The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-10-07

brown hands on her lap, and sh ook her
head; she dared not at once tell her
husband the truth.
mo, my man; Marie does not mean
to keep faith with Marcel. That aunt
of hers has been over from Bayeux, and
| she brought with her an oldish man
from Paris, u NJ. Bourgct All! Pierre
we were so eager for this mar
riage, because Marcel wished it and be-
cause Marie has enough to keep herself
and her husband too; hut more than
once since / have asked myself whether
our boy might not have cause to repent
| his bargain"
Folly! 1t is not bargain on Mar
cells side" Pierre said, angrily. HE
loves the woman-he told me so; though
what he can see in her hard face, and
her sham body stuffed with cotton wool
is past me. Bless you, mother, be easy;
when Marie sees Marcel's handsome
face again, do you think she will throw
him over for an oldish man from Paris?
Not She"
Mother Virginie sat silent, struggling
to make up her mind. Did she really
want Marcel to marry this ,nsolent
woman five years older than he was?
If she did not why was she so disturbed
by Marie's want of faith? She knew
why: it was SO terribly hard on Marcel.
He had not at first cared for the stylish
dressmalSer, who six months ago, when
the young soldier came home, was
new arrival at Come
The mother remembered that when
Marie had once seen Marcel, she was
always meeting him. In fact, she
never let him go. Then Marie's
aunt, Nine. Trobe, met Virginic one
day in BaycnX, and proposed that she
and Nine. Dupont should arrange
marriage between the young people:
she told the devoted mother that Marie
had inherited nice little income from
her father, and that in herself she
would be L treasure to any man. Hon
est, simple Virginie took the aunt's re-
port for truth, and went home and
sang M1arie's praises to Marcel. who had
great faith in his mothers Judgment.
Then came the annual festival at
BayeuX. Marie Trobe was an excellent
dancer, and at the ball she kept her.
self almost entirely for Marcel. The
young soldier came to his mother next
morning, and insisted that she should
call with him on Mile. Trobe and wit
ness their betrothal
Virginie thought he was tyrannical,
but she made excuse for HIM, and hoped
he was going to be very happy. What
visions the loving mother called up!
1t would cost her much to part from
Il Il
be a comfort to her to know that he
had some one he loved to take care of
him. and that he would he able to
leave the army earlier than he had ex-
pected.
This was to have been his last visit
home before the final one, when ne was
to come back for good and marry
Marie. He had been promised the post
of gamekeeper at Chateau Tracy, so he
| would not be dependent on his wife,
and although Virginie and her husband
lived in Il stone-foored, one-storied cot
tage, and rarely ate meat, they had put
by store of savings which would
greatly help in furnishing Marcel's
| house.
Yes" Mother Virginie thought, sad
| ly, lit was my fault. If l had not lis
tened to that deceitful widow, Marcel
would not have thought twice about
her, and now her falsehood will make
him unhappy for life"
| His wife's unusual silence worried the
lively old fisherman: he began to walk
slowly round his garden, smoking a
short clay pipe and signing over the
perforated leaves of his cabbages, which
had indeed the effect of lacework;
they had plainly fallen victims to u
plague of caterpillars. All at once he
came back to his wife.
"a fig for your fancies, old GIRL he
said. Il tell you that peacock, Marie,
worships our boy, though she is coy of
showing it to YOU"
Virginie looked at him with quiver-
ing lips and eyes full of tears.
Pierre stared; taking out his pipe, he
held it between his twisted thumb and
finger, which were much the same color
as the pipe.
"Eh?" he said, nervously, sch, then,
Virginie?"
ut is all over, my man." she sobbed.
Marie told me she is to marry this NJ.
Bourget on Saturday."
"One thousand devils!" Pierre let his
pipe fall and smash into hundred
pieces. did she tell you that Just
now? l thought she was blackguarding
the boy and saying he was unwilling
to come home; she knows as well as
do that the poor chap could not get his
leave any sooner. will have the law
on her, will; ! will go to the mayor.
He is MarcePs godfather; he will see
her righted."
"Pierre," his wife said, quietly, "lct
us think bit" The impetuous man
had already pulled his blouse half over
his head, so that he might put on his
coat in order % go and see the mayor.
Come, sit down. She put her arms
round him as though he had be en- a
child, instead of a big man nearly twice
her size.
"What's the use of hindering me? ]
want to stop this cursed MARRIAGE" he
said, reproachfully; but he yielded and
sat down in the armchair his wife had
pulled forward.
Virginie sat thinking, her hand on
her husbands knee, as If she feared he
might even yet carry out his purpose
and appeal to the mayor.
"After ALL my man." she said, at last,
'it is only Marcels disappointment we
have to- grieve for. He is well rid OF
such woman; she could not have
made him happy, Pierre. Her love for