Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-11-14


ing at the extremitics OF his swinging
arms, look as II they wanted to fall of.
swell, SIR" snaps Gertrude.
well, Gertrude" signs the unfortu'
nate man. afl,
Hadn't better take back the soupp'
"Do you think so, Gertrude? Charl,
lotte can not fail to como in in mo-
ment. II is even quite surprising that
she is not here now. When did she &c
out, and where is she gomez
'.Mademoiselle left mt four o'clock, as
she always does, TO take her piano les.
son. The lesson lasts an hour Hall
an hour TO go, as much TO come back.
Mademoiselle should have been able To
return, as is her custom, at six
O'clock"
'And il is thiity-fve minutes past
six" ....
''At this hour you know, the omnibus
is often full
deuce take the omnibusr'
"Or mademoiselle, encouraged by the
fine weather, may have wanted TO take
little walk and come back on foot by
the Rue de la Paix. And there are many
dress-makers', many jewelers. shops,
many things to see in the Rue de la
Paix, for young people.
"May the devil NY away with dresses,
and jewels, and young people too, when
they are as late as this! I'd like to
know what there can be to see at din
ner time? "A hungry stomach has no
ears;' nor should it have eyes"
without reckoning the lovers, the
coxcombs who follow pretty passers-by,
whispering in their ears lot OF
silly"
"Pshaw, I'm easy enough on that
score. Lovers! You're joking, Ger
trude, Charlotte is a good girl, thank
Heaven! She knows how to put a
whippersnapper in his place II there be
need. She has been brought up in
American fashion, Charlotte has, and
I'm proud OF it."
There is not much reason for 1t.
Brought up in the American fashion as
much as you like, ! am only poor,
igorant woman, but as for me, i do not
understand how they can let young
lady run about the streets all alone"
"Run about! Pshaw! 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, ! warn you, and it will be
your fault, with your ideas of bringing
up girl in the American fashion,"
M. Dufour was no longer listening;
he had taken sudden resolution.
Gertrude, remove the soup, keep II
warm, and bring me my boots. am
going to meet her."
The servant still grumbling, has
taken ont the tureen and is returning
with the boots, when all at once the
street-door bell rings out merry
peal.
'It's Charlotte ut last" exclaims the
father, who was just preparing to re-
move his slippers.
Eyes, there she is" echoes Gertrude;
and she hastens to open the door.
Mademoiselle Charlotte comes into
the room like n miniature hurricane. A
mignonne face, smiling and merry; little
blonde curls clustering on her forehead
and neck; eighteen years, thirty-two
teeth, willowy figure with gracefully
rounded curves, little feet just suffi-
GENTLY arched, shapely hands neatly
gloved-these give the general effect;
but there are thousand charming de-
tails, such rs the dimples in her checks
and chin, and the agreeable curves
which promise much and which already
tax her natty little jacket, ribbons,
Hounces, artificial flowers, laces here
and there; in two words, all OF papa's
MERGERS shop-but nothing Of the
mercer.
$50, you're here at lastp" the father
remarks, ironically, as he draws his
chair up to the table.
Papa, want to tell you"
''Sit down; sit down to the table first.
You can explain as we eat; will I'M
derstand better. Gertrude, the soup"
"But, papa, you do not understand.
/ have just had an adventure, true
adventure"
IAN adventurer' repeated M. Du-
four, turning quickly about in his
chair, while Gertrude cast at him,
across the soup-tureen, glance at
once OF triumph and reproach, and
which clearly said: "Did't / tell you
SOP"
Eyes, papa, an adventure in an ON
nibus with young man"
"In an omnibus! With young mani!
Merciful heavens!lr' And uncon-
sciously thrusting the ladle into his
pocket, NJ. Dufour sprang to his feet
like jack-in-the-box; IAN adventures!
What do you mean by thatp"
'Why, papa, an adventure with a
perfectly proper young man, can as
sure you," said the young girl, smiling.
LET me tell you. mademoiselle, for
your future guidance, that perfectly
proper young men and women do not
have adventures, especially in omni-
buses Explain yourself"
1T Is very simple, papa dear. And,
truly, you need not make your eyes so
fierce and your voice so big. You see,
l had forgotten my portmonnaie-tha
can happen to any one, can't itp"
Eyes, yes; particularly to those who
have none. Continue
~ didn't notice II until the conductor
held out his hand for my fare. What
was / to dop What could ] seyp They
might take me for a beggar, for cheat,
perhaps ] was perfectly crimson, and
/ felt / was going to turn deathly pale.
Fortunately. while the conductor still
held out his hand, nice-looking young
man by my side gave the conductor
piece of money and said: Two fares
This gentleman, seeing my embarrass-
ment, had understood and kindly paid
for me-"
'Well, madamoiselle, these are nice
goings-on! You accept six sous from a