Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-22
ADVENTURES ALOITERER
From the French of Henri De Bornier.

years old, hada beautiful black beard,
elegantly trimmed, a coat cut IN the
latest style, al income OF $4,000
francs, law licentiate's diploma IN q
drawer, plenty of wit, much self as.
surance, g good heart AID an honor
able name.
Having nothing to do, he was good
for nothing. And how could he amuse
himself? When man is poor, the
efforts necessary to him, his humble
discouragements and joys, his disap-
pointed hopes are occupation enough
for his mind. But ii is quite other
wise to the man who lacks nothing.
Agreeable lodgings, excellent meals,
rides in the Bots and box at the
opera, are all man want, but they
are not very satisfying. To begin over
again every morning, and turn the
sarae mill all day every lay, makes a
pretty poor life. So thought Leonce,
as he tapped the pavement with his
heels IN a melancholy fashion.
Chance, however, gave him an idea,
and rescued him from his heaviest
monotony-that of living by himself.
He found the unexpected, which is
even more difficult to discover than
the real.
He was mechanically following the
long arcades OF the Rue de Rivoli,
one day, when he heard two full, Joys
Gus, amusing voices. He SAW before
him two rotund, solid men, with hap
ply faces, From the conversation, he
soon learned that they were provin :
Gals. Happy men! How they did
enjoy themselves, and everything and
everybody! And what plans they
were making! For that day, the
morrow, 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.
like lightning II do not know what
to do" he thought; Il will do just
what these men do. Perhaps it will be
interesting. Twill 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 borne a host Of
things OF whose existence he had never
dreamed
The day having proved one of the
most agreeable in his life, LeOnce re-
solved 10 repeat the same method Of
procedure as often as possible. Every
morning about 8 o'clock he went to
lounge in the Rue de Rivoli, and as
soon as he saw a provincial OF attrac-
tive appearance he gave the direction
of ais life for that day into his hands.
We must acknowledge that Leonce
soon preferred the ladies to the gentle
men; because, TO be sure, the lady
brought him more amusement than
the gentlemen. Fhe woman is i'm
mensely superior IN Imagination; her
capgces have infinite variety; the I'M
expected has larger part in her ex-
jsteuce; she must see everything, and
nothing fatigues her; she is enterpris-
ing, Ingenious, curious; II short, she
is y woman.
Le0rce, then, preferred for his pur-
pose families in which there were
women.
Oae morning he had good fCrtune
about sixty years old, square>built,
rubieund, and wrapped in an ample
cloak on his arm, leaneda woman Of
fifty, lali and thin, with q remnant Of
beauty.
IN. DaIaurior," said she, with not
the least caution not to be heard by
the passers, I'VE can truly say that
we have q beautiful sight before us. !"
''Y0u are right thousand times,
Nine. Dulaurierl But there are the
girls far in advance of usm
Louise! Louisette!' called Nine
Dulaurier, and two young women who
proceeded their father aud 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 whiteness laid in
order in great Oaken presses. She was
woman OF strong mind.
Louisette, Or. the other hand, was
slender, fair and naturally elegant,
though she wore an ill-made dress.
She had small feet, and her long, slen-
der hands sought the green ribbons OF
her hat with a gesture lnstlnctlvely
coquettish, which die not escape Lee
once's alieseeing Partisan eye. He
thought her charming, but awkward
and he began to follow the four with
a special attention.
About 10 o'clock they all entered a
cafe for breakfast, and Leonce took a
seat at the table near so as to face
Louisette, In a few moments he risk
ed glance at the young lady. who
did not turn away her eyes. He at
tempted still more, and threw all the
magnetism possible into his eyes; bu!
this time the girl blushed, leaned to
speak to her mother, and did not look
up again.
After breakfast. the strangers took
the cans for St. Cloud, still followed
by Leonce.
After en hours walk through the
long alleys of the park, under "a