The herald., 1894-03-04


I'VE will see. do not want to yield
on cOmpulSion, but am q just man..
Once alone, Passeraud wasted no
time in foolish proceedings rather out
of place, the gravity of the circum-
stances considered. An attentive spec
tator--but Passeraud had banished
pectators-would have heard him hum
the air:
Cest ici que Rose rosplrsl
The same surprised spectator would
have seen him go from one piece Of fur
niture to another with delighted air,
walking as in dream among the beau
tiful furniture, extend himself at full
length upon the sofa--here Valentine
must have satl-then install himself In
a small chair-this low seat Is with
ont doubt the ono she prefersl--then
gaze for long while at a young girls
portrait-that is her dear picturei--and
throw kisses to ito you, even to youl
These frivolous proceedings having con-
sumed the appointed 60 minutes, Pas
seraud opened the doors and called ev-
cry one.
"Have a fire made, sir"
Pssseraud was obeyed. The chimney
had now clear, strong draft. A gentle
warmth breathed through the chilled
and frosty room. There was not the
least smoke. Passeraud's genius shone
out like the sun; he who could not see
it was blind.
"It is too delightfull'' exclaimed M.
Lamantin radisntly. Valentine, this
dear young man is great engineer.
He shall be my son-in-law, with your
CONSENT
A year after these miraculous events
Mime. Passeraud-nee Lamantin-had
son as beautiful as the morning. Up
on this occasion M. Lamantin made the
following speech:
my dear son, explain one thing TO
me. Three months ago the railroad
companies adopted your automatic
brake; gold showers upon you from all
sides; the right to use your patent is
purchased in England, America, Italy,
Australia, the Indies and Spain. You
are now rich, not from your wifes
dowry, but of yourself. Does not that
make you think seriously? But to come
to what is troubling me; you have on
hand another invention, and you do
nothing with it,
''To what invention do you allude,
sir?"
"Why, what else could it be but your
secret for preventing echimneys from
smoking. Ahl you are not going to
tell me now that you are too poor to
,,ox, &ho ,oro,nsx,u,ot
"Pshaw! that would not bring much" "
''It would be a spoke In the wheel;
why neglect a profit ready to your
hand?"
Father, do not let us talk about it. F"
"Yes, yes; wish to-"
Father, you will oblige me TO tell
you things would rather keep to my
self"
"Speak out, speak out"
''Well, then, know that ] did not cure
your chimney of smoking; simply
stopped making it smoke. There is a
shade of difference between these two
things. My room was then under the
roof. l had only to put out my hand
to check the draft by placing some
thing, no matter what, over the fue--
q plate, for example. 1t was your
fault, too; ever SINCE the world was
made cruel fathers have forced lovers
to carry off their daughters by strata
gem. I did as every one else; 1 i'm
provised little comedy. My excuse is
that Valentine helped me. 1t was she
who commissioned the concierge to rep
resent me as the greatest chimney
builder of the vicinity. Forgive Us
both, and console yourself by thinking
that it is fate which 30 rules, for those
who love each other must succeed in
their plans-that is law. When a
prudent marriage is happy, it is the ex-
ception which proves the rule. So, then,
my SON, born this morning, is rich.
Be sure that he will fall madly in love
with an honorable but poor girl. Only
he will not have the pleasure of playing
a trick on me- declare to you in ad-
vance that will give him this maiden
without cent, certain as l am that, if
I did not give her to him-he would
take her. Romance.