The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-12-29

to the woman of my heart-to Jeanne
VernierP
Jacques turned pale. He rose, ex-
cited and trembling. Nothing more
was needed. had understood
'Comrader
Present.
You love her, don't you"
'Parbleu!'
1--WE were on our feet, gazing into
each others eyes; a minute passed;
offered him my hand; Jacques took it.
Brother said l, be the first to
speak to herl'
No, nol he stammered.
"Then he agreed.
1.-THE next day, nothing; no Jacques
until evening.
81 was walking to and fro upon the
strand, watching the sails on the sea
and the stars in the sky. l was think
ing of Jeanne and asking myself what
should do if she consented to sail
with Jacques and take him for her
messD,ate, when he made his appear
ance, pale and sad eyed.
'Comrade.' said he, she does not
want me-God bless heri Try your
luck!'
"'Very well; it's my turn now!'
81 must confess that felt myself in
a rough sea.
1.-THE next day got up my courage.
put on my best rig and, with sail to
the wind, went toward the coast guards
house
But once in the vicinity, adieu to my
bravery! l roamed around and looked
through the windows Jeanne alone,
very soberly seated at table, was
mending one of her fathers old jackets.
"'None of thisp said 1 to myself;
enough of foolingp
81 opened the door and flung myself
inside, straight toward her.
"'Bon soir, Jeanner
"She stared at me in surprise and
turned scarlet.
"'Oh! Bonjour, Mons. Danielr
"I-I was running before the breeze
-and-and thought I'd cast anchor
for momentH
"'My father will be very glad to see
you, Mons. Daniel; he'll be in soon; sit
down.
Twas out of breath, as you may well
believe.
"'Well,' 1 stammered, if it won't
bother you, Jeanne, I'll stay for little
bit of conversation
Jeanne, with eyes bent down, worked
on. We remained like that for uarter
of an hour. Things were not getting
on. l Strengthened myself up and said:
"'It's warm!
Jeanne looked up at me in astonish-
ment.
"'Warmy repeated.
'She seemed confused, but recovered
herself.
'Ohl-certainlyp she answered.
81 am going home! Bon soir, Jeanner
''She very gently begged me to wait
few moments longer for her father;
but felt that 1 had made pretty
mess of things, so ] steered for our
cabin.
"My sister, who knew how matters
stood with me, was on the lookout; no
sooner had told her the story than
she shrugged her shoulders, calling me
BOBBY, idiot, old dismasted hulk; In
fact, all sorts of hard names, and sent
me back the next day to Jeanne's house,
as soon as it was dawn, tricked out
worse than the day before.
Nothing could have prevented my
sister, even had defended myself like
a shark, from fixing up my neck in one
of my fathers old shirt collars, crammed
with starch until it was as stiff as so
much tin!
II arrived. entered and sat down on
the same chair, in front of Jeanne,
frightfully unhappy because of that
cursed collar.
"Never mind; I got together my
energies and said
Jeanne, have made an agreement
with Jacques, who is an able seaman,
well-known for his good character, his
frmness and his sobriety, SO that every
| man, woman and child considers him
as brave as lion and as gentle as
lamb, and that any young girl might
be proud and happy-and that
81 had let all this out at one breath,
| with that imbecile of collar saving
away at me, so astonished at my speech
that it was only at the end, when ran
short of words, that lstopped suddenly,
rejecting, ali at once, how droll it was
n me to burst out in praise of Jacques
when had only to say: Win you be
my wife?'
"'Have you come in Jacques name%
demanded Jeanne, holding up her head
with a naughty look.
II saw her lips tremble; then l arose
and said:
"No, Jeanne, have come to tell
you that love you in all loyalty, and
if by chance you think you could get
along with rough companion like me,
to ask you to be my wife-my wife.
Jeanne, made much of, protected and
cherished until death
"Handsomer than a rosebod, with
tears in her eyes, Jeanne said, in
very low tone:
"'I wish it.
Sand l kissed her-ahl / will answer
to you that l didl was transported
with happiness-even though that in
fernal collar was almost cutting my
ears off.
''The same evening said to Jacques:
"I have the dove; but that isn't all
i must build the nest. Another yoy-
age, isn't it? viii you go. too2'
$50 it happened that, two days after
the day on which Jeanne had PROM
ised me her faith, we found our cap
tain again and set sail in search of
money.
mo difficulties arose. and amassed
not a few of those handsome gold pieces
destined to contribute to the happiness
| of nv fiancee