Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-02-27
SELECTIONS.
ROMANCE OF A FRENCH COURT.
TRANSLATED BY ALEX. E. SWEET

A handsome, well-dressed lad,
was strolling past the stores on on,
of the fashionable streets of Paris
inspecting the contents of the show
windows, after the manner O
women, particularly those which
contained fashionable dresses ant
hats, referring of course to the show
windows, not to the ladies. A LITTLE
gentleman, also well dressed, follow
ed her. In fact we might Say ht
pursued her. Every once in while
he would stop and gaze on the lady
with undisguised admiration and ar
eye glass, and sigh as if he haC
been eating large quantities OF
unripe fruit. AS soon as the lady
saw him, an expression of disgust
and rage passed over her handsome
features. She hastily entered one
of the stores, closing the door after
her with a bang that sounded like
an imprecation.
"Don't imagine, dearest, that YOU
can escape me,n said the little man
who had followed her into the store
What do you wish ~ asked the
stork keeper of the lady.
~ wish you would protect me
from the impertinence of this man
who follows me wherever l CO."
"If | annoy you, madame" said
the little man, "you have nobody
but yourself to blame for it. 1t is
not my fault. Everything in the
world must have a beginning and SC
must our personal acquaintance
"That, sir, is very stupid joke u
said the lady, scornfully.
"I never joke, madame. Please
listen to me for few minutes,u he
said, persuasively.
l desire thus scandalous scene to
come to all end" said she.
$50 do l. Will you be kind
enough to take my arm, and | will
accompany you to your residence, or
anywhere. 0. | could be happy
with you in desert"
"Bnt sir, / don't know you"
"That's what distresses me. All
that | ask is for you to give me a
chance to become acquainted with
YOU. For your own sake, madame,
take my arm. I'd offer you my
hand, too, if l thought You would
take it, and my heart, too"
"1ou are an impudent fool. l
shall not take your arm"
"That's what | expected you to
say" replied the little man, with a
Sigh. "bnt, thank Heaven, l can
compel you to listen to what ! have
to say. | shall simply call on the
police"
"To return you to the asylum for
the feebleminded, from which you
are no doubt fugitive, or perhaps
it is the Jail from which you have
made your escape, for you look as
much like villain as you do like a
fool, which is saying a great deal,''
said the lady, her face wreathed with
contempt.
" Why do you propose to send for
the police ?" asked the proprietor of
the store.
''The lady will tell you Why" said
the little man. ado not allow her
to leave the store until / return, or
you will be held responsible by the
authorities. | will go for a police
man and a hack. Once more,
madame, will you take my arm and
return to your residence or shall / &c
for the police ? It is positively your
last chance. So long as the lamp
holds out to burn the prettiest sin
ner may RETURN as the poet says
Return with me to your residence
The anger and establishment OF
the young lady knew no bounds
She glared at the audacious little
man, and hissed "Nom with "a big
n.
After once more warning the
store-keeper not to lose sight of thu
lady, the little man went out. Every
body present was paralyzed will
establishment. The lady said tina
she was Baroness q, and lived OF
the Rue de Paradise. She wa.
about to leave the store when til,
little man reappeared with a police
] man.