The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-23


childhood, behind the paternal counter; but
she had been educated in a fashionable
: artisan school, from which she had brought
away all manner of ambitions. In her
dreams for the future she saw noblemen at
her feet and she would not have thought a
crown misplaced had it been made to rest
on her magnificent yellow hair. 1t was,
therefore, no wonder, that the Comte de
| Prevaret's visit had not much surprised
her. She saw in it simply the natural result
of her beauty. She received her father,
when he returned, with a superior smile OF
| calm fatuousness, while Nine. Tarvenue,
who was most unsophisticated in her new
| grandeur, exclaimed agitatedly: III you
| only knew whom we have Just missed!'
"Oh! You think Idon't know" replied the
good man, trying to look very subtle. 80
| he has come to make his proposal, has he"
ITO mako his proposal'" quavercd Nine.
| Tarvenue. "You knew, theni"
1T is to be hoped that l did know" re-
marked n. Tarvenue with Importance. "He
said to me only this morning: ut is time
we came to an understanding. Eusebe is
fairly wasting away; he is so much in love
with Solange."
| 'Eusebal OF whom are you tallingw
"Of my friend Ramillat, who is most anx-
ious that Solauge should marry his son."
IN Ramillat did not call. But the Comte
de Prevaret rang the door-bell while you
were away" And Solange, having pro-
nounced these words, majestically left the
| room.
an. de Prevaretv exclaimed NJ. Tarvenue.
"Why, yes" said madam, initiating her
daughters self-possessed and indifferent
mien. "Solange is not astonished. He has
been noticing her great deal of late. And
| if he should want to marry her there would
be nothing surprising in that either. She is
| handsome enough to make messalliance
| possible
A discussion then arose between Nine.
| Tarvenue and her daughter as to whether
they should CALL in their turn, on the dowa-
ger countess-a discussion which was thus
concluded by the young lady:
ION general principles it should be papa
who returned the call. But he would not
know how to appear in way that would do
| us justice. Now If it were l. having the
habit of the world, should know how to
manage perfectly. SO, it is best that mamma
| and l should go to call on the countess. BY
doing so we will make her understand that
we are very willing to know her, but not
willing to accept the attentions Of her son
| against her wishes"
| The plan was cieverly conceived, and q
week later was carried out.
On the same day the dowager Countess
de Prevaret was chatting with her son in a
large salon filled with fine old furniture.
He, who was the most touchiugly devoted
OF sons, had been asking his mother how
she had passed the afternoon. She had
been too tired to receive, she said. But
| there had been several callers. "Among
others these"-and she took up card
mime. Tarvcnue" and mademoiselle.
''Do you know these peOpIel" asked the
| countess. II was surprised to get their
card"
~ know them and don't. He used to be
linen draper, think. He is out of bust
ness now. They sit near you in church
the father is little man with spectacles
the mother very stout and rubcund; the
daughter superb creature, blonde, who
dresses very well. You must have seen
them"
so yes, ! remember now. believe they
bow to me. They are good souls, l should
think, they so to church very regularly"
Good souls, perhaps" laughed her son,
shut frightfully ordinary. The mother is
impossible. AS for the daughter, we call
suits her. She is a tremendous poseuse."
''But why should they come to see mer'
asked the countess.
perhaps to solicit subscriptions for some
charity. The mother and daughter belong
to different church organizations, think"
'Perhaps. / don't care to know them,
but / want to be polite. l might leave my
card some day at their house. That would
not commit me to anV thinuu
"Of course not, especially with the Tar
venues.''
The lady little dreamed what commotion
the square of pasteboard her footman de-
posted at the Tarvenue mansion door one
afternoon would cause in that household.
When Solange, who was at the window,
recognized the Prevaret livery, she forgot
all her assumption Of indifference, and
rushed down to The kitchen to tell the sery-
ant that the ladies would receive Then
she threw a hasty glance into the drawing
room to assure herself that all things were
in order there, and, still running, returned
| to her room and began to make an appro-
pirate toilet. What was not her disap-
poiutment when she heard the carriage
drive away again.
''Idiot!' she cried to the servant over the
banister. "Why didn't you say we were at
home as 1 told youl'
"But, mademoiselle, the footman didn't
ask. He gave me the card and / said,
Madame is at home Then he said, We'll,
give her that, them"
every WELL" said Solsnge with acerbity.
But you might at least have refrained
from saying that we were at home, since
you hadn't been asked"
Nevertheless the sight OF the countess
card somewhat appeased her. That a
grande dame, of the countess age. too,
should have taken the trouble to drive out
in the cold in order to leave card at their
house proved conclusively that she wished
to sanction her sons course. Thus did
Nine. Tarvenue think likewise, and the two
ladies' resolved that tho least they could do
would be to call once more upon tine coun-
tess without d lay.
Thisshad been arranged when NJ Tarve-
nue., who spent an hour at his club every
day. came in with a very clouded brow.
Something very serious has happened
said the retired linen draper. Then-"We
have no secrets from you, my daughter,
and you know already that my friend
Ramillat had spoken to mo of his desire of
making a match between you and his son.
expected an official proposal from him
three weeks ago. / did not receive it, and
since then he has seemed to avoid me. ]
did not like to call uDon him bccause that