Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-08-09
THE COACHMAN.
Translated From the French For the
Argonaut.

Il
from taking her TO my homo. Conse-
quently she spent all her vacation at
school, grew up beautiful and thereby
caused me TO redouble my precautions.
She showed religious proclivities and
professed vocation for convent life.
demonstrated against her becoming nun,
but she urged that she was happy and
wanted nothing better than % pass her ex-
istence at the convent. When of age, she
for two yeprs devoted her whole income To
feeding and clothing the poor OF Juilly.
One morning, however, 1 received the
following astonishing letter;
MY DEAR GUARDIAN-I am bored. After
mature reflection l find that am not cut out
for a religious career. Kindly find me hus-
band as soon as possible. Your grateful and
devoted ELIANE.
hurried TO the convent
$50 you are boredP'
"To death, my dear guardian"
"And you wish TO marry simply for lack
Of something better to dor"
"Exactly."
Have you consideredf"
"Not very much-only enough TO know
that since am bored at the convent can
have no religious vocation. won't DO an
old maid. There Is nothing left then ex-
CcpC mhrrldRc-Or ueaIn.
"How you jump at conclusionsl"
"Have you in your infinite wisdom any
thing else to suggesti"
"Huml And what do you require Of the
happy mortal, your future husbandp
Nothing except that he please me-"
"Very well. But what does please your
You must have some ideal. All girls
have"
Not l." she answered quietly. RE
member, my kind friend, that know only
three men-you, our father confessor and
the convent gardener, and''-
"And2'
She slightly tossed her head. "Well,
they are not at all what want"
l was fully aware that /, stout, bald
and nearsighted, could not bo the fancy
of handsome girl of 20; still felt little
provoked at being told IL so plainly.
VERY we'll, said gruflly.
She kissed me. Probably she would have
been more circumspect had / been her
ideal Anyhow her kiss calmed me.
II shall seek and find"
She dropped me nice little courtesy,
and we parted.
1t does not seem hard to find candidate
for the hand Of a young and charming
heiress l presented quite number OF
men TO her-nice fellows, too--but none
suited her. Summer was passing, and
each week Eliane sent me n card with the
words, II am bored"
Don't be so hard tasplease then. Make
a choice, answered in evaporation.
Things were at this point when my old
friend, the curate Of Redon, spoke TO mo
of the Marquise dc Pen-Valloet and her
two sons old family, distinguished name,
good connections, respectable fortune.
proposed TO Eliane 20 spend a few weeks
with my wife at Trouville. She joyfully
accepted.
ION the way" said /, 'we will stop at
one OF my clients, the Marquise do Pen
Valloet"
"I wager your client has n son."
1.-TWO, in fact "
$50 much the easier TO choose.
The marquise resided on q large estate
some miles from Redon. had been told
of her strictly economical way OF living,
SO / was not surprised to find awaiting us
at the station an old rattletrap of a car
riage, which smelled so musty that, as wo
started to get In, Eliane rocoilcd.
Suppose we ride outside. l should en-
Joy the fresh air. ="
Il don't see any ladder" said l. a little
dismaycd at the steep climb.
"Bahl One foot on the Wheel another
near the coachman and there you are.
You want to break my neck. "
Don't be afraid, SIR" said the coach
man, Offering me his strong hand and
helping me to mount quito easily.
Evidently an ex-soldier," thought ],
looking admiringly at tho robust, hand
some figure Of the man.
Eliane seemed no moro than feather
in his strong grasp. Before was seated
she was beside me, radiant and happy as a
lark.
You will be afraid" said I, measuring
the distance from our perch TO the ground
Afraid You don't know me. You
will cry quarter before do. Now, driver
quick, quick, quickP"
The man smiled rather sarcastically,
thought.
mot too fast, my boy" { said. "Don't
listen 20 that featherbrain.
He gathered up his reins and started his
team. Heavens, what q race! My blood
curdles at the thought Of It. Eliano clap
ped her hands and melted the pleased
coachman to redoublcd efforts. held on
with might and main, prepared 70 jump
at tho expected crash.
Ny torture lasted 80 minutes, during
which must have grown 10 years older.
| The carriage turned sharply to the right.
! We raced up narrow road and stopped
short in paved court. The precision with
which the ponies halted at the door would
| have done honor to circus horses, but
| was too vexed TO admire.
You came near killing us" said to
| the coachman.
Every one knows his own business sir.
7 know mine" he answered phlegmatioal-
: A handsome, refined looking young
man of medium height met us and assisted
us to aliRht.
| Mime. de Pen-Valloet 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
ments.
my son Rene" she said, designating
the handsome young man who had first
received US, has awaited your coming
with great impatience, the curato's DO
scription of you and Mile. Eliane was so
flattering. And then we lead such a ro-
tired life, have few calls, fewor neighbors,
only some friends Of my own ago. Your
visit is perfect godsend, and hope you
will make it a long one"
thought the old lady's severe gray eyes
4 Al IL al