The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-28
A GOVERNORS WOOING.

"Can you receive Madame Blouet. sir'"
asked an attendant, as he opened the door
of the deputy governors Office.
It was large, severe looking apartment,
with very high ceiling, two windows
draped with green damask curtains, walls
and armchairs of the same color. and
heavy bookcases of mahogany. The highly
waxed floor reflected the cold symmetry of
the official furniture, and the mirror over
the mantelpiece reproduced with exactness
black marble clock, two bronze lamps
and pair of gilt candlesticks.
Hubert Boinville, the deputy governor,
was seated, with his back to the fireplace,
at a large mahogany desk which was lit
tered over with deeds and various papers.
He raised his grave, melancholy face which
was framed in brown beard, tinged with
few gray hairs, and his black eyes, with
tired looking lids. glanced at the card
which the solemn usher handed to him.
On this card was written in a trembling
hand, Veuve Blorlet (widow Blouet, but
the name conveyed no information to him
and he put it down impatiently.
ut is an old lady, SIR" said the attend
ant, in explanation; shall I send her
away?"
"No, let her come in," replied the deputy
governor in a tone OF resignation.
The usher Strengthened himself up in his
uniform, bowed and disappeared, return
ing the next minute to show in the visitor,
who stopped on the threshold and dropped
an old fashioned courtesy.
Hubert Boinvilie half rose from his chair,
and with cold politeness signed her to
seat which she took after making another
courtesy.
Shewas little old lady, dressed in shabby
mourning. Her black merino gown had a
greenish tinge, and was wrinkled and
darned; limp Grape veil, which had evil
IDENTIFY served through more than one period
of mourning, hung down on each side from
an old fashioned bonnet, and beneath
front of false brown hair was a round,
wrinkled face with bright little eyes,
small mouth and no teeth.
"Sir," she began, in a somewhat breath
| less voice, 81 am the daughter, sister and
widow of men who served their country. l
| applied some time ago to the department
for help, and have come to see whether
there is any hope"
The deputy governor listened without
moving muscle of his face. He had heard
| so many supplications Of this kindl
"Have you ever received any assistanceI"
he asked coldly.
NO. sir' she replied. 81 have man.
aged to get on until now without asking.
have small pension"
"Ahr' he interrupted in a dry tone, Sin
that case am afraid we can do nothing
for you. We have great many applicants
who have no pension to rely upon"
"Ah, listen, STRIP she cried despairingly,
81 have not explained everything. l had
three sons, and they are all dead. The last
one taught mathematics, and one day dur
ing the winter, when he was going from
the Pantheon to Chaptal college he caught
violent cold, which settled on his lungs
and carried him off in two weeks. He had
supported me and his child by teaching;
the expenses of his illness and death used
up all our little savings, and had to raise
money on my pension. Now am alone in
the world with my grandchild, and we have
nothing. 1 am 50 years old, sir"
Tears had gathered under her wrinkled
eyelids as she spoke, and the deputy gov
ernor was listening more attentively than
he had done at first. A peculiar singing
information of the speakers voice, and the
sound of certain provincial expressions
seemed to his ears like once familiar mu-
sic; the old lady's way of speaking had for
him flavor of home which produced
most singular sensation in his mind. He
rang his bell and sent for Madame Blouet's
papers," and when the sedate usher had
laid a thin package before him he exam
ined the yellow pages with evident interest.
You areSfroSn Lorraine, Isee madame"
he said at last, turning toward her face
less stern, and ON which faint smile was
seen; 81 suspected it from your accent"
Eyes, sir, | am from Argonne," she an
swered. "And you recognized my accent?
/ thought | had long since lost it. l have
been knocking about France like flying
camp.
The deputy governor looked with in
creasing compassion at this poor widow
whom harsh wind had torn from her
native forest and cast into Paris like a
withered leaf. He felt his official heart
growing softer. and smiling again he said
II am also from Argonne. l lived near
your village for long time, at Clermont."
And then he added gayly: Keep up your
courage, Nine. Blouet [ hope we shall be
able to help you. VIII you give me your
address,"
mo. - Rue de la Sante, near the Capu-
L
kindness. / am very glad to have found a
fellow countryman," and after repeated
courtesies the widow took her departure
As soon as she was gone NJ. Boinville
rose, and going to the window stood look
ing down into the garden with his face
against the glass. But he was not looking
at the tops of the half leahess chestnut
trees; his dreamy gaze wandered far off to-
SIaa net la ,l.,sy o,NI L.
chalky hills of Champagne, past a large
forest, to a valley where a quiet river !
flowed between two rows of poplar trees,
to little old town with tile rooted houses. |
There his early childhood had been passed, |
and later his vacations. His father, who |
was registrar in the Office OF the chief JUS |
tice, led narrow, monotonous life, and he |
himself was early accustomed to hard |
work and strict discipline. He had left |
home when in his twenty-first year and !
had returned only to attend his fathers |
funeral.
Possessing superior intellect and az /
iron will, and being an interchangeable /
worker, he had risen rapidly on the official |
ladder, and at IS years of age was made /
deputy governor. Austere, punctual. re-
served and coldly polite, he arrived at his |
Office every morning at exactly 10 O'Clock /
and remained there until g. taking work |
with him when he went home. Although |
he was possessed of keen sensibilities, his /
bearing was so reserved aud undemon-
strative that he was thought cold and stern.
He saw very little of society, his life being |
devoted 10 business, and he had never had |
enough leisure 10 think of marrying His
heart, indeed, had once asserted itself be
fore he had left home, but as he then had
pai-her poSitiou nor fortune rha GIRL IA I