The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-21
mage which might have saved his rela-

riage which might have saved his rela-
tives.
But while lowering his eyes he saw his
red ribbon. and it seemed to him he
heard an interior voice repeating the sem
tence he had just uttered, 1T would not
be acting like a gentleman
He also saw that Martha no longer
curled her dolls wig. Sitting on the
ground motionless and silent, the child
was looking at her mother, who wept ST.
lently. She wept--in silence also.
Julia" said the young man soberly,
''go, in my name. to ask for Mile. Bour-
geois' hand
''At lastr triumphantly exclaimed An
toinette's mother after Julia had formu-
lated her request. Then calling her
daughter she added in the same joyful
tone: ''Come-he has come to it! An
swer, darling. Tell--ten how backward
we found himg'
A lovely smile, SO chaste in its frank
ness, lit up the young girls face and
without speaking she advanced toward
Mime. Duchemin with extended hands.
Then, kissing her: '...
81 am SO happy" she exclaimed
bravely.
The very next day Frederick began
his "wooing," as it is called.
Yet what strange thing! He, so out
spoken till then-so open and SO gay
was formal now, circumspect, stilted,
almost unpleasant. Goodby to intimate
chatter" to all freedoml He chose his
words carefully. No more jokes now!
At first Antoinette was disconnected
by it, but surmounting her painful i'm
preston she appeared happy enough for
two. She was the first to speak of their
plans, saying, as if inadvertently, ''these
dear plans.
He still called her "mademoiselle,
while she called him Frederick" She
consulted him about the details of their
future home. What shade did he pre-
fer for the curtains? And when they
were passing the glass works, stopping
to kiss Martha, she prompted:
Say Good morning, Aunt Fred"
The attorneys had taken the matter i'm
hand. Everything was ready, for the
lieutenant had told his sister:
Act for me. Have the settlements
drawn to suit yourself"
As for him, to all questions he an
swered:
"Yes. All right. AS you please"
So much SO that at last Julia took him
aside and said to him:
Take care, Fred. Take care lest you
grieve this child"
''Grieve her!" he repeated, startled.
1T would cause me the most bitter re-
morse"
Yet one would think you do not love
her."
mot love herl" exclaimed the young
man. u would be the most ungrateful
fellow. Oh, on the contrary, love her
with all the power of my soul, of my
conscience and Of my probity. Devoid |
Of feeling as / may appear, my heart is
all her own. 7 admire, and adore her.
All, why is she not poor? You would
see you would see then, julia" he add
ed, relapsing into his darker mood.
The eventful day was fixed. The bans
were to be published.
After dinner the lieutenant accom-
panied the ladies home, walking by their
side along the road. At the door they
bade one another goodby. After that |
word had been spoken Antoinette re- |
manned at Frederick's side, very; close to |
him. She appeared to await something. |
He understood. And once more low
ering his eyer he saw the red ribbon lit |
by the last rays of the setting sun. And
as in an haliucination in the rustling of |
the leaves ha thought he heard again, |
1T would not be acting like gentle !
man."
Then, dazzled, he stepped back, and in
a choking voice said: Listen! My heart |
is bursting. Even If unsettle every
thing, Unjust speak. / must tell you"- j
What? Everything! He stated every
thing indeed--the situations, his scru-
Piles, his great sorrow.
Antoinette and her mother sought to /
him, repeating, "But-but"
He did not listen. He went on to the |
end. And then only were they able to |
finish their sentence:
"Bnt--we know itr'
What! You know that my sister and |
her husband are threatened with
Certainly, we know it," said the
widow. "And this is why we hurried the
which will at last give us the |
right to ward off the misfortune they do |
not deserve"
tAnd you. Antoinette?"
Somewhat confused, she replied:
ZIP Oh, had but one fear-not to |
please your'-New York Commercial Ad- |
yertiser.
~ Polly rs q Pastor.
There was parrot once that belonged
TO a clergyman. In the circumstances