Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-11-10

these advantages in such contempt, and
SO on.
For me, had but one word to oppose
to all these just and proper remarks
Gontran! Gontran! Gontran or the con-
vent and the most severe convent at
that -Carmel.
1t was not because of his merit that
| loved Gontran. 1t was rather because
of his lack OF merit NJ. de Courtalin
was perfection. / listened to his praise
all afternoon, and hated him. What ]
dishked above all was that he co, nted
himself superior. Mamma was rot
likely to make me yield, when she aid:
'He is most learned man; most
thoughtful, most industrious, most dis
tinguished He is a model son; he
would make a model husband. p" The
more he was eulogized the more !
turned from him. For know of moth
ing more distastefpl than one of those
men who are always right, who display
under all circumstances unrutfled good
temper, who impress everyone with
their superiority With Gontran l
could be quite at my ease, for he never
impressed one with his superiority. /
knew but little; but my ignorance,
compared with his>,was erudition. He
had great difficulty in securing his
baccalaureate He3missed three times.
For | heard him say one day, at the
house: Failed again 1t is the tLird
time" But Mt last TREY sent him to a
little faculty at Douai where the ex-
animation was easy, and he passed.
M. de Courtalin never failed oh, no;
he wasa bachelor, a lawyer, a doctor and
all the rest-deep, correct and grave in
his speech and bearing; always dressed
in black redingote with a double row
of buttons, and every one of them but
toned. And what a future before him.
Already member of the council, and
very eloquent; and perhaps, some day,
minister or ambassador, who knows?
While my poor Gontran would never be
anything but very amusing and very
insignificant gentleman, very success
full in his way, very modern in his
beautiful gray suit. Gontran has a
passion for clothes, He confers fol
hours and hours with his tailor, which
delights me. for l too love to spend
hours with my dressmaker.
Yes, Nine. de Courtalin had called
to ask my hand for her faultless son.
do not know what mamma said to hei
after my refusal 1 only know that
was left for awhile in peace.
After the Grand Prix everything wa:
over; there was general dispersion o.
society
the long summer? Making tour o
the world very quietly and quite at his
ease. l learned afterward that THU
also was mammals doing; that wher
he was in Japan he had bought me {
number of lovely little things, placed
in tiny case that bore my name. Tn,
case had been sent to mamma, but
had never seen It,
All that year one name was sounded
in my ears-Courtalin, Courtalin, al
ways Courtalin. He had all the virtues
under Heaven. My determination be
gan to weaken, l say it to my shame
After all, what advantage there wa
in being a married woman; absolute
freedom would be accorded me. TheI
the thought Of being duchess was no
displeasing. Mamma had prepared
list of eligible husbands, and Courtalil
was the only duke among them To b
e. sure, there was Count de Lemiers
who would some day be duke; bu
when? His father was only forty-fiv
and had constitution of iron, | wa
obliged to admit that in order to be
duchess it was necessary to marry M
de Courtalin.
All winter mamma displayed perfec
taste and exquisite sweetness. Sh
never urged, never tormented me.
know, however, that she said to he
friend, Nine. de Nelly: MY dear, sh
will yield before the Goth of June.
must be-" On that date we left Pari
for Aix-les-Baips.
And / did not continue to say n
with the savage energy of last year.
ouly awaited Gontran's return. 1t
| Urut JUdt L ulIlOSU ttltu WIFI lcdT Vi I'll
I understanding that intended to hav
y with him; but had resolved to speal
and speak l would. 1t seemed in
: possible to me that out there in Chin
= and Japan he had not sometime
thought of his cousin. We had alway
loved each other until that unfortunat
:, = day when had become marriageabl,
| knew that he would reach Paris o
! the I'd or Sd of April. The followin
Il day he would certainly come to see u
And SO it happened. He Gale
u about two o'clock, before mamma ha
= quite completed her toilet. we
. alone | ran to him. "Ah, Gontral
a how happy / am to see your And
kissed him without ceremony. Il
" kissed me in return, was very much a
fected and began to speak such gentl
. kind words that my heart melte,
, ~ He looked at me with different e,
i, lndea,