Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-03-18
A GOVERNORS wOOING.

II was large. severe looking apartment. q
with a very high ceiling, two window. {
draped with green damAsk curtains, walls 9
and armchairs Of the same color. and
heavy bookcases Of mahogany. The highly .
waxed fioor reflected the cold symmetry Of
she Official furniture, and the mirror over
Che mantelpiece reproduced with exactness
" black marble clock, two bronze lamps
and q pair Of gilt eandlcsticks.
Hubert Boinwiile 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.
lie raised his grave, melancholy face which
was framed In brown beard, tinged with
few gray hairs. and his black eyes, with
tired looking lido, glanced at the card
which the solemn usher handed to him
On this card was written in a trembling
hand. Veuve Blouet widow Blouet), but
the name conveyed no information To him
and he put II down impatiently.
ut is an old lady SIR" said the attend
ant. in explanation; shall send her |
awayf
''No, let her GENE 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 10 show in the visitor,
an old fashioned courtesy
Hubert Boinville half rose from his chair,
and with cold politeness signed her to a
seat, which she took after making another
courtesy
She was little old lady, dressed In shabby
mourning Her black merino gown had
greenish tinge, and was wrinkled and
darned; limp Grape veil. which had evil
IDENTIFY served through more than one period
- .a4l s,f
an old fashioned bonnet and beneath n
front OF false brown hair was a round,
wrinkled face with bright little eyes. n
small mouth and no teeth
tSir," she began, in "A somewhat breath
less voice, II am the daughter, sister and
widow Of men who served their country.
applied some time ago TO the department
for help, and have come TO sec 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 assistancep'
he asked coldly.
"No, SIR" she replied ~ have man
aged to get on until now without asking.
have n small pension"
"Ahp' he interrupted In a dry tone, Sin
that case am afraid we can do nothing
for you. We have great many applicants
NDo hikNc no ptuslph w Etty htfbhs
.'Ah, listen. sirl" she cried despairingly
81 have not explained everything. | 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 Chaptai college he caugb
violent cold, which settled on his lung
and carried him of In two weeks. He ha,
supported me and his child by teaching
the expenses OF his illness and death use,
al Ia inn a,,A haH IN. rata
money on my pension. Now l am alone Il
the world with my grandchild. and we hav
nothing | am 81 years old, sir"
Tears had gathered under her wrinkie'
eyelids ms she spoke. aud the deputy gov
ernor was listening more attentively thai
be had done at first. A peculiar singinI
information of the speakers voice. and TIA
sound OF certain provincial expression
seemed to his ears like once familiar mu
sic; the old lsdy's way OF speaking had 70
him flavor of home which produced
most singular sensation in his mind. III
rang his bell aud sent for Madame Blouet'
''papers," aud when the sedate usher hh
laid a thin package before him he exam
ined the yellow pages with evident interest
"You are from Lorraine, / see, madame,
he said ut last, turning toward her fac
less stern, and on which faint smile wa
seen: 81 suspected Ii from Your accent"
Yes, sir, am from Argonne," she Al
swered. "And you recognized my accent
Thought had long since lost 1t. | hay
been knocking about France like a nyin
camp.
The deputy governor looked with Ii
creasinE compassion at this poor wido'
whom a harsh wind had torn from he
native forest and cast into Paris like
withered leaf He felt his official hear
growing softer and smiling again he saiS
II am also from Argonne. ! lived nea
your village for long time, ut Clermont.
And then he added gayly: Keep mp you
courage, Nine Blouet. | hope we shall
able 70 help you. Will you give me you
address,
mo. IL Rue de In Sante, near the Capt
chin convent. Thank you, sir. for you
kindness. am very glad to have found
fellow countryman," and after repeate
courtesies the widow took her departure.
As soon as she gone NJ. Boinvil
rose, and going to the window stood lool
ing down into the garden with his fal
against the glass But he was not lookin
al the tops Of the half leaiiess chestnt
trees his dreamy gaze wandered FAR off h
ward the east, beyond the plains and II
ehalky hills of Champagne. past lars
forest, to a valley where quiet riv'
flowed between two rows OF poplar tree
10 a little old town with tile rooted house
There his early childhood had been passe,
and later his vacations. His father, VII
was registrar in the Office Of the chief ju
tiee led a narrow. monotonous life, and
himself was carly accustomed TO har
work and strict discipline. He had lie
home when in his twenty-hrst year an
had returned only TO attend his father
funeral
Possessing superior intellect and q
iron will, and being an indefatigab
worker, he had risen rapidly on the offieil
ladder, and at IS years OF age was mad
deputy governor Austere, punctual, r
served and coldly polite, he arrived at b
office every morning at exactly 10 o'cloc
and remained there until q. taking wor
with him when he went home. Althoug
he was possessed OF keen sensibilities, h
bearing was 30 reserved and undemo
strative that he was thought cold and ster
He saw very little Of society, his life beiu
devoted 10 business, and he had never hs
enough leisure to think of marrying II
heart, indeed, mad once asserted ltsalf b
fore he had left home, but he then hi
neither position nor fortune the girl
loved had refused him in order 10 marry
rich tFadesman
This early disappointment had left
Hubert Boinville q feeling OF bitterne
which even the other successes OF his II
Gould not wholly effAeN and there w a. AZ