Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-05-10
WALTZED HER AWAY.

pure goodness of soul took pity on the
poor little schoolgirl and danced with
her three times But there must be no
more of it have not yet had enough
of life. Besides know of nothing more
ridiculous than marriage between cous-
ins. A"
But that was not all. He also said to
Robert, II saw her in evening dress last
night for the first time, and she is so
thin.
That night, after Gabrielle had told
me all this, disrobed before the mirror
and studied my poor little shoulders
with their great hollows and had fit
of weeping. Mamma came in the middle
of it.
"My angel, what is it2" She took me
in her arms.
But I could not speak. The tears
ohoked me- "My treasure, you pain me.
Speak, dearest"
Then, to reassure her, managed to say
between my sobs: "It is because am
thin, mammal Gontran, last evening,
| thought was so thinp'
Thereupon mamma began to laugh.
She told me that at II she was much
thinner than !, and she assured me very
| solemn1y that I would certainly develop.
That winter Of my first season mamma
took me to dozen great affairs, but
they were occasions Of mourning and
sorrow, for Gontran was not there.
He did not want to marry. He even
told me So I did not know then that
this was by order of my mother.
One day about 4 o'clock In the after
noon-it was the second day of June
mamma came into my room with look
on her face that was new to me "My
child" she said, "my child"
She had no need to say more un-
derstood. All the evening before at the
Prince de Vearn's M. de Courtalin had
been with me, and the next morning his
mother had told mamma that her son
knew Of nothing more beautiful than my
| face.
| Mamma tried to make me listen to
reason. If I refused him, ! threw away
a splendid chance The Duke de Courta-
lin was the mark at which all the ma
ternal guns were pointed. Great name,
| great position, great fortune
For me, I had but one word to oppose
to all these Just and proper remarks
Gontranl Gontranl qonHan or the con-
vent and the most severe convent at
that-Carnel.
| NJ. de Courtalin was perfection. I
listened to his praise all the afternoon
and hated him. The more he was eulo-
| gized the more I turned from him. With
Gontran I could be quite at my ease, for
he never impressed one with his superb
ority. knew but little, but my igno-
rance compared with his, was erudi-
tion.
Nine de Courtalin had called to ask
my hand for her faultless son. do not
know what mamma said to her after my
refusal only know that was left for
awhile In peace.
And where was Gontran through the
long summer? Making tour of the
world very quietly and quite at his ease.
learned afterward that this also was
mammals doing; that when he was in
Japan he had brought me a number Of
lovely little things, placed in tiny case
that bore my name. The case had been
sent to mamma, but had never seen it.
All that year one name was sounded in
my ears-Courtalin, Courtalin, always
Courtalin. He had all the virtues under
heaven. My determination began to
weaken, I say it to my shame
| After all, what advantage there was
in being a married woman! Absolute
freedom would be accorded me. Then the
thought of being duchess was not dis
pleasing.
All winter mamma displayed perfect
taste and exquisite sweetness She never
urged, never tormented me. know,
however, that she said to her friend,
Nine. de Nelly: "My dear, she will
yield before the Goth of June. It must
be-"
On that date we left Paris for AK.
les -Bains.
And I did not continue to say no with
the savage energy Of last year. only
awaited Gontran's return. knew that
he would reach Paris on the I'd or Sd of
April. The following day he would Ger
tainly come to see us.
And so it happened. He called about
I2o'clock, before mamma had quite COM
pleted her toilet. I was alone. l ran to
him.
"Ah, Gontran, how happy am to
see you'll"
And I kissed him without ceremony.
He kissed me in return, was very much
affected and began to speak such gentle,
kind words that my heart melted. He
found me a new creature. was nc
longer thin. had grown taller and
fuller.
But Just then mamma came in, then
papa and then my brother George. An
odious conversation regarding the merits
of English and French boats followed
how tho French boats made better time,
how the food on them was 30 muol
finer, and SO on. It was so enjoyablel
It was not until three days after tina
we met him again, by accident, but h
was no longer himself. He was icy. Hi
good morning was icy; the shake OF hi
hand was icy; his words icy. He wa
awkward and embarrassed He quickl.
lost us in the crowd and reappeared NJ
more.
I returned to throw myself once NOR
, into the arms Of my mother and cry out
, "Yes; shall marry De Courtalin. :"
J How many times between that ant
7 the 18th of May did 1 repeat the opera
ton! It came to be settled thing tina