Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-08-25
A BRIDAL TRIP.

tainly never see 35 again, but the glamour
of Cupid's influence seemed for the time
being to have obliterated all considerations
of age, and the happy couple were billing
and cooling" in the most approved style.
"Oh, not for a long time yet" said the
lady coyly, calling up a most becoming
blush to her sallow features.
"Shall we say next week." suggested her
lover, with all an ardent swain's impa-
thence
Good gracious, mol Next year, more
likely" with little laugh.
WHAT Wait a whole year? Not me-"
was the emphatic if ungrammatical reply.
And while the point is being argued let me
briefly introduce the hero and heroine Of
my story.
Place aux dames Miss Eliza Reed, only
daughter of a village parson, had been an
orphan for some 20 years, during which
time she had resided in the town of Battle
moor, occupying a small villa in the out
skirts. Here, with one maidservant, she
lived comfor bly, on an income of some POO
a year, deriv, from the savings of the de-
ceased parson, her father
Mr.. George Grant, the gentleman whose
Impotence she is trying to curb, having
devoted 30 years of his life to the pushing
of an oil and color business in the Old Kent
and purchased small place in Battlemoor,
where, meeting Miss Reed at one of the
small and e. ly' gatherings for which the
elite of the place are famed, he straightway
fell in love with her-or, as the gossips as
serted, with her fortune. For the eX-oil
and colorman had only amassed a few thou
sands, which gave INN yearly income
very little exceeding that of the lady, and
it is possible that the increased comforts to
be derived from union of resources had
quite as much to do with the engagement
as the union of hearts, which is supposed
to influence such arrangements.
Then that's settled" remarked Mr.
Grant at length, after some 10 minutes' dis
cussion; "the first Tuesday in September,
that will give you nearly two months for
preparation. And, now, where shall we go
for our honeymoon"
"Oh, what Il man you are, to be surep
exclaimed the lady, with another successful
blush.
well, we must go somewhere, | sup
pose" was the matter of fact rejoinder. II
think a week or two at Mar9ate would be
just the thing"
"Margate that vulgar placer Miss
Reed was leader of the genteel set in Bat
tlemoor why, you must be joking,
George. No. Let us have a quiet week in
Paris, away from everybody. Everything
is so cheap in France, you know, and we
do not want to begin extravagantly, do WEI"
George Grant was rather staggered. He
had always heard that Paris was the very
reverse of cheap place to stay in. In his
Heart he would much have preferred the
homely iL-vulgar Margate, and he offered
some fIint opposition to the plan. but it
WIS of no use He had had his way about
the date of the marriage; his fancee secured
hers about the locale of the honeymoon,
and before the loving couple separated that
evening ii was agreed that the first week OF
two of their welded life should be spent in
the French capital.
1t was the morning of the third day OF
the honeymoon and Mr.. and Mrs Grant
were seated AT breakfast at their hotel, Lion
dor, "a hotel in the Batgnolles quarter
A shrewd business man, George Grant had
made one or two inquiries from a friend
who was used to continental travelling, and
had pat up at ii third rate but fairly com
Portable and very economical hustelry
Not bad place, this, my dear" he re.
marked, as he helped himself to anothe'
outlet.
And really not expensive" returned his
wife, with prudent satisfaction. "Now, we
will do little shopping this morning, and
you had better let me carry the purse,
George, dear, 1t looks SO stupid for man
to have to pay for everything"
Rather reluctantly her husband consent
ed, but with the old business habits, he ex-
: amined the contents of the purse before
handing it over
There you are, Lizzie-there's four FLYERS
and four louis. Mind you make them give
you the right money for the notes-that is
if you have to change them. They are
worth more than gold, you know"
"Oh, | will take care of that" was the
reply. Though ! don't suppose | shall
want to spend more than ora louis"
Mentally, George Grant rather doubted
this estimate of the cost of a mornings
shopping. But it turned out to be correct
They entered numerous magasns, but
the high prices of every article offered fol
sale quite alarmed the prudent couple, and
after several hours wandering, sampling
and pricing, they had only purchased some
40 francs worth of things, chiefly presents
for friends in Battlemoor.
Then came lunch at a Palais Royal res
taurant-2 francs a head, vim compris et
pain IA discretion. And then, feeling rather
tired, Mr.. and Mrs. Grant took Batignolle.
omnibus, which landed them within short
distance of their hotel. They had left the
vehicle and were approaching the Lion
dor, when the lady suddenly eXclaimed
e. The PURSE have lost itl'
Lost iti Nonsense; feel in your pocket
. you had 1t in the bus just this minute"
But poor Lizzie explored her pocket il
vain-the purse was gone, and she at one,
took refuge in the relief of her sex-a flooc
of tears
Here, don't make a show of yourself II
the street." said her husband somewhat
brusquely; come on to the hotel"
Arrived at the Lion d'Or, Mr.. Grant re
= ported his loss to the proprietor, who al
!. once advised an application to the police o.
y the reimbursement But here all the obsti
> macy of the Brton came to the front. II
T was Mr.. Grants opinion that the police Of
all ard every country were rank idiots a:
= far detection of crime was concerned
a He beneved in advertising his loss with
reward
This is how look at it," he said dog
gedly That purse is either lost or stolen
= II it is lost, there is just chance that al