Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-05-01

the now famous garden once or twice out
walking with her mother or her maid, but
that was all.
Marcel, with an irritated air. preserved
a severe silence, and the uncle changed the
conversation. But the young man pres
emily got up to 90 look for cigars, and then
came the uncles chance. Quickly and in
short, rapid sentences he explained his
idea. Adorable young girl-parents ex-
celent people-house first class, first class
wouldn't act blindly, of course-must ask
information-but he would attend to all
that-but if, as indeed he was certain be-
forehand'-Re-enter the nephew with the
cigars Thibaut broke off short, and stuck
his fat finger to his mouth in sign of warn
ing Almost at the same moment for
midable sneeze made every glass in the
hall ring again.
"Uncle," said Marcel, with the most
charming calmness, you are taking cold"
81 shouldn't won-whatchou!' A sec
ond sneeze cut the word in two, and
Thibaut, plunging his face into his hand
kerchief strangled therein, one after the
other, two more nasal detonations. But
his good humor was no whit lessened he
continued to joke, smoking and sneezing
together. When the servant from the Lee
Made mansion brought him his own
clothes he thrust his hand in his pocket
and pulled out whole louis. "There, my
good girl, said he, take that for your
pains And give my compliments to your
master and mistress-mind you don't for
get, now"
The next week, in company with his
nephew, he went to take the train. As
they walked past the Lemadie grounds.
Thibaut suddenly stopped and with firm
hand rang the bell At an impatient move
ment from Marcel he turned toward that
young man and said, IF this bores you, my
dear boy, you can walk on. |. however,
certainly owe the Lemadies a visit of
thanks, and shall pay it,"
"a visit of thanks? For your cold in the
head:"
Exactly" said Thibaut, with perfect
placidity.
The door opened, and Jeanne showed
herself, more charming, more enticng
than before Out of mere politeness Mar
Gel followed his uncle.
Then followed at once the most svmpa-
thetic greetings, shakes of the hand warm
ly exchanged Then were the chairs gath
cred about the table, the Marsala was
brought, the glasses were filled, and gayly
were they clinked together. The cOnversa-
ton became animated, and ThiDaut now
let drop the name of his friend Chevalet,
an Old wholesale dealer, who at the time
when NJ. Lemadie was in the jewelry man
ufacture had done business with him. The
old merchant was delighted at this uneX-
pected disclosure of common friendship
and in his turn took up the praises of
Chevalet and launched into the recital of
the affairs great and small of twenty years
since, while Jeanne listened, her eyes mod
estly lowered, and Marcel sat lightly on his
chair, his eye in spite of himself caught
and fixed by a little blonde curl which inst
at his right, almost reaching his ear, fiut-
tered out in the soft breeze and would not
keep still.
That same evening Thibaut had a long
and mysterious colloquy with his sister-in-
law in which, to judge by the vivacity of
the gestures and by the facial contortions
of the speaker and by the reflective, attent-
i've physiognomy of the listener, was of
the highest interest to both of them.
Soon, soon did Nine. Filhol become
the intimate friend of Nine. Lemadie,
and NJ. Marcel, her SON. strongly
unwilling at first to accompany his
mother on her neighborlv visits, accus-
toned himself little by little to the task
aud ended by paying visits on his own ac-
count when he passed the whole evening
there without her. This caused a certain
very curious and malicious smile to show
itself III the corners OF the twinkliug eyes
OF his uncle Many things did that smile
signify. Jeanne and he had become great
friends. SO soon as he appeared she ran to
him, her hands outstretched, and even
kissed him bravely like good old uncle
as he was, who knew the future.
On the 18th of September Nine. Filhol
asked the hand of Mile. Jeanne Lemadie
for her son, Marcel. Nobody was surprised
For several weeks they had all known what
was coming
That very evening both families sat at
table in the garden at the foot of the ter
race The soft evening was stirred by mild
breezes, full of odorous scents, the stars
twinkled in the dark blue sky, and the
moon threw her pale light on the table
where the coffee smoked in the cups, and
projects for the future, the happy future,
succeeding each other one after the other
without interruption, were gayly dis
cussed.
Niece" said Uncle Thibaut, will you
take turn in the garden with me?"
He passed the girls slender arm beneath
his own, and when they reached the spot
whence had darted that furious let of water
and he said, Just suppose had not been
onthe other side of that gate three mont hs
ago, eh?"
'Ah, uncle" said Jeanne, "why do you
tease me still about that? Haven't you
forgiven me YETI"
Forgiven yOu?" cried Thbaut. "Why
there was nothing to forgive, my dear
child. knew well enough that you didn't
do it on purpose"
'And that is perfectly true" said Jeanne
without thinking, for it wasn't you was
aiming at"
Aiming atr' said Thibaut astounded
But if you'-
"Oh, good gracious" said Jeanne. Il
I've told YOU"
Consequently she told him all. Under
her breath and desperately ashamed she
owned that she had been aiming at Mar
eel. "He-he used to walk by every day."
she said, land | used to look at him, and
he never looked at me, and used to Won
der why, and | did everything | could
without doing anything, you know, uncle
but he never honored me with the small
est attention."
1 .1.E1