The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-18
THE COACHMAN.

IHE CUACHMAN
was Fliane du Rocher's guardian AT
the ago of she had lost both her parents.
Hor health was delicate, and thought the
best thing to do for her was to put her to
convent school in the country.
myself had three sons Eliane when
of age, would come into possession of
$500, 900, and as l did not want to bo ao.
cused Of patornal eoyetousness / desisted
from taking her to my home Conse.
quently she spent all her vacation at
school, grew up beautiful and thereby
caused me to redoublc my precautions.
She showed religious proclivities and
profcssed vocation for convent life
demonstrated against her becoming nun,
but she urged that she was happy and
wanted nothing hettor thnn to pass her ex-
istence at the convent When of age, she
for two years devoted her whole income to
feeding and clothing the poor of Juilly.
One morning, however, l received tho
following astonishing letter;
My DEAR GuARprAN-I am bored. After
mature reflection l find that am not cut out
for a religious career. Kindly find me u hus-
band as soon as possible. Your grateful and
devoted E1IANE.
/ hurried to the convent
So you are bored2'
To death, my dear guardian"
And you wish tomarry simply for lack
of something better To doy"
Exactly"
"Iluve you consideredN'
Not very much-only enough to know
that since am bored at the convent can
have no religious vocation. won't be an
old maid There is nothing left then ex-
cept mnrriagc-or death -
How you jump at conclusions"
Have you in your infinite wisdom any
thing elSo to suggcstH'
Hun! And what do you require of the
happy mortal, your future husband"
Nothing, except that he please mo-
Very well. But what does please your
You must have some ideal. All girls
have"
Not /, she answered quietly RE
member, my kind friend that know only
three mcn-you, our father eonteSsor and
the convent gardener and"--
And?'
She slightly tossed her head. ''W'cll,
they are not at all what l want"
l was fully aware that l, stout, bald
and ncarsighted, could not be the fancy
Of handsome girl of 20; still felt little
provoked at being told it so plainly.
Very WELL" l said gruftly.
She kissed me. Probably sho would have
been more crcumspect had l been her
ideal. Anyhow her kiss calmcd me.
Il shall seek and find. -
She dropped me nice little courtesy,
and we parted.
1t does not seem hard to find a candidate
for the hand of young and charming
heiress. l presented quite number Of
men to her-nice fellows, too-but none
suited her Summer was passing and
ench week Eliane sent me card with the
words, II am bored. -
Don t be SO hard to please, then. Make
choice, " Unanswered in cxasperation.
Things were Mt this point when my old
friend, the curate of Redon, spoke to mo
of the Marquise de Pen. Nalloet and her
two sons--old family, distinguished name,
good connections, respectable fortune. |
proposed to Eliane to spend few weeks
with my wife at Trouyille, She joyfully
accepted.
s0n the way, said !, Eve will stop at
one of my clients, tho Marquise dc Pom
Salloet.
Il wager your client has son."
Tive, in fact.
80 much the easier to choose.
The marquise resided on large estate
of her strictly economical way of living,
SO | was not surprised to find awaiting us
AT the station an old rattletrap OF car
riage, which smclled so musty that, ils we
started to get in, Eliane recoiled
Suppose we ride outside | should en-
joy the fresh air. y
i don't see any ladder y said |, n little
dismayed at the steep climb.
BAH One foot on the wheel, another
near the conchman, and there you are /"
:. You want to break my neck. y
Don't bo afraid, sir, said tho coach
man, Offering mo his strong hand and
helping me to mount quite easily.
Evidently an ex soldier" thought I,
looking admiringly Mt the robust, hand
some figure of the man.
Eliane seemed no more than feather
In his strong grasp. Before l was seated
she was beside me, radiant and happy US q
lark.
You will be afraid, - said l, measuring
the distance from our perch tothe ground.
Afraid You don't know me. You
will cry quarter before do Now, driver,
quick, quick, quickln
The man smiled rather sarcastically, 1
thought.
Not too fast, my boy" said Don't
listen to that fcathcrbrain. -
He gathered up his reins and started his
team. Heavens, what n race! My blood
eurdles at tho thought of it. Eliane clap
ped her hands and melted the pleased
coachman to rodoubled efforts. held ON
with might and main, prepared To jump
at the expected crash.
My torture lasted 35 minutes, during
which I must have grown 10 years older
The carriage turned sharply to the right
We raced up a narrow road and stopped
short in a paved court. The precision with
which the ponies halted at the door would
have done honor to circus horses, but /
was too yexed to admire.
You calne near killing us, )" | said to
the coachman.
Every one knows his own business, sir.
] know mine, lie answered phlegmatical-
ly
A handsome, refined looking young
man of medium height met us and assisted
lis To alight.
Mime. de Pen-Ealloet received us in tho
large, gloomy drawing room, hung with
ancestral pictures more or less hideous.
She herself, in her old fashioned, faded
gown looked like an old family portrait,
descended from its frame. She greeted us
graciously and herself led us to our apart.
lnents.
My son Rene" she said, designating
the handsome young man who had first
EIacsiyed us, has awaited Your coming
with great iihpatien"e, the eurate's de
seription of you and Mile. Eliane was SO
fattoring And then we lead such a re
tired life, have few ealls, fewer neighbors,
only some friends of my own age. Your
visit is u perfect godsend, and hope you
will make IL a long one"
thought the old lady, severe gray cyes
rested with pleasure on my littln ward.
Dinner was ready. We had just time t.
change our travelling suits. When Elianp
reappeared in her simple white gown, shl
locked queenly beautiful, Rene met hel