Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-02-21
GOVERNORS WOOING,

"s7 ysrv high ceiling, two windows
WV vlsh green dsmask curtains, walls
drap' n,cbalrs Of the same color. and
~ bookcases of mahogany. The highly
hes', aoor reflected the cold symmetry OF
wa's V,snal furniture. and the mirror over
tne ,,elnece reproduced with exactncss
tne M" ,narble clock, two bronze lamps
ga' nair Of gilt eandlesticks.
anu . p BoIpyiIle, the deputy governor,
hs,sd with his back to the fireplace,
vas S ,a.ns mahogany desk which was lit
~ no. ,,.er With deeds and various papers.
tereu 80 his grave, melancholy face which
be ra,s ,,,sd in a brown beard, tinged with
was n ,,rav hairs, and his black eyes, with
asH 1iookinr lids, glanced at the card
t'isu IL solemn usher handed to him.
WY. Ma card was written in Q trembling
" veuye Blouct widow Blouet), but
lsn., ,r,e conveyed no Information to him
WV sa be nut it down impatiently.
anu ~. - i. an old lady, sir" said the attend
IL explanations; ''shall | send her
away" T., ), -an,,ad -. a.n,,.,
-srnor In a tone of resignation.
NJ nsber straigbtened himself up in his
ts.m bowed and disappeared, return
~ N'' no next minute to show In the visitor,
,rs stopped on the threshold and dropped
'. o,d fashioned courtesy.
~ Hilbert G Boinville half rose from his chair,
~ eth cold politeness signed her to
-. ~, which she took after making another
' Shs vas a little old lady, dressed in shabby
Earning Her black merino gown had a
aNssr;sb tjnge, and was wripkled and
g.sred. limp Grape veil. which had evil
s san.iy served through more than one period
sn,ourning. hung down on each side from
y IA fashioned bonnet, and beneath a
= I'M NJ false brown hair was round,
nv;nkled face with bright little eyes. a
.rrall mouth and no teeth.
l.c;r !, she began, in somewhat breath
.ss voice 81 am the daughter, sister and
,r;dow Of men who served their country. |
.nnI;ed some time ago to the department
ar help. and have come to see whether
there is any hope"
The deputy governor listened without
saving a muscle of his face. He had heard
80 many supplications Of this kindl
agaye YOU ever received any assistancer
he asked coldly.
aNo. SIR" she replied. II have man.
aoed to get OH until now without asking.
Ibaye small pa:: c..'
"Ahi' be interrupted in u 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, sirl' she cried despairingly,
q have not explained everything. l had
three sons. and they are all dead The last
4. 1. <J,xv 4
ipg the winter when he was going from
the Pantheon to Chaptal college he caught
syolent 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
IN 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. lam 81 years old, SIR"
Tears had gathered under her wrinkled
eyelids as she spoke, and the deputy gov
ernor was listening more attentively than
be had done at first. A peculiar singing
intonation of the speakers voice, and the
sound Of certain provincial expressions
seemed to bis ears like once familiar mu-
sic; the old ladys way of speaking had for
him flavor Of home which produced a
most singular sensation in his mind. He
rang his bell and sent for Madame Blouet's
papers" and when the sedate usher had
laid thin package before him he exam
ined the yellow pages with evident interest
"You are from Lorraine, Isee, madame"
be said at last, turning toward her face
less stern, and on which faint smile was
SEEM 81 suspected it from your accent"
"Yes, 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 a 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:
y am also from Argonne. lived near
your village for a long time, at Clermont."
And then he added gayly; Keep up your
courage, Nine. Blouet hope we shall be
able to help you. Will you give me your
addressi"
NO u Rue de la Sante, near the Capu-
ehin convent, Thank you, sir, for your
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
az the tops Of the half leahess chestnut
trees; his dreamy gaze wandered far off to-
ward the east, beyond the plains and the
cnalky hills of Champagne. past a large
Forest to a valley where a quiet river
moved between two rows of poplar trees,
70 y, little old town with tile rooted houses.
inere bis early childhood had been passed,
anu later his vacations. His father, who
was registrar in the Office of the chief JUS
W. tei a narrow, monotonous life and he
himself was early accustomed to hard
"ofA and strict discipline. He had left
soiae wnen IN his twenty-frst year and
sau returned only 10 attend his fathers
assessing superior intellect and an
uon Will, and being an indefatigable
,"o'ker' he had risen rapidly on the official
iadaer, and at 3S years of age was made
ueputy governor. Austere, punctual, re-
served and coldly polite he arrived at his
s'.se every morning at exactly 10 O'Clock
wi,h unnamed e. there until 9, taking work
wv h.su uim when he went home. Although
ls. was possessed of keen sensibilities, his
s,s".,s was SO reserved aud undemon-
u Iaa'se that he was thought cold and stern.
d .s saw very little of society, his life being
sn u,u.eu 10 business, and he had never had
h sOss leisure to think of marrying. His
tora 'r indeed had once asserted itself be-
n wie ne mad left home, but as he then had
l orsu position nor fortune the girl he
rios sa mad refused him in order to marry a
unh Huns early disappointment had left in