Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-06
ELODIR'S LUCK.

Translated from the French, for the SUNDAY
UNION, by Mrs. N. e. Whitel
The observant reader may have re-
marked several times during the past sum-
mer, on the fourth page of newspaper
notices, two dollars and half. per line),
an advertisement couched in the follow
ing hieroglyphic terms, amply justified, it
must be allowed, by the aforementioned
exorbitant rates:
Y. unmar. l. from count, pref, disting., dow.
500 900 fr., will mar. gent IS yrs miit, magist.,
OF Paris: No matri agent. Writ infor. Made
leine T. T., $685.
All was not absolutely true in the fore
going advertisement.
Elodie Rabotteau, the party referred to,
was really and truly an unmarried lady
and, alas still remains SO. Likewise she
is from the country, since her father occu-
pies at Saint Colombian, an obscure country
town of the Department of Beauce, the
position of Justice of the Peace.
But, with regard to the other qualifca-
tions mentioned-between you and me,
confdentially, dear reader-firstly, she is
not pretty; secondly, she is absolutely
lacking in distinction; thirdly, the 100000
francs in question are principally erpecta-
tions, based upon the estate of an uncle-a
bachelor, it is true--but hardly 40 years of
age, and sound as a nut
As to the "no matrimonial agent" that
is also base deception.
NJ. I. L. 333 in reality Monsieur Theo-
dore Tardivel), is engaged in the some
what questionable business of negotiating
marriages, precisely like Monsieur de Foy,
of unenviable fame. But the shrewd Mon
sieur Tardivel has observed that certain
customers cherish insurmountable preiu-
dices against matrimonial agencies. There
are people SO fastidious that they would
not, for kingdom, ride in hired cab on
account of the red numbers painted on the
box. For such people the willy proprietor
of public conveyances has invented the
''club carriage" The fare is higher, but
the cab is just as dirty as the others, and
goes not whit faster, only the red num-
Der is wanting. On the same principle,
Monsieur Tardivel humors his squeamish
clients by the deceptive announcement,
"No Matrimonial Agent" which figures
conspicuously in all his advertisements for
the ever desirable "catch." Therefore our
skillful Spectator in human happiness has
no office in which to hold interviews, but
conducts all his operations by correspond
ence
One morning in August last Judge
Rabotteau said to his wife:
"Tardivel wrote me long letter this
morning, OF which | will give you a re-
sumo. He is willy rogue, that Tardivel!
Well, here is what he says: The mill
tary maneuvers begin in about eight days,
and Saint-Cclomban has been designated
to quarter regiment of cavalry. This
regiment is commanded by Captain Le-
comte, who wishes to wed some lady own
ing an estate in the country You under
stand the situation, my love !?
Perfectly. But this officer, you say,
wishes to settle in the country, whereas we
wish to establish Elodie in Paris, SO that
we can soon follow her there. l perceive
an obstacle to the proposition"
"You are always perceiving obstacles
Let us get her married first, and attend to
the obstacles afterwards. | shall manage
to have our son-in-law stationed at the
Fort of Vincennes by the aid of my friend,
the deputy We shall locate near the
Bastille and everything will be for the
best. Let us think for the present of
nothing but of giving some kind of appear
ance to the house. You must take Elodie
to Chateaudun tomorrow to have a new
dress made. At the same time you will
leave an order for the pia1o-tuner. You
must also find an additional servant, SO
OF tho oooly Ill he oA1
the dishes to the table"
"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" groaned Madame
Rabotteau, "what an expense!"
81 know it, but do you. or do you not,
want to get Elodie married? Here she is
past her twenty-sixth birthday. For the
last eight years we have been offering her
to all the young and old bachelors of the
canton, not to speak of the widowers. At
last an opportunity presents ITSELF we
must take advantage of it. Now then, my
good woman, bestir yourself. / will make
arrangements with the Mayor to have the
Captain lodge with u.s."
The first of September the cannon
roared during the whole morning on the
vast plain which surrounds Saint Colon
ban; then about four o'clock in the after
noon the approach of the regiment was
signaled.
The house of the Justice of the Peace,
from cellar to garnet, was on the qui rire.
The Captains room was as comfortable,
neat and inviting as that of Bishop on
tour of confirmation. In the stable fresh
litter over three feet thick had been spread
for the horses, and the wire screen which
yelled the mysteries of the culinary de-
partment did not prevent savory odors,
full of promise, from caressing the olfac-
tories Of the passers-by.
Soon the Captain appeared at the
wooden railing which inclosed this terres-
trial paradise in miniature. The stage
setting had been planned beforehand.
Rabotteau, under the well-trimmed, spread.
ing acacia, was reading the Revue des Deur-
Mondes. His wife, not far away, was clip
ping punches of luscious grapes from the
ripening vines, and behind the snow-white
muslin curtains of the parlor window
Elodie, at a preconcerted signal, launched
forth at the top of her lungs, with an en-
ergy born of despair, the following lines,
the worst production of which Ambrose
Thomas was ever guilty:
There it is that would live, Love, love or
die"
At the sound of the horses hoofs the
Justice of the Peace closed his Re,qte, and
his wife ceased to clip her grapes.
In a moment the Captain stood before
them, cap in hand.
Madame" he began, while bowling
courteously,." permit me to introduce my
self / am"
"Oh! you are already known to us,
Monsieur Lecomte. We were expecting
you"
The officer acknowledged his gracious
reception with a smile, and warmly grasped
the hand which his host extended to him.
Then he was conducted to the parlor, to
the apparently great embarrassment of
Elodie, who stopped her vocalization
abruptly, blushing and confused, as if she
had not had the remotest idea that Cap
tain of artillery was to set foot that day
within the boundaries of the district in
which her father was the dispenser of law
and justice
The officer, as was beftting an unobtru-
siye gentleman, wished to dine at the
hotel, but they quickly gave him to I'M
derstand that they would consider such
proceeding an objectionable affront.
You must partake of our ordinary
humble fare" said Madame Rabotteau ur-
Y L