, 1888-09-12

ion, Charlotte has, and I'm proud OF it."
There is not much reason for it.
Brought up in the American fashion as
much as you like, 1 am only a poor, ig-
norant woman. but as for me l do not
understand how they can let a young
lady run about the streets all alone"
Run about! Pshawl But you shall
see, Gertrude, that Charlotte is a good
girl, and always behaves herself"
Possibly so, but it will come to no
good end, l warn you, and it will be your
fault, with your ideas of bringing up a
girl in the American fashion,"
NJ. Dufour was no longer listening; he
had taken a sudden resolution.
Gertrude, remove the soup, keep it
warm, and bring me my boots. I am
going to meet her"
The servant, still grumbling, has taken
out the tureen and is returning with the
boots, when all at once the street door
bell rings out a merry peal.
Its Charlotte at lastl" exclaims the
father, who was just preparing to re-
move his slippers.
Yes. there she is" echoes Gertrude;
and she hastens to open the door.
Nile. Charlotte comes into the room
like a miniature hurricane. A mig
nome face, smiling and merry; little
blonde curls clustering on her forehead
and neck; eighteen years, ~thirty-two
teeth, a willowy figure with gracefully
rounded curves, little feet just sufficient
ly arched, shapely hands neatly gloved-
these give the general effect; but there
are a thousand charming details, such as
the dimples in her cheeks and chin, and
the agreeable curves which promise much
and which already tax her natty little
jacket ribbons, founces, artificial flowers,
laces here and there; in two words, all
of papa's MERGERS shop-but nothing OF
the mercer.
80, you're here at last2'' the father
remarks, ironically, as he draws his chair
up to the table.
Papa, 1 want to tell you"-
Sit down; sit down to the table first.
You can explain as we eat; l will under
stand you better. Gertrude, the soup
but, papa, you do not understand.
l have just had an adventure, a true adj
venture"
"An adventurei' repeated NJ. Dufour,
turning quickly about in his chair, while
Gertrude cast at him, across the soup
tureen, a glance at once of triumph and
reproach, and which clearly said: Didn't
| tell you so9"
Eyes, papa, an adventure in an omni-
bus with a young III. -
I'm an omnibu it'll a young mani
Merciful heavens! ~ And -unconsciously
thrusting the ladle into his pocket, NJ.
Dufour sprang to his feet like a iack-in-
the-box; IAN adventurel What do you
mean by that2''
why, papa, an adventure with a per
fectly proper young man, l can assure
~ gafl f1A -, I'LL ,-,sl,,-
Let me tell you, mademoiselle, for
proper young men and women do not
Explain yourself"
ut is very simple, papa dear. And,
truly, you need not make your eyes so
fierce and your voice so big. You see, 1
had forgotten my portemonnaie-that can
happen to any one, can't It'll"
"Yes, yes; particularly to those who
have none. Continue"
II didn't notice it until the conductor
held out his HAND for my fare. What
was 1 to do, what could 1 say? They
might take me for a beggar, for a cheat,
perhaps. I wa perfectly crimson, and I
felt l was going to turn deadly pale.
Fortunately, while the conductor still
held out his hand, q nice looking young
man by my side gave the conductor a
piece of money and said, Two fares
This gentleman, seeing my embarrass
ment, had understood and kindly paid
for me-"
"Well, mademoiselle, these are nice
goings onl You accept six sous from a
total strangerl Better to nave explained
to the conductor, to the driver, to the
treasurer, to the whole company. Be-
sides, you should not forget your porte
monnaie when you get in an omnibus, or
you should not get in an omnibus when
you forget your portemonnaie. How
are you going to repay the young man
his six sous?-for 1 hope you do not in
tend to keep them as a memento."
but, papa, L have his card. Here,
you see, M. Adolphe Lindet, clerk at
the ministry of war;"
The father, not stopping to hear more,
snatched the card from the girls hand.
What" he cried, mot content with in
solently forcing on you a loan of thirty
confines, in disregard of all propriety,
this gentleman presents you with his
card in the bargainl Why, he is the
worst of scoundrels, your perfectly
proper young mani"
''But, papa, to be able to return his
money to him 1 had to know his adj
dress"
N. Dufour could find no answer to
this ingenious reasoning, and he tossed
the card on the table with a thoroughly
i~rritated air.
Il shall not dine this evening, - he de-
clared. Gertrude, go find me a cab. l
am going to return these six sous to this
Adolphe Immediately, and l shall give
him a piece of my. mind"
"Oh, papa, papa, you will not do thatl
1t would be SO ~ungrateful. Remember
hat this young man has rescued your
daughter from a most unpleasant pre-
dicament'-
IAN unpleasant predicament! Leave
me alonel He would put you in one,