Sharp County record., 1890-02-20
A HAPPY INTRIGUE.
How the Mother-in-Law's Slander-
GUS Tongue Was Quieted.

The wedding was over, and the we'd
ding journey, too so it might be SAID
that Adrien and Marie de Montbourbon
had fairly started upon their married
life. As is unusual in France, this
young couple were actually in love, and
there was but one drawback to their
happy existence in the little apartment
81 Avenue Marceau. Marie's mother in
sisted upon residing with her daughter
and as her views of life were radically
different from those of the young couple,
domestic disruption was the natural
consequence. Marie's father before his
death had been Colonel of Chasseurs,
and the barrack life had made so strong
on impression upon the mother that she
had become imbued with an extreme
disdain for any man not in the mounted
arm of the service. In her eyes, an ar
tilleryman was tolerable, an infantry
man passable, but a civilian was be-
meath contempt. Now, Adrien had un-
fortunately never been in the service.
so to Nine. La Colonelle he was merely
creature "whom God had made and
must therefore pass for man"
The only happy moments Adrien and
Marie passed together were when La
Colonelle was riding her mount in the
Bois, or attending the morning maneu-
yers in the Champs de Mars. At such
moments their life was peaceful, and
they could enjoy their mutual love with
out being interrupted by the stentorian
tones of Ia belle m6re'S voice sounding
like an adjutants on dress parade.
Marie knew that her mother was pecul-
lar and that her presence in the house.
hold was disturbing element, but
neither she nor Adrien had the courage
to request Nine. de Guise's departure.
Not only was La Colonclle an uncon-
genial factor in the mendge, but she had
such perfect distaste for her son-in-law
that she did not hesitate to express her
opinion to her daughter. "Adrien,"
she said, twas only half man. Any
enough to even ride park hack had no
right to expect a woman's love. He
must surely be untrue, too, as such a
man was without noble qualities.
Marie protested that Adrien loved her,
and that the mere fact of his being a
civilian detracted nothing from his
manliness "Some of the greatest men
in France had never drawn a sword"
she said, "and pair of red trousers
with boots and spurs did not necessarily
constitute perfect man.
"Nonsense," replied her mother,
courage is the first manly quality, and
the man who does not wear his country's
una "m is not worthy of consideration.
Such !. man is base villain, and know
that Adrien is deceiving you. When
YOU are more of woman of the world
YOU will see the futility of putting faith
in man who has not his honor as an
officer to maintain"
Marie knew that it was useless to re-
monstrate with her mother. She had
the most perfect confidence in her hus-
band, and the poisonous suspicious ex-
pressed by La Colonelle made no i'm
preston upon her mind. She talked
freely to Adrien about her mothers Pc
culiarities, and they both decided that
something must be done. Finally
Adrien suggested strategy. Marie must
appear to coincide with her mothers
views, and agree to spend week or two
at Rambouillet for the purpose of OBJ
serving Adrien's actions. During their
separation the young couple would
carry on a secret correspondence, and
perhaps arrange to meet occasionally in
town.
Marie thought this scheme was per-
feet, and the idea of an intri que with
her own husband seemed novel and
delightful prospect. That same evening
she went to her mother and contided
the secret that at last she was suspi-
cious of Adrien's conduct, and, after
shedding copious tears upon her moth
ers shoulder, she begged La Colonelle
TO take her to Rambouillet, where she
might the better endure her mental
retutor.
La Colonelle was delighted. AT last
she had conquered, and the thought that
her daughters affections had become
alienated from that rascally civilian
yeemed to crown her happiness.
'It is always so with such creatures, "
she said; mo man in the Eleventh Chas-
seurs could so disgrace himself" They
must go Immediately to the country,
and there they would await develop
ments. Baptiste, their faithful servant,
would watch Adriens actions and gather
evidence for I'm proces en- dtCOrce,
The first few days passed at RAM
bopillet were most amusing. Marie
went. each morning to the post-office
snd found letter from Adrien, sent