The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18

Nhe nn0 nan many, some eeVen or eight One or
two had died, others had been married she had
sons settled far away from home. and At the
time Of which We are now speaking but one was
left in any way subject TO parental authority.
Adolphe Bauche was the only one Of her chill
dren Of whom much was remembered by the
present denizens and hsngers-on Of the hotel.
He was the youngest Of the number. and. having
been born only very shortly before the return
Of Madame Bauche 10 vernet, had been alto
gether reared there. IL was thought by the
world Of those parts, and rightly thought. that
he was his mothers ~dsrling-more 30 than had
been any Of his brothers and sisters-the very
apple Of her eye and gem Of her life. At
this time he was about rs years Of
age. and for the last two years had
been absent from Nernet-for reasons which
will shortly be made to appear. He had been
sent 10 Paris to see something Of theworld. and
learn to talk French instead of the patois Of his
valley: and having left Paris had come down
south into Languedoc, and remained there pick
ing mp some agricultural lore which Il was
thought might prove useful in the valley farms
OF vernet. He was now expected home again
very speedily. much to his mothers delight.
That she was kind and gracious TO her ~favorite
child does not perhaps give much proof Of her
benevolence; but she had also been kind and
gracious to the orphan child Of a neighbor: nav,
n the orphan child Of a rival innkeeper. At
vernet there had been more than one water
establishment, but the proprietor of the second
had died some few years after Madame Bauche
had settled herself at the place. His house had not
thrived, and his only child. a little girl. was left
altogether without provision.
This little girl, Marie Clavert, La Mere Bauche
had taken into her own house Immediately after
the fathers death, although she had most cor
daily hated that father. Marie was then an
1, fop and Madame nanrho haI ar,optnl a..
charge without much thought, perhaps. as to
what might be the child's ultimate destiny. Bat
since then she had thoroughly done the duty of
n mother by the little girl. who had become the
pet OF the whole establishment, the favorite
plaything Of Adolphe Bauche-and at last, Of
course, his early sweetheart.
And then and therefore there had come
troubles at vernst. OF course all the world OF
the valley had seen what was taking place and
what was likely to take place, long before
Madame Bauche knew ynything about IL. But
at last it broke upon her senses that her son.
Adolphe Bauche. the heir TO all her virtues and
oil her riches. the first young man in that or any
neighborlng valley, was absolutely contemplat-
ing the idea OF marrying that poor little orphan.
Marie Clavert!
That any one should ever fall in love with
Mario Clavert had never occurred to Madame
Ba ,Sfa she had always ssgarded the child as
little thing to be looked on as poor Marie by all
the, world, She. looking through her green spec
beautiful creature. full OF ripening charms. such
"a young men love to look or. Marie was Of infinite
things about the house, and the old lady
thoroughly recognized and appreciated her
taught herself to regard Marie otherwise than as
q n,o useful dru dScb 40 s he, was 4. very wpy,d f9 pTss.n Of e her
In affairs about the house when she would listen
to no one clse-but Marie's prettiness, and grace
and sweetness AS girl had all been thrown away
But, unlnckily. II had not been thrown away
npon Ad ,Thlph He iso lad s sppr TS ,hs S as II WAS was
so utterly indifferent to his mother: and
consequently had fallen in love. Consequently
Also also, Marie hs sf had 'q petur has 'S Sis io ssa G SdsiSSs haS
aud thought that ali d~ificuity would be pre-
wished to marry Marie. Clavert. But Marie,
with n woman's instinct, had known better. She
when she confessed her love: and had absolutely
hid herself from sight when Adolphe went forth.
prepared to ask his mothers consent to his
The Indignation and passionate wrath OF
before the date OF this story. and l need not
therefore much enlarge upon that subject. She
yoe M q aFst s apI ~f,s sna Si;'e 5it wais anS Ss si,e sad
which was worse. IL was. of course determined
that poor Marie, should be sent away to some
short ~anywhere out OF the way. What mattered
her outlook into the world. her happiness, or
happiness OF Adolphe B~auche-was not that TO
be considered as everything at Vernety
not last very long. In the first place La Mere
Bauche had under these green spectacles a heart
al,sr IN ,b truth Srn, was Mo , days IF ana sng siie .bs asms and
that something must be done for Marie Clavert;
and after the fourth day she acknowledged that
the world OF the hotel. her world. would not go as
well without Marie Clavert ms 1t would with her.
Aud in the next place Madame Bauche had a
sometimes take. This friend had told her that
II would be much better to send away Adolphe,
sending away. OF some one: that he would be
much benefited by passing some months OF his
absence OF a Year or two would teach him to for.
get Marie, even II IL did not teach Marie to for
And we must say a word or two about this
friend. At Nernet he was usually called VI. lie
Capitaine. though in fact he had never reached
having been wounded, in the ley while still
a sous-lieutenant had been pensioned. and had
the thorny path that leads TO glory. For the
last hfteen years he had resided under the roof
constant there as she was herself.
He was 80 constantly called lie Capitaine that
his real name was seldom heard. IL may. how
ever. as well be known To us that this was Theo-
dore Campan. He was a tall, well-lOoking man;
and well brushed; OF perhaps my years of age,
~ IbuHIl' uOuH " W. Tx" upTlkutHco5 U 1 nIb
back and for a black wooden leg.
This wooden leg. was perhaps the most re-
markable trait In his character. IL was always
jet black. being painted, or polished, or iapanned.
as occasion might require, by the hands OF the
Capitaine himself. II was longer than ordinary
wooden legs, as indeed the Capitaine was longer
than ordinary men; but nevertheless IL never
seemed in any way TO, impede the rigid pune
tilious prOpriety of his movements. Ii was
never In his way as wooden legs usually are in
the way Of their wearers. And then To render IL
more illustriOus II had round its middle. round
the calf OF the leg we may so say, a band OF
bright brass which shOne Ike FURNISHED gold.
IL had been the Capitaine's custom, now for
some years past, to retire every evening at about
Z o'clock into the sanctum sanctOrum -
Madame Bauche's habitatiOn, the dark little
private sitting room in which she made
out her bills and calculated her profits.
and there regale himself in her presence-and
indeed Al her eHpcnse, for the items never APP
peared in The bill. with coffee and cOgnEc. |
have said that there Was neither eating nor
drinking a. the establishment after the regular
dinner hours: but ia sO saying | spoke OF the
world at large, Nothing further was allowed iH
the way OF trade: but in the way or friendship
so much was nowadays always allowed To the
Capitaine.
II was at these moments that Madame Bauche