The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-14
THE COACHMAN.

NOAANOAAoehRUSo hGthIloO llCT nun,
but she urged that she was happy and
wanted nothing better than to pass her ex-
tstence at tho convent When of ago, sho
for two years devoted her whole income to
feeding and clothing the poor Of Juilly.
One morning, however, / received the
following astonishing letter:
My DEAR GUARDrAN-I am bored. After
mature reflection I find that am not cut out
Tor religious career. Kindly find mo n hus-
band as soon rs possible. Your grateful and
devoted EIIANe
hurried to the convent.
$50 you arc borcdS"
TO dsath, my dear guardian
And You wish to marry simply for lack
of something better to dor"
EXACTLY
"Havo you oonsidercd?"
mot very much-only enough to know
that since am bored Mt tho convent can
have no religious vocation. won't DO an
old maid. There Is nothing loft then OK
oopt marriagc-or death"
How you jump at oonolusions!'
Have you in your infinite wisdom any
thing else to suggcst9'
"Huml And what do you require of tho
happy mortal, your future husbandf"
Nothing, except that Inc please mo-
Very we'll. But what docs please you?
You must have some ideal. All girls
have
Not l." sho answered quietly. "Ro-
member, my kind friend, that know only
three mcn-you, our father confcssor and
tho convent gardener, and'-
''And?'
She slightly tossed her head. "Wcll,
they arc not Mt all what want
was fully aware that 1, stout, bald
and ncarsighted, could not DO the fancy
of handsome girl of 90; still felt u littlo
provoked at being told 1t so plainly
Very we'll, said gruflly.
She kissed mo. Probably sho would have
been moro oircumspcct had L been her
ideal. Anyhow her kiss Gained me.
Il shall seek and find"
She dropped me o Moe littlo courtesy,
and we parted.
1t docs not seem hard 30 find candidate
for tho hand OF u young and charming
heircss presented quite a number of
men to her-nice fellows, too--but none
suited her Summer was passing, and
each week Eliane sent mo q oard with tho
words, II am bored"
Don't be SO hard to please thon. Make
CHOICE" answered in transportation.
Things were at this point whom my old
friend, tho curato of Redon, spoke to mo
OF the Marquisc dc Pen Valloet and her
two sons-old family, distinguished name,
good connections, respectable fortune.
proposed to Eliane to spend q few weeks
with my wife at Trouviile. She joyfully
accepted.
ION the way" said I, two will stop at
ono of my clients, tho Marquise dc Pen
Valloet"
Il wager your client has n son.
1.-Two, in fact"
$50 much tho easier to choose.
The marquisc resided on a largo estate
some miles from Rcdon. had been told
OF her strictly economical way of living
SO was not surprised to find awaiting us
at tho station an old rattlctrap of car
riagc, which smellcd so musty that, Us wo
started to get in, Eliano rccoied.
suppose we ride outside. 1 should en-
Joy the fresh air."
II don't sec any ladder" said I, a little
olsmaycd at the steep climb.
Bah! One foot on the wheel, another
near the coachman, and thero you are''
You want to break my neck -
Don't DO afraid, SIR" said the coach
man, Offering me his strong hand and
helping INC to mount quito easily.
Evidently an soldier" thought I,
looking ad1niringly at tho robust hand
some figure of the man.
Eliane seemed no moro than q feather
In his strong grasp. Before WAS seated
she was beside me, radiant and happy as a
lark
You will be afraid" said 1, measuring
the distance from our perch to tho ground.
Afraid! You don't know mo. You
will Cry quarter before do. Now, driver,
quick, quick, quick''
The man smiled rather sarcastically,
thought.
Not too fast, my boy" said. Don't
listen to that featherbrain"
Ho gathered up his roins and started his
team. Heavens, what racel My blood
curdles at tho thought OF it Eliane clap
ped her hands and melted the pleased
coachman to redoubled efforts. I held Oh
with might and rain, prepared to Jump
at the expected crash.
My torture lasted 35 minutes, during
which must have grown 30 years older
Tho carriage turned sharply to the right
we raced up narrow road and stopped
abort in paved court. The precision with
which the ponies halted at the door would
lave done honor to circus horses, but I
was too vexed to admire.
You came near killing u.s." said to
The coachman.
Every ono knows his own business, sir
know mine" he answered phlegmatical-
~.
A handsome, refined looking young
man of medium height met us and assisted
us to alight.
Nine. de Pen Valloet received us In the
large, gloomy drawing room, hung with
ancestral pictures moro or less hidcous.
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.
NV Rnnn ~ CHI NJ
ahe handsome young man who had first