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

dropped snddsniy. She accompanied him
sowh stairs, and when they reached the
mouse door he clasped her hand again. b,,t
r ~. showing what TO say TO her. And
yet his heart was full.
hubert boinviile continued TO give. a. a
.alo ~ Official language, active and brill
'ane impulse to the department. The
ministerial machine went on heHpine u n on
Jus oesk the daily grist Of reports and
papers, and the sittings Of the council. au-
uiences, commissions and other officia,
au.ies Kept him SO busy that he could mot
ma spare hour In which to 20 to the
humble lodgings near the Capuchin CON
vent. In the midst Of his work. however.
ms thoughts often wandered back TO the
numuie little dinner, and several times his
attention was distracted from an Official
document by vision Of Claudette's bright
azure eyes, which seemed to fiutter about
on the paper like pair Of blue butterflies
Wnen he returned to his gloomy bachelor
apartment those eyes went before him, and
seemed to laugh merrily as he stirred his
ehii IRE; and then he thought again of the
dinner inesthe cheerful room, Of the fire
blazing up gayly in the delft stove, and of
the young girls merry prattle, which had
temporarily resuscitated the sensation OF
MS twenty-frst year. More than once he
went to his mirror and looked gloomily at
MS gray streaked beard, thought Of his
ioveless youth and Of his increasing years.
and said with La Fontaine:
Have passed the time for lovipr,n
Then he would be seized with a sort Of
lender homesickness which filed him with
dismay, and made him regret that he had
never married
One cloudy afternoon, toward the end o.
December, the solemn usher opened the
door and announced:
Madame Blouet, SIR"
Boinv!lle rose eagerly to greet his visitor.
and inquired, with a slight blush. for her
granddaughter
she Is very well, SIR" was the answer.
and your visit brought her luck; she re-
received an appointment yesterday In
telegraph Office. could not think of leay.
Ing Paris without again thanking you. air.
for your kindness to u.s."
Boinville's heart sank.
you are to leave Paris; is this position
In the provincesf"
Yes, In the Vosges. OF course / shall
60 with Claudette; | am 80 years old. and
cannot have much longer to live; we shall
never part in this world"
DO you 60 soon?'
I'm January. Good-by, sir; YOU have
been very kind to us, and Claudette begged
me to thank you in her name.o
The deputy governor was thunderstruck
and answered only in monosyllables. and
when the good woman had left him he sat
motionless for long time with his head in
his hands,
That night he slept badly, and the next
day was very tacitu-n with his employees.
| Toward O'Clock he brushed his hat. left
the Office and jumped into a cab that was
passing, and half an hour later he hurried
through the market garden of No. 12 Rue
de la Sante, and knocked tremblingly at
Madame Blouet's door. Claudette an
swered the knock, and on seeing the dep-
uty governor she started and blushed.
Grandmother is out" she said, ''but she
will soon be home and will be SO glad to
see you"
Il have come to see, not your grand
mother, but yourself, Mile. Claudette. " he
returned.
Me" she exclaimed anxiously, and he
repeated, Eyes. you," in an abrupt tone.
and then his throat seemed to close and be
could hardly speak.
you are going away next month";" he
asked at last.
The girl nodded assent
"Are you not sorry to leave Parish"
Eyes, indeed, | am. 1t grieves me to
think of it; but then, this position is q
fortune to us, and grandmother will be
able to live in peace for the rest of her
days"
Suppose l should offer you the means
Of remaining in Paris, at the same time
assuring comfort to Madame Blouets"
"Oh, sirl'' exclaimed the young girl, her
face Frightening.
at is rather violent remedy" he said,
hesitating again. Perhaps you would
think it too great an effort"
"Oh, no; l am very resolute. Only tell
me what it is"
| He took a long breath, and then said
/, quietly, almost harshly, will you marry
me?"
"Heavenr' she gasped, in voice of deep
emotion, but although her face expressed
the deepest surprise there was no sign of
repugnance or alarm. Her bosom heaved,
her lips parted and her eyes became moist
with tender brightness.
Bonyille dared not look at her, lest he
should read refusal in her face, but at last,
alarmed by her long silence. he raised his
head, saying, "You think me too old-you
are frightened"--
mot frightened" she answered simply,
but surprised, and-glad. 1t is too good
[ can hardly believe it."
my darling" he cried. taking both her
lands, you must believe it. am the one
to be glad, for love you"
She was silent, but there was no mistak-
ing the tenderness and gratitude that were
shining in her eyes, and Hubert Boinville
tlust have read them Alright, for be drew
her closely to him. and meeting with no
resistance, raised her hands to his lips and
kissed them with youthful fervor
Holy lnotherl" cried the old lady, ap-
pearins on the scene at that instant, and
the Others turned round, he a little con-
fused; the girl blushng, but radiant
do not be shocked, Nine. Blouet," said
The deputy governor. The evening that
lined fere found wife. The ceremony
| will take place next month-with your per-
mission. "-Translated from the French OF
Andre Thuriet by Isabel Smithson for
Short Stories"
The Song That Reached Their Hearts,
A gentleman who was at small hour
banquet relates: st is astonishing how
many business men are good singers. You
will find more men who can sing than you
will find women. At the affair of which
speak there were representatives from
nearly every foreign country, our own