The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-02
DUVAL'S NEW YEAR.
A Happy French Marriage of Pure
Love.

A carriage and pair, with servants in
green hveries, the whole concern somewhat
frayed and worn in its magnifcence, drove
in one summer afternoon to the old town
of Saint-Jean -sur-Loir. The dark, narrow
streets were full of life; the place before
the cathedral was crowded with stalls,
carts, umbrellas and people. On the ca
thedral steps two stout citizens in white
walstcoats were standing each of them
umbrella in hand, talking over with some
excitement the last news from Parasitic
possibility of war, for this was market-day
in the first week of July, 1870.
There We're four people in the carriage;
little pale lady in black, with an elderly
Able beside her, who talked to her unceas-
Ingly and two young men smal'tly dressed,
as II for visit of ceremony. One of these
seemed plunged in gloom. Though hand
some, he was not nearly such a pleasant
object as his brother, who smiled a great
deal and sometimes made joke in a low
voice. Perhaps his jokes had malice in
them, which naturally made them I'M
palatable to the gloomy one. For instance,
as they drove through the market place,
the lively brother drew attention to those
two WORTHLESS on the cathedral steps,
Look, Charles, quick, there is your
father-in-law ~
Il
believe it is % he said in tone of horror
There he is He sees us he is comingn
the Able was saying at the same moment
to the lady beside him. "Come, come
Charles, M. Duval is an excellent man.
The Able showed little irritation Nine
De Mesni threw glance at her son, in
which anger and amusement and pity were
oddly mixed together.
do you see, Charles?" she said. ''There
is NJ. Duval"
melancholy Charles.
The carriage stopped and NJ Duval came
up to it, his red face beaming, his shiny hat
fourished away from his shiny bald head
There was great bowling and introducing
and complimenting. 1t was the Abbe's
business to fuse these discordant elements,
these families of noble and bourgeois, which
were about to ally themselves for mutual
benefit. The Able, from his position I'M
derstood both sides, loved BOTH was angry
with both.
After some talk, in the eyes of all the
admiring market, the two young men got
out of the carriage and NJ. Duval was
obliged to obey Nine De Mesnil by getting
in. The Able gave him his place. It was
fine event for the fat little citizen to dash
through his native streets by the side of
Countess. This was the reward of a good
Catholic, a Legitimist, so long solitary
among all the Republican and Imperialist
townsfolk.
The young men meekly followed their
mothers carriage through the streets and
out into the suburb of st. Martin, where all
the rich and fashionable people lived
Charles made no attempt to escape from
his fate, though he had several chances of
doing so.
This poor demoiselle will find Mesnil
desperately dull place, after all the attrac-
lions OF her town. remarked Louis, as they
passed some public gardens where band
was playing opera music
There will be money" said Charles,
grimly. SHE can live where she pleases
and |, tool shall live where please"
"She may prefer Mesnil after ALL"
II hope not l hope she will prefer Trou-
vile, OF Biarritz with Paris in the intervals.
The gayer she is the better l shall be
pleased. The less see of her the happier
shall be. A person who wishes to i've
with us at the chateau-a person brought
up by M Duval do you see-would be past
endurance"
IN. Duval is good Catholic, steady old
fell92T. l fear she may be respectable"
''No, no. In that case shall refuse to
marry her," said the Comte De Mesnil.
Louis only smiled, for he was used to his
brother He was sorry for him, too, though
he laughed at his oddities. This poor
Charles was one of the quietest and most
studlous young men in France. When not
buried among his books he was to be found
the park, or in the woods that clothed the
hills about the chateau. He generally car
r1ed gun, but never shot anything In
the evening he would brighten up and en-
terrain his mother with all sorts of odd
fancies. He was perfectly happy and
wanted no change. But this sort of life
could not go on forever. The family was
very poor; the chateau was falling to ruins.
Charles must marry and he must marry an
helress to retrieve their fallen fortunes.
They soon came to M. Duval's house.
standing back from the road in q small En-
glish garden, with rows of geraniums and
groups of tall, elegant Hlrubs. In the draw
ing-room they found everybody assembled,
sitting in circle of armchairs with foot
stools 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 Able, and NJ and
Mime. Duval were quite equal to keepingup
the talk, which flowed in asparkling stream.
Charles and Louis had nothing to do but to
use their eyes, which they did without
scruple, not grimace of poor Nine. Duval's
escaping them. She was a dark, thin
woman, with long nose and eager eyes.
Most likely, in ordinary life, she was sensi-
BILE person; in fact people said that M.
DuvaTs success was greatly owing to her
prudent management. But Just now her
head was a little turned, like her husbands.
She was full of airs and compliments, and
made odd jumps and bounces now and
then, as if she would have darted across to
kiss Nine. De Mesnil's hand but that little
lady's cool business-like manner seemed to
discourage any such outburst
Behind her parents, a curious contrast,
sat Nile. Barbe Duval, tall, round, soft
looking girl, with pale complexion and
large brown eyes, and a quantity Of fair
hair frizzed over cushions, Apparently she
thought the occasion serious She sat mo-
tionless, very grave, without q CLEAN of life
or fun anywhere about her. Once she lifted
her eyes and stole look at Charles across
the circle. Unfortunately she met his eyes
quite full fixed intently upon her, on which
she dropped hers and gazed at the back Of
her mothers chair.
This visit had been arranged on purpose
that the young people mightmeet and make
acquaintance with each other, all the open