Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-07
NJ ONSIEUR MAX.

MAX. n huIIdllts III Jul Hi'p1Ais ~
age of civilization, is usually considered an
Indispensable adjunct 10 every man above
the condition of savage, but monsieur had
apparently been sent into this world 70 dis
prove this. among other faLacles tince,
whatever had been his original condition rs
regards a family name, he was now to all IN
tents and purposes simply Monsieur Max
Monsieur was not an old man. In fact ne
was but q, though public opinion, influenced
perhaps, by bis great learning perhaps by
his hair. "a sable-sllvered" by nobody knew
what bitter experience, gave him credit for
at least another score; nor was he beauty,
except In the eyes Of Bertha Clayton, 10
whom the STOPPING shoulders, the brown face
in its frame of ron-gray, the kind, dark eyes,
and the patient, tender smile were fare
than would have been Apollo himself had he
visited her In person.
Bertha was an orphan, possessed OF wealth
which the people Of F. vaguely de5ig-
mated as millions" the care Of which 50 en-
tlrely engr0ssed her guardian and half-broth-
er, a New York merchant, that his little SIS
tor was left 30 the supervision Of Aunt Lett
ia. Bertha did not get on well with her
eOyeruesses," said the people of F.. In
her own opinion she cotton much better With
eat them each new installation was follow
ed by rebellion revolution, expulsion, ana
anarchy with the precision Of a geometrical
series, until Aunt Letitia In despair had re-
course 70 Monsieur Max, during whose reign
there was peace.
lie had at first been engaged 10 teach only
bis native language, but he soon proved him
self fully capable OF iustructing his pupil in
more important matters than could be found
81 textbooks; for when once and once alone
she presented herself fresh from chasing the
pigs, with torn frook, muddy boots, disheyel-
ed locks. and "a great apparent need Of soap
and water, Monsieur quietly remarked:
This Max so useless and unfortunate, has
presented himself too early this morning.
Permit him to look over the paper while
mademoselle repairs the haste OF her toilet
M0nsieurs influence over the spoiled and
wlllful heiress was truly marvellous, and yet
bis most severe rcproof was no worse than
"One does not do so in Paris, mademOiselle."
All day they were together, studying, work
Ing IN the garden, or absent upon long ex-
petitions after what monsieur called "specl-
mines" while Aunt Letitia dozed over her
knitting and rocked By the parlor fire or up
on the wide cool piazza. Surely, If mon
sleur had been ambitious or q villain the field
for his energies was sufficiently broad
Years passed away in this manner, and
Bertha grew mp into beauty and grace
which might have tempted any man TO win
her for bis own, even had she been penni-
less; vet stiIl Aunt Letitla dozed and knit,
quite unconscious OF any possible peril to
anybody. Bcrtha's 18Th birthday was now
approaching upon which she was to make
her debut i'm such society as the countryside
afforded But though entering the world,
she was by mo- means to part nom Monsieur
Max lie had promised to 20 with them
abroad and there conduct his pupil through
a course of operas, museums, and picture
galleries.
Al the birthday party, however, monsieur
obstmately refused 10 be present though he
came ont from F. on purpose to behold
her ia her bail costume with It's proudly dis
played trained skirt, and he brought with
him an eNuuislt" bouQuetpurcIy white as be
came the first floral tribute 10 q jeune lille.
Hesmyeyed her onXiou>Iy for dress was
10 monsieur, as 10 every Freuchman, very
important matter Behold toilet perfect
~ CONNIE IL fault, he said, witha kind smile
Undoubtedly, the eyes and teeth OF monsieur
were beyond criticism.
"Behod also q bouquet Of taste truly ex
qus.tr," replied Bertha. lit viii be my sole
consolation
"Eut howe Your sole consolation, made
mojscl.n. at your FIRST hall" laughing gently
as be spoke "Nhat then of the dances, lei
mes, "urs--'
Lies mrssicurs hah When the only on,
I,are to please viii be abscnt!'
The words were hurried out with all The
impcmosity OF the old Bertha, and were fol
lowed, she could have told why, by a burn