The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-01-18

L
turning one evening from his counting
room, said to her:
"Don't sing SO all the time, Emma
come this way; l wish to speak to you
on an important subject. You are a
large, sensible girl. You will be seven
teen years old in a month. Listen to
me, my darling"
81 am listening, papa. What would
YOU Ike? You look as though you were
| going to scold me-" replied the young
girl, lowering her large black eyes.
Emma was no longer mere child.
Though she still wore a cunning red
apron tied with big knot behind in lit
| tie girl style, her well poised figure was
| already rounding to womanhood. She
was at that charming age of change when
! the young girl, without thought or care,
become a creature who observes and
loves.
"Don't remain standing on one foot
like bird on perch; sit down."
eyes, papa"
81 was saying that you're young
person-well! well!-of an age to think
of marriage"
At these works Emma's cheeks turned
redder than the cherry ribbon around her
neck. She remained motionless, Oppo-
site her father, poised unsteadily on the
edge of an armchair, with eyes wide open
and breating suspended, anxiously
awaiting what would come next.
81 WISH" continued NJ. Ferald, ''to
provide you with a husband who loves
you very much"
Emma smiled while thinking of Fer
nand. Certainly her father was right.
Fernand loved her, and always would
love her.
1.-THE one who has asked your hand is
man whom I love and esteem beyond
measure. He is good, sterling in char
acter, rich and honorable. lam certain
that he will promote your happiness.
But you know him already. 1t is NJ.
Morizot, the good Morizot, my friend
of twenty years standing"
Emma turned pale and cried in her
distress:
81 will never marry Monsieur Morizot.
He is old 1 don't love him. I don't
want him. can't have him."
ssHe isn't old. He is but thirty five
years, and just the man, we'll proper
toned and of excellent physique. In
deed, he is the husband that have had
in mind for you"
'sFather, it is impossible"
"Why, mademoiselle2 Why do you
not wish to marrya"
"Why, father, do you wish me to
marry Monsieur Morizot?"
"My daughter, 1 will reply to you, as
to an intelligent woman. You often see
me anxious; it is because l have serious
embarrassment. My affairs are in a bad,
very bad, way. 1 have large payments
to meet. An extension is necessary for
my paper, but l have other obligations in
arrears. A terrible crises has occurred.
Money must be had Immediately; if not,
the alternative is failure and ruin; that is
to say, death, for could not survive my
shame" said NJ. Ferald, while his eyes
filled with tears at the thoughts which
tortured him.
Emma threw herself on his neck, en-
bracing him with tenderness, greatly
moved by the tears of her father, whom
she had never seen weep except on the
day when her mother died.
eff you marry Morizot he becomes my
partner and brings me hundred thou
sand francs; that is to say, honor, for
tune and security,in place of shame, want
and DEATH"
ooh, father, what do you say2 Every
body knows that you are an honorable
man. What is this failure2"
"My child, it is the most frightful
calamity that can befall man. Remem-
Der that the house was founded by the
grandfather of my father more than hum
dred years ago, that the honor of the
| house is nrnyerhial ON the EXCHANGES