo.uble French, ex-
planned 10 Mr.. Barnstone and her aunt
alternately how she had become ac-
qua :E:cd with the monsieur"
"Thcn you actually directed mademo1-
selIe hcrc?' said Mr.. Barnstone. ''If you
had known, you might have saved your
self 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 home
and find it desolate-our home We
must return, monsieur, to Dieppe. You
have been an angel to us. indeed"
''Not bit, madame, only doing my
duty; in this instance a positive pleas
ure. Have you-pardon me-all neces-
saries for your iourney?"
MADAME need take no journey to see
her nephew" p" said Peter, in French.
''How, monsieur! Is it possible-he
is-he is dcadl''
mo, madame; alive, we'll, and in
London. He returned with me; l will
bring you to him. met him near the
old home yonder."
60" said Mr.. BarnstonP, wiping his
spectacles. ''Run away, good people;
am busy"
So they went and found Antoine, as
had been promised, and after awhile the
three returned to Dieppe. The following
month, plain good Peter Whitney again
crossed the channel and spent three
weeks in France nsar his new friends.
Lo and behold the year after the old
farm house was again inhabited: not by
Antoine, who had gone away on promo
tion to commission-an officer; not by
the kind aunt, for she lay in the village
churchyard; but by "M. and Madame
Vcetnee," as they were called, who had
come for ''thelr honeymoon"
So Peter Whitney, the "o!d bachelor"
met his fate-a charming wife and some
fortune-in Pulcherie Malais-all, as
some think, "by the merest accident, :"
but you and know better