Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-04-02

girl. sprightly ana night hearted, did nearly
all the talking. She had been brought up
at Argonne, and described the neighbor-
hood with such eKactness that Boinville
seemed to be carried back to his native
place. As the room was warm Claudette
had opened a window. and the fresh air
came in laden with the odors of the market
garden and the gurgling sound of fount-
ain, while further off was heard the bell of
the Capuchin convent.
Hubert Boinville had an Authorization,
for which the fignolette and the blue eyes
Of his young countrywoman were response
BILE. 1t seemed as if twenty years had
rolled backward and that he was still in
his native village. The wind in the fruit
trees was the rustling of the Argonne for
est, the soft murmur Of running water was
the caressing voice of the river Aire. His
youth, which for twenty years had been
buried under old papers and deeds, was
now revived, and before him were the blue
laughing eyes of Claudette, looking at him
SO artlessly that his long torpid heart
awoke suddenly and beat delightful pit-a-
pat against his breast.
! Suddenly the old lady awoke with Ia start
and stammered an apology. NJ. Boinville
thanking the widow warmly for her hospi-
tally and promising to come again, he ex-
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 IA 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 vision of Claudette's bright
azure eyes, which seemed to flutter 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 of
his twenty-Grst 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 loving?"
Then he would be seized with sort of
tender inconsistencies which filled him with
dismay and made him regret that he had
never married.
One cloudy afternoon, toward the end %
December, the solemn usher opened the
door and announced:
MADAME Blouet, sir"
Boinville rose eagerly to greet his visitor,
and inquired, with a slight blush, for her
granddaughter.
''She is very WELL sir" was the answer,
"and your visit brought her luck; she re-
received an appointment yesterday in a
telegraph Office. could not think Of leav-
ing Paris without again thanking you, sir,
for your kindness to us.
Boinyillc's heart sank.
"You are to leave Paris; is this position
in the provinees|
Eyes, 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 word"
'Do you go soonF"
I'm January. Good-by, sir; you have
been very kind to us, and Claudette begged
me to 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 tacitu-n with his employees.
Toward 3 O'Clock he brushed his hat, left
the Office and jumped into cab that was
passing, and half an hour later he hurried
through the market garden of No. IL 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.
"Mer' 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 Paris?"
eyes, indeed, am. 1t grieves me to
think Of it: but then, this position is a
fortune to us, and grandmother will be
able to live in peace for the rest of her
days"
'sSuppose / should offer you the means
of remaining in Paris, mt the same time
assuring comfort to Madame Blouet"
ooh, sir!'' exclaimed the young girl, her
face Frightening.
ssIt is rather violent remedy" he said,
hesitating again. perhaps you would
think it too great an effort"
"Oh, no; / am very resolute. Only tell
me what it is.
He took a long breath, and then said
quietly, almost harshly, "Will you marry
me?"