The National tribune., 1891-11-19

was jealous OF that clock. He pretended that
grandmother loved il more than she did him.
More than you! More than you!' an
swcred my grandmother in patOis, have had
enough trouble with yOui Ii my poor mother
was still with me neither / nor the clock would
| have entered here's
SO You have not always said that TO me, my
! Marianne responded the good man wheedling-
! ly, aud with smile that stretched from ear TO
ear. AOu loved me very well when You crelt
/ up TO the window Of your chamber TO see me
return TO the country
go Silence, fbbcr, and the little woman
! shrugged her shoulders. silence! j never
would have married you, only 10 prevent your
! going as a soldier under the First Emperor
! You owe me good wax candle, for you were
afraid enough OF going!'
81! j y cried my grandfather, straight
/ eniug mp like a cock with spurs. Fear2 i,
/ who sustained all alone the retreat OF the Hun
4 drcd Days i'm Argonne!'
do not know added Nine. N0rtin
smiling, what my grandfather meant by the
sustain he had lent 10 the retreat OF the
4 Hundred Days lie did not know too well
himself having passed all the days of the in
/ vasiou OF 1915 hidden in the forest Of Chanols.
The disputes, which were often renewed and
/ highly amusing, were usually interrupted by
the stroke Of the clock announcing dinner or
supper 10 which the hero OF tho Hundred
4 Days did great honor The truth is that my
brave grandparents ad0red each other and died,
/ very Old SIX months apart always loving each
other and that the clock struck the last hour
! Of each.
After they were dead / could not bear TO
see 10 pass into the hands OF strangers so j
/ brought il here. You find me childish, Mon
sour Martelot but when I remember The clock
4 in that room and when hear IL strike, as in
/ the time wheB ] was a girl Of -, the tears
! come TO my eyes. Ii brings up all my early
. days. j seem 10 see my grandparents sitting
\ facing each other in the presence oi That walnut
clock, under the mantel of the high fireplace,
/ where j warmed myself before the IRE, sitting
4 on a tOOtstOOl.'
Mime. Noirtin sighed, and all at once NJ.
4 MartelOt felt that his eyes were wet lie
/ Tumpcted noisily and remarked:
il is good thing for one TO be so loved"
And then he stopped and timidly raising his
/ eyes he regarded stealthily the pleasing figure
! OF Nine Noirtn, whose brown eyes shone
! through a mist He silently contemplated her
/ black hair, modostly arranged upon her tenn
I piles aud rolled back in a heavy bunch upon
her head. His lips opened as il 10 aIticulate
! some difficult phrase, but they remained mute.
lie sighed in his turn, put on his gloves, and
/ took bis leave.
One evening in May, as the remembrance
/ evoked by the clock had again rendered tho
/ conversation more animated and intimate,
] Nine. AoirtiB abruptly asked
Explain one thing 10 me Monsieur Mare
/ lot. You, who are a domestic man, aNccti0nate,
steady aud tranquil, how is IL that you have
/ never thought Of maTTying2"
Martelot, Donpus,ed for moment, blush
! inEly replied:
Mon Deus have thought Of il well: but
I j was too young and too poor. Now it is not
/ the timc.7
"NhvPn
ID seems am too oldp
"Oid at 40 years do you know that what
! you are saying is not complimentary TO me,
VINO am over 81 2"
MARRIOTT Redeemed fearfuIly, aud sent TO his
/ questoHoT glance charged with excuses and
/ protestatiOus. And while stammering an in-
I coherent reply he thought that Nine. NOirtn
! certainly appeared younger than her age. The
/ sprngimC had r0scd her checks made her
skin clear and her eyes fresh. Her hair was
/ pulled lightly and a little bunch Of voets in
/ her COrsago set Of the reetly-sweling con-
/ tour Martelot noticed il ALL and then said:
Besides" and he lowered his eyes, " Il
seems 10 mo that ] could never venture 10 ask
/ q woman ia marriage ] am too timid."
Yes" replied the widow, after moment Of
silence and turning 10 her sewing, you are
very timid."
MarelOt did not reply, but kept his eyes
lowered, and 10 give himself c0uutenance he
Al"NEtNA uln niger ID4AAhs 4bDlu were silent
Tor some time, when suddenly the clock gave
the mechanical announcement that il was five
minutes 20 10 and Evonyme retired, after
having given the widows hand a nervous
parting pressure.
Spring aud Summer passed without anything
occurring 10 vary The conduct or change the
reserve Of these two discreet persons. Nine
Aortin did not permit herself further refer
euces % the obstinate oelbacy Of Ev0nyme.
~ had rrfTb
little stupid IN bis replies, and on his return
10 his dali dwelling he sought with proiigious
facility the ingenious aud tender responses he
might have made; but when il was possible
Tor him 10 take the entertainment 10 the topic
Of marriage be did not feel SO brave
When DE was with the widow the idea Of
touching 50 delicate point gave him goose. flesh