Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-28

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, rs 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 sttings Of the council, au-
diences, commissions and other Official
duties kept him so busy that he could not
find 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 u vision of Claudette's bright
azure eyes, which seemed to flutter about
on the paper like IA pair of blue butterflies.
When he returned to his gloomy bachelor
apartment those eyes went before him, ana
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 first year More than once he
went to his mirror and looked gloomily mt
his gray streaked beard, thought Of his
loveess youth and Of his increasing years,
and said with La Fontaine:
"Have passed the time for lovingT
Then he would be seized with sort OF
tender homesickness which filed him with
dismay, and made him regret that he had
never married.
| I'm rI q
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, r." was the answer,
land your visit brought her luck; she re-
received an appointment yesterday in
telegraph Office. | could not think of leav-
ing Paris without again thanking you, sir,
for your kindness to us"
Boinvillc's heart sank.
"You are to leave Paris; is this position
in the provincesY'
Eyes, in the Vosges. OF course | shall
, go with Claudctte; | am so years old, and
, cannot have much longer to live; we shall
, never part in this world"
'Do you go soon"
been very kind to us, and Claudette begged
, me to thank you in her name"
, The deputy governor was thunderstruck,
and answered only in monosylables, and
, when the good woman had left him he sat
motionlcss for a long time with his head in
, his hands.
| That night he slept badly, and the next
t day was very taciturn with his employees.
Toward 3 O'Clock he brushed his hat, left
the office and jumped into a cab that was
, passing, and half an hour later he hurried
through the market garden of No. l2 Rue
a de la Sante, and knocked tremblingly at
Madame Blouets door. Claudette an
t swered the knock, and on seeing the dep
1 uty governor she started and blushed
5 Grandmother is out" she said, "but she
. will soon be home and will be so glad to
i see you"
a Il have come to see, not your grand
$ mother, but yourself, Mile. Claudette," he
"A returned.
r "Mel" she exclaimed anxiously, and he
+ repeated, yes, 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.
l. The girl nodded assent.
care you not sorry to leave PARISH"
o ayes, indeed, | am. 1t grieves me to
u think OF it; but then, this position is n
a fortune to us, and grandmother will be
II able to live in peace for the rest Of heI
Il days"
"Suppose / should offer you the means
l. of remaining in Paris, at the same time
;, assuring comfort to Madame Blouet2"
"Oh, sirl" exclaimed the young girl, het
d face Frightening.
|, at is rather a violent remedy" he said
e hesitating again. Perhaps you would
d think it too great an effort"
y "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
2 meS'
IT "IIeavenp' she gasped, in voice Of deer
- emotion, but although her face expressed
- the deepest surprise there was no sign Of
Il repugnance or alarm. Her bosom heavcd
n her lips parted and her eyes became moist
d wit tn tender brightness.
e Boinville dared not look at her, lest he
h should read refusal in her face, but at last
} alarmed by her long silence, he raised his
head, saying, "You think me too old-you
e are frightened"-
e Not frightened, !" she answered simply
"but surprised and-glad. 1t is too good
Is i can hardly believe it."
, my darlingl" he cried, taking both hei
/. hands, "you must believe it. am the one
II to be glad, for love you"
t, She was silent, but there was no mistak
ing the tenderness and gratitude that were
N shining in her eyes, and Hubert Boinvillt
e must have read them Alright, for he drew
h her closely to him, and meeting with NJ
Is resistance, raised her hands to his lips and
v kissed them with youthful fervor.
a Holy motherp' cried the old Indy, ap
- pearing on the scene at that instant, and
u the others turned round, he a little con
5, fused; the girl blushing, but radiant.
ii "Do not be shocked, Nine. Blouet," said
If the deputy governor. THE evening that
d diDed here found n wife. The ceremony
will take place next month-with your per
an miseion "-Trnnsatcd from the French o.
At Andre Thuriet by Isabel Smithson fo'
~ y