The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-17

oiio ePoCldi care OF NINE. Bruna1u, the
proprietress, and she alone attends to any
business connected with them Nine
Brunard has just gone out, and I can say
nothing about them. Perhaps mademoi-
selle has some Instructions
No, answered the young girl thus
addressed, putting down her embroidery
and raising her eyes to me. Mother takes
charge of all in the case, monsieur, and 1
have not even the key. My mother will
return at 9 O'clock and monsieur will
perhaps look in again tonight
II said that would do SO and left the
shop
"Eh bien, my dear Octave" said 1, in
terrupting my friend in his tale, 1--WE will
both go there together for do not mean
to leave your side until this matter is
cleared up"
Cleared upr' he exclaimed impatient
ly. There's no clearing up about it. The
solution is evident and obvious. I am for
gotten, and my token has been thrown
away and sold"
Poor Octave. His heart was full of Bit
terness. Apparently disappointed and de-
ceived in his first love, he was ready to
curse the whole sex and to class them one
and all as false, faithless and cruel.
At 6 O'Clock we returned to the shop.
Octave entered alone, and I walked up
and down outside waiting for him and
looking in at the shop windows I had
to wait a long time, nearly an hour Evil
IDENTIFY the interview was not hurrying
on with winged feet
At length my friend came, his face
radiant.
"Well," cried, "hsve you got your
goblet?"
Eyes, no-that is to say, I have it, and
haven't it. All, my friend, I hardly
know what am saying am SO upset, SO
happy! All, do you know that women are
angels? Don't you understand me?"
II must confess that-er"-
"Well I'll tell you all about 1T. The
moment I entered the shop the little girl
with the embroidery met me and said her
mother had just come in.
II followed her to the farther end Of the
store, where in the semidarkness i saw q
woman coming to meet me.
Madam, said, there is in your
showcase an article that feel disposed to
purchase
eyes, monsieur. I know she answer
ed quickly You refer to the old porcelain
goblet regret it exceedingly, monsieur,
but it is not for SALE 1t Is only here to be
kept for the one person who has the r. bit
to reclaim it and to whom it belongs.
, "'And how do you know, madam,
am not the person.
"At this moment the clerk lit the as,
and we found ourselves suddenly face to
face in the strong light.
.Louise!'
"tOctavep
"This unexpected meeting naturally
caused long explanations. These Louise
gave me frankly and freely. When their
house was pulled down, Mime. Audry and
her daughter left Batignolles to live in
Paris. A short while after there was a
financial catastrophe which made great
stir and ruined many people, among them
Nine. Audry. The old woman shortly
afterward died of grief and disappoint-
ment.
without news of me and in condition
Of hopelessness and despair, Louise found
herself at the end of her strength and re-
sources when an old friend of her moth
er's, M. Brunand, who kept curiosity
shop, turned up to help her. He was a
widower, over 40 years of age, and with a
young daughter on his hands he found
himself rapidly going into decline
anxious to find some one who would
be a friend to the girl after his death and
knowing the kind heart of Louise, he
offered his name, his house and his home.
THAT is how Louise became Nine.
Brunand and was called mother without
being mother, how the goblet always re-
manned in her possession, and how have
the pleasure now to announce our APP
preaching marriage, at which / trust you
will do me the honor to be the best man. -
From the French.