Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-09-21

It was the young girls character which
attracted him.
One morning after breakfast Freder-
ick was smoking a cigar in the garden
by his sisters side, in whose skirts the
little Martha was diligently curling her
dolls wig.
At the table they had spoken of An
toinette, and now-now they still spoke
of her. Then after moment of silence
Frederick said, with q sigh:
"What pity she is so richl'
''Why9" asked Julia, looking steadily
at her brother, with eyes full of anxiety.
"To woo young girl you know to be
millionaire, when besides your salary
you scarcely have $1,000 a year, would
not be acting like a gentleman.
To her brothers surprise, Julia did
not answer. She had turned her head
aside. He put his hand on her shoulder
with heavy heart, exclaiming:
"You are cryingl What is the matter?
What ails yos?
"Nothingw she replied, with smile
drowned in tears.
The young man kneeled before her,
and putting his arms around her sSid:
"Julial Julia! have but you in the
world. You have some sorrow. Oh, !
beg of you do not hide it from mel Sis
ter, dear little sister! You have no right
to conceal it from me-"
She hesitated for moment; then in
low voice, in accents choked with sobs,
she whispered her confidence. 1t was
simple and short.
A bank suspended payment. Through
this they would lose large amount.
That is why Ducheinin was travelling.
Alas, his letters announced nothing goodl
But in the meantime what is the con-
nection between this disaster and Fred
srick's love for Antoinette9
-Ah, yes, yesl Becoming rich through
his wife, the lieutenant would have come
10 his brother-in-law's rescue.
Julia, moved to tears, was saying,
"And then Jacques is SO kind, so dill
gent, so honestl If you only knew, Fred,
how he loves your sister and what hap
piness she owes himl All, ruin, priva-
tions-that is nothing! The hard part is
that man like Jacques should bear the
undeserved stain Of kind of disgrace.
Will it ever be granted to me to console
him?'
In his turn the young man kept quiet,
lowering his e.es, thinking of this mar
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 SEN
tence he had just uttered, SIT would not
be acting like 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 81
lently. She wept-in silence also.
'Julia," said the young man soberly,
Ego, in my name, to ask for Mile. Bour-
geois' hand"
EAT lastp 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'll An
swer, darling. Tell-ten how backward
we found himI"
| A lovely smile, SO chaste in its frank
ness, Lit up the young girls face and
without speaking she advanced toward
Nine. Duchemin with extended hands.
Then, kissing her:
II 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
schatter," to all freedomi 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"
Il ~ y
4. The attorneys had taken the matter in
hand. Everything was ready, for the
lieutenant had told his sister:
'sAct for me. Have the settlements
drawn to suit yourself"
AS for him, to ell questions he an.
swered:
'Yes. All right. AS you please"
II So much SO that ct last Julia took him
/ aside and said to him:
! ATake care, Fred. Take care lest yor
grieve this child"
"Grieve her" he repeated, startled
s'It would cause me the most bitter re
morse"
"Yet one would think you do not low
her."
'Not love her!'' exclaimed the yeune
man. II would be the most ungratefu
!. fellow. Oh, on the contrary, love he;
with all the power Of my soul, Of m.
conscience and of my probity. Devote
of feeling as I may appear, my heart i
all her own. Iadmire, and adore her
All, why is she not poor? You woul'
: see-yon would see then, Julia" he add
ed, relapsing into his darker mood.
The eventful day was fixed. The ban
were to be published.
: After dinner the lieutenant accom-
panied the ladies home, walking by thei
!, side along the road. At the door the
bade one another goodby. After tina
!, word had been spoken Antoinette re
manned at Frederick's side, very, close t
4 him. She appeared to await something
!, He understood. And once more low