Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-04
THE COACHMAN.

AAGI uCdlDll was hCllJthIOJ ttllN1 OllO
best thing to do for her was to put her to
convent school in the country.
myself had three sons. Eliane, when
of age, would come into possession Of
$500, 900, and as 1 did not want to be &C.
cused of paternal covetousness I desisted
from taking her to my home. 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 a vocation for convent life I
demonstrated against her becoming a nun,
but she urged that she was happy and
wanted nothing better than to pass her ex-
istence at the convent. When Of age, she
for two years devoted her whole income to
feeding and clothing the poor Of Juilly.
One morning, however, I received the
following astonishing letter:
Ny DEAR GUARDIAN-I am bored. After
mature reflection / 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 bored?'
''To death, my dear guardian"
"And you wish to marry simply for lack
Of something better to doS"
EXACTLY"
"Have you considered"
"Not very much-only enough to know
that since l am bored at the convent can
have no religious vocation. won't be an
old maid. There is nothing left then ex-
Dept marriage-or death"
GLOW you jump at conclusions"
"Have you in your infinite wisdom any
thing else to suggestH"
"Huml And what do you require Of the
happy mortal, your future husbandH"
Nothing except that he please me-"
every we'll. But what does please your
You must have some ideal. All girls
have"
mot l." she answered quietly. ERE
member, my kind friend, that know only
three men-you, our father confessor and
the convent gardener, and'-
"And?"
She slightly tossed her head. "Well,
they are not at all what 1 want"
I was fully aware that I, stout, bald
and nearsighted, could not be the fancy
of handsome girl of 20; still felt O little
provoked at being told it so plainly.
VERY WE'LL" said grufily.
She kissed me. Probably she would have
been more circumspect had 1 been her
ideal. Anyhow her kiss Gained me.
II shall seek and find"
She dropped me a nice little courtesy,
and we parted.
1t does not seem hard to find candidate
for the hand Of a young and charming
heiress. 1 presented quite number of
men to her-nice fellows, too-but none
suited her. Summer was passing, and
each week Eliane sent me card with tho
words, IT am bored"
Don't be SO hard to please, 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 de Pen-Valloet and her
two sons-old family, distinguished name,
good connections, respectable fortune. 1
proposed to Eliane to spend few weeks
with my wife at Trouville. She joyfully
accepted.
ION the way" said I, I'VE will stop at
one of my clients, the Marquise de Pen
Valloet"
~ wager your client has a son."
1.-Two, in fact"
$50 much the easier to choose.
The marquise resided on large estate
some miles from Redon. had been told
of her strictly economical way of living,
so I was not surprised to find awaiting us
at the station an old rattletrap of car
riage, which smelled SO musty that as we
started to get in, Eliane recoiled.
Suppose we ride outside. I should en-
joy the fresh air"
IT don't see any ladder" said I, a little
dismayed 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 quite easily.
Evidently an ex-soldier," thought I,
looking admiringly at the robust, hand
some figure of the man.
Eliane seemed no more than a feather
in his strong grasp. Before was seated
she was beside me, radiant and happy as
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 1 do. Now, driver,
quick, quick, quickl"
The man smiled rather sarcastically,
thought.
mot too fast, my boy" said. Don't
listen to that featherbrain.
He gathered up his reins and started his
team. Heavens, what racel Ny blood
curdles at the thought of it. Eliane clap
ped her hands and melted the pleased
coachman to redoubled efforts. held on
with might and main, prepared to jump
at the expected crash.
My torture lasted 35 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, I said to
the coachman.
EVERY one knows his own business, sir.
know mine," he answered phlegmatical-
ly.
A handsome, refined looking young
man of medium height met US and assisted
Us to alight
Nine. de Pen-Valloet received US IN tho
large, gloomy drawing room, hung with
ancestral pictures moro 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.
II