The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-16


But while lowering his eyes he saw his
red ribbon, and it seemed to him he
heard an interior voice repeating the sem
tence he had just uttered, "Is 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 ST.
lently. She wept-in silence also.
Julia" said tho young man soberly,
''go, i'll my name, to ask for Mile Bour-
geois' hand"
AT last" triuinphantly 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! An
swer. darling. Tell-tell how backward
we found him"
a lovely smile, so chaste in its frank
ness. lit up the young girls face and
without speaking she advanced toward
Mime. 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 n strange thing! He, so out
spoken till then-so open and so gay
was formal now, circumspect, stilted,
almost unpleasant. Goodby to intimate
chatter" to all freedom! He chose his
words carefully. No more jokes nowl
at first Antoinette was Disconnected
by it, but surnlOunting 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" Sho
consulted him about the details of their
future home. What shade did he pre-
fer for tho curtains? And when they
were passing the glass works, stopping
to kiss Martha. she promptcd:
Say Good morning. Aunt Fred"
The attorneys had taken the matter in
hand. Everything was ready, for the
lieutenant had told his sister:
Act for Inc. Have the settlements
drawn to suit yourself"
AS for him. to all questions he an
swcred:
YES. All right. AS you please"
So much SO that at last Julia took him
aside and said TO him:
Take care, Fred Take care lest YOU
gricvc this child"
"Gricvc hcr!" he repeated startled.
1T would cause me the most bitter re-
morse
Yet one would think you do not love
her."
Not love her" exclaimed the Young
man. 81 would be the most ungrateful
fellow. Oh, on the contrary, love her
with all the power Of my SOUL of INV
conscience and Of my probity. Devoid
of feeling us may appear, my heart is
all her own. admire, and adore her.
All, why is she not poor? You would
scc-you would see then, Julia" he add
ed, relapsing into his darker mood
The cventful day was fixed The bans
We're to be published
After dinner the lieutenant accom-
panied the ladies home, walking by their
side along the road. AT the door they
babe one another goodby. After that
word had been spoken Antoinette re-
manned at Frederick side, very close to
him. She appeared TO await something.
He understood. And once more low
cring his eyes he saw the red ribbon lit
by the last rays of the setting sun. And
as in an hallucination in the rustling of
the leaves he thought he heard again,
1t would not be acting likea gentle
man"
Then, dazzled nc stepped back, and in
a choking voice said: Listen! NY heart
is bursting. Even if l unsettlc every
thing, Unjust speak. must tell you"-
What: Everything, He stated every
thing indecd-the, situations, his scru-
pies, his great sorrow.
Antonetto and her mother sought to
interrupt him, repeating, "But-but"-
He did not listen He went on TO the
end. And then only were they able to
finish their sentence:
''But-we know it,!
"What! You know that my sister and
her husband arc threatened with
Certainly, we know it," said the
widow. and this is why we hurried the
conclusion, which will at last give us the
right to ward off the misfortune they do
not deserve"
'And you. Antoinette:"
Somewhat confused, she replied:
81? Oh, had but one fear-not to
please you"-New York Commercial Adj
vertiser
Polly rs Il Pastor.
There was parrot once that belonged
n "a r. In, 1,n ,,,.o