The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-03-05

Will you be my son-in law
Dnrier was very much embarras-
sed. He had never Thought of the
possibility Of a new union; he was,
thcrefore.ssnot prepared % struggle,
for he had no serious agreements to
produce. Everyone is agreed that
a man cannot remain a widower all
his life when he has been married
only month.
Finally Durier, who was an easy
going man, allowed himself to be
drawn iuto second marriage. But
he was careful not to take his wife
to Italy. He contentcd himself
with a trip into Brittany, returning
home by way of Paris. Tie came
back TO his home tortured by re-
morse lie believed he had CON
tracted 4 marriage of duty and IN
terest, but he found he was madly
in love with his second wife.
His only excuse was that she re-
sembled the first one; she was, as a
brunette, what the departed one
was as blonde. She had only one
fault; she was terribly jealous of
everything, even of remembrance.
With such jealousy Durier could
not think of keeping his malachite
urn in his study, for his new wife
told him that she would be happy
to come and work by his side; she
promised him that she would not
talk or bother him. All she asked
was to take care of everything con-
corning his noble calling, his books
and instruments, which she admired
so much.
He secretly carried the urn to the
second story and concealed it behind
lot of cast-off books and boxes in
spare chamber. And the most
complete happiness reigned over the
household. Twenty times Duricr
was on the point of telling his wife
the truth, but he never dared to do
so.
AT the end of year he was com
pleteIy absorbed by the birth of a
baby. An additional servant was
hired and room had to be prepar-
ed for her.
81 will look after that" said
Durier
And with a tormented soul he re-
moved all the books and cases-and
even the urn-from the spare room
on the second floor and carried them
to the garrett
The joy of being father obliter-
ated the remorse from Durier's soul;
he thought only rarely of his first
wife, all of whose portraits save one
had rcjoincd the malachite urn in
the garret. And perhaps he would
have entirely forgotten her had it
not been for terrible incident that
happened on his birthday.
On that day he was so busy at
regimental headquarters that he did
not return bone until the dinner
hour. The whole family was gath
cred and he was welcomed by joy
Gus cries. He was greatly moved.
The company passed into the din
ing-room, and there, in the midLle
of the table, he saw the malachite
urn containing magnificent bou-
quet.
He turned pale, while his wife
burst into laughter.
"Monsterl" she said, "you conceal
ed this beautiful vase, the finest
thing you brought from Italy"
He stammared out few incom-
prehensible words, and she continu-
ed with her playful air:
81 was obliged to ransack the gar
retto find it. / discovered it among
a lot of books; it might have got
broken. Some books, in falling,
had overturned it. The cover was
off and broken into three pieces.
Why did you store away such
beautiful vase in the garret? It
must have been there long time"
"ohl yes, a long time" lie stam-
mered.
@Yes. very long time, for it is
full of Dust"
aDustl,' cried Durierin a strangled
voice.
His wife believed that he was
simply astonished, and she added:
"Ohl full, full A dust SO fine that
it flew into the air whilst spead it
over the flower bed where my
choicest plants are growing-the
fiower-bed where l have gathered for
you myself this bouquet. What do
you think of it? It's pretty, isn't
-