The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-28
W. BAKER & CO., Dorchester, Mass.

| tended his hand to Claudette Their eyes
met, and the deputy governors glance was
! so earnest that the young girls eyelids
| dropped suddenly She accompanied him
down stairs, and when they reached the
house door he clasped her hand again, but
without knowing what to say to her. And
yet his heart was full.
Hubert Boinville continued to give, as Is
said in official language, "active and brill
liant impulse to the department" The
ministerial machine went on heaping up on
his desk the daily grist of reports and
papers, and the sittings of the council, au-
diences, commissions and other official
duties kept him so busy that he could not
find a spare hour in which to go to the
humble lodgings near the Capuchin con-
vent. In the midst of his work, however,
his thoughts often wandered back to the
humble little dinner, and several times his
attention was distracted from an official
document by a vision of Claudette's bright
azure eyes, which seemed to f1utter about
on the paper like pair of blue butterflies.
When he returned to his gloomy bachelor
apartment those eyes went before him, and
seemed to laugh merrily as he stirred his
dull fire; and then he thought again of the
dinner in the cheerful room, of the fire
blazing up gayly in the delft stove, and of
the young girls merry prattle, which had
temporarily reSuscitated the sensation or
his twenty-irst year. More than once he
went to his mirror and looked gloomily at
his gray streaked beard, thought of his
loveless youth and of his increasing years,
and said with La Fontaine:
"Have passed the time for 1oving"
Then he would be seized with a sort of
tender inconsistencies which filled him with
dismay, and made him regret that he had
never married.
One cloudy afternoon, toward the end Of
December the solemn usher opened the
door and announced:
Madame Blouet, sir"
Boinville rose eagerly to greet his visitor,
and inquired, with slight blush, for her
granddaughter.
''She is very well, SIR" was the answer,
land your visit brought her luck; she re-
received an appointment yesterday in a
telegraph Office. I could not think of leav-
ing Paris without again thanking you, sir,
for your kindness to u.s."
Boinvilles heart sank.
"You are to leave Paris; is this position
in the provincesi"
'Yes, in the Vosges Of course shall
go with Claudette; am so years old. and
cannot have much longer to live; we shall
never part in this world"
'Do you 90 soon"
"fn January Good-by, sir; you have
been very kind to US, and Claudette begged
me 80 thank you in her name"
The deputy governor was thunderstruck,
and answered only in monosyllables, and
when the good woman had left him he sat
motionless for long time with his head in
his hands.
That night he slept badly, and the next
day was very taciturn with his employees.
Toward o'clock he brushed his hat, left
the Office and jrtnped i4to a cab that was
passing, and half an hour later he hurried
through the market garden of No. 12 Rue
de la Sante, and knocked tremblingly at
Madame Blouet's door. Claudette an
swered the knock, and on seeing the dep
uty governor she started and blushed.
grandmother is out" she said, but she
will soon be home and will be so glad to
see you"
II have come to see, not your grand
mother, but yourself, Mile. Claudette," he
returned.
'MeP she exclaimed anxiously, and he
repeated, Eyes, you," in an abrupt tone,
and then his throat seemed to close and he
could hardly speak.
"You are going away next month";" he
asked at last.
The girl nodded assent.
"Are you not sorry to leave Parisi"
ayes, indeed, l am. 1t grieves me to |
think of it; but then, this position is a |
fortune to US, and grandmother win be |
able 10 live in peace for the rest of her |
days"
Suppose 1 should offer yon the means |
Of remaining in Paris, at the same time |
assuring comfort to Madame Bloueti"
"Oh, sirp' exclaimed the young girl, her |
face Frightening.
at is rather violent remedy" he said, /
hesitating again. Perhaps you would |
think it too great an effort"
"Oh, no; l am very resolute. Only tell !
me what it is.
He took a long breath, and then said /
quietly, almost harshly, VIII you marry
me;"
Heaven she gasped, in voice Of deep
emotion but although her face expressed
the deepest surprise there was no sign Of
or alarm. Her bosom heaved,
her lips parted and her eyes became moist
with tender brightness
Boinville dared not look at her. lest be
should read refusal in her face but at last,
alarmed by her long silence. he raised his
head, saying, You think ne too old-you
are frightcned"-
Not frightened" she answered simply.
"but surprised, spd-glsd- Il is too good
can hardly believe to
Ny darlingw be cried. taking both her
hands you must believe it am the one
70 be glad, for love you"
She Was silent, but there was DO mistak
ing the tenderness and gratitude that were
shining IN her eyes, and Hubert Boinville
must have read them Alright. ;or ne drew
Ter closely 20 aim, and meeting with 10
resistance. raised her hands 10 mis- bps and
kissed them with youthful feryor.
Holy IaotkerF' cried The old lady, ap-
oeazing On the scene az that Instant, and
he others TUNED round be little con-
used; the girl 5lushing. but radiant
DO not Sc shocked, Nine Blsuet sAid |
he deputv governor The evening thAs
lined here faund q wife The ceremony
viz take place nexr rnonth-xsta your Fer
mission Translated from the Preach Of
Andre ThuYiet By isshel S1lihsoa fer
'Sasrf StorieA"
IL Was There
She-Oh, dear George, my bands an
nearly frozsa'
Ee-Why didn't you bring your urHy :