The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-24
SELECTED STORY.
A Governors WOOing.

ment, with a very high ceiling, two
windows draped with green damask
curtains, walls and armchairs of the
same color, and heavy bookcases of
mahogany. The highly waxed floor
reflected the cold symmetry of the of
fetal furniture, and the mirror over
the mantelpiece reproduced with ex-
actness a black marble clock, two
bronze lamps, and pair of gilt candle
sticks.
Hubert Boinville, the deputy gov
ernor, was seated, with his back to the
fireplace, at large mahogany desk
which was Uttered over with deeds and
aud various papers. He raised his
grave, melancholy face which was
framed in a brown beard, tinged with
few gray hairs, and his black eyes,
with tired-looking lids, glanced at the
card which the solemn usher handed to
him.
On the card was written in trem-
bling hand, "Veuve Blouet" (widow
Blouet), but the name conveyed no in.
formation to him and he put it down
impatiently.
at is an old lady, sir" said the at
tendant, in explanation. "Shall l send
her away?"
"No; let her come in" replied the
deputy governor, in tone OF resigna-
ton.
The usher Strengthened himself up in
his uniform, bowed, and disappeared,
returning the next minute to show in
the visitor, who stopped on the thresh-
old and dropped an old-fashioned cour-
tesy.
She was little old lady, dressed in
shabby mourning. Her black merino
gown had greenish tinge, and was
wrinkled and darned; limp Grape
veil, which had evidently served through
more than one period of mourning,
hung down on each side from an old
fashioned bonnet, and beneath front
of false brown hair was round, wrinkled
face with bright eyes, small mouth
and no teeth
"Sir," she began, in a somewhat
breathless voice, 81 am the daughter,
sister and widow of men who served
their country. applied some time ago
to the department for help and have
come to see whether there is any hope"
The deputy governor listened with
out moving a muscle of his face. He
had heard so many supplications of
this kindl
''Have you ever received any assis-
tance?" he asked coldly.
ono, sir" she replied. L have
managed to get on until now without
asking. 1 have a small pension"
"Ahl" he interrupted in dry tone.
"In that case I am afraid we can do
nothing for you. We have great
many applicants who have no pension
to rely upon"
"Ah, listen, sir" she cried, de-
spairingly. 81 have not explained
everything. had three sons, and they
are all dead. The last one taught
mathematics, and one day during the
winter, when he was going from the
Pantheon to Chaptal College, he caught
violent cold, which settled on his
lungs and carried him off in two weeks.
He had supported me and his child by
teaching; the expense of his illness and
death used up all of our little savings,
and l had to raise money on my pen
sion. Now l am alone in the world
with my grandchild, and we have moth
ing. l am eighty-two years old, SIR"
Tears had gathered under her
wrinkled eyelids as she spoke, and the
deputy governor was listening more at
tentively than he had done at first. A
peculiar singing information of the speak
er's voice, and the sound of certain pro-
vincial expressions seemed to his ears
like once familiar music; the old lady's
way of speaking had for him flavor of
home which produced most singular
sensation in his mind. He rang his
bell and sent for Nine. Blouet's "pa-
pers," and when the sedate usher had
laid thin package before him he ex-
amined the yellow pages with evident
interest.
"You are from Lorraine, l see,
madame" he said at last, turning
toward her a face less stern, and on
which faint smile was seen. | sus-
pected it from your accent"
Yes, sir, | am from Argonne," she
answered. "And you recognize my
accent? | thought l had long since
lost it. l have been knocking about
France like flying camp" The dep
uty governor looked with increasing
compassion at this poor widow whom a
harsh wind had torn from her native
forest and cast into Paris like withered
leaf. He felt his official heart grow
softer, and smiling again he said:
81 am from Argonne, / lived near
your village for long time, at Cler-
mont" And then he added gayly
Keep up your courage, Nine. Blouet
i hope we shall be able to help you.
Will you give me your address?"
"No. II Rue de la Sante, near the
Capuchin convent. Thank you, sir
for your kindness. l am very glad tc
have found fellow countryman, and
after repeated courtesies the widow
took her departure.
AS soon as she was gone M. Boin-
vile arose, and going to the win
dow stood looking down into the gar
den with his face against the glass
But he was not looking at the tops OF
the half leahess chestnut trees; his
dreamy gaze wandered far off TOWARD
the East, beyond the plains of the
chalky hills of Champagne, past large
forest, to valley where quiet rivel
flowed between two rows of poplar
trees, to little old town with tile rooted
houses.
There his early childhood had beer