Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-04-26
ROOM NO. Is.

Married in the morning and still intoM-
Gated with the sense of thC6r joy, Maurice
and Madeleine had chosjV Paris as the
terminus of their honeymoon. The train
was absolutely full. The railway com
panies so solicitous for the comfort OF
their smoking travellers that they provide
them with smoking cars, and of their Ia
dies that they furnish DANES sculeS com
partments, have not shown the same anXi-
ETY. for the unfortunate young married
couples
Maurice and Madeleine were therefore
obliged to take their seats in Cur where
there were several other passengers They
found themselves condemned to the strict
est silence although they had so much to
say that their utterance might well have
been chokcd
Making the best of their bad fortune,
they sat down side by side, Maurice hold
ing his wife's little hand and their looks
saying the rest.
Now the train was racing along at full
speed, and they stretched themselves out at
full length and, with half closed eyes fell
of the future From henccforth he must
work hard for he had married his little
Madeleine without dowry. Nine. Pin
tard, his mothcr-in- law, had contcntcd
herself with pleasant phrases and sweet
promises.
Her elder brother, said the good lady,
who was away in America and had made
his fortune, there was expected home soon
to offer his present to his niece. Judging
by his millions, it should be at least 100, 900
francs.
Then, later, he saw himself with chill
drcn and a grown up son by his side, and
in his joy he lovingly pressed the hand of
his young wife, who replied to him with a
like pressure and II smile.
Maurice and Madeleine left the train at
the Care du Nord and went to the Hotel
de Louvre. A luxurious room, with a nice
boudoir, had been reserved for them.
Conduct monsieur and madame to No.
49," said the magnificent hotel clerk.
"Mauricc," whispered Madeleine 81
should prefer another room. This No. IS
will bring us misfortune.
"Supcrstitious little thing! Nonsense;
NOA w tllttlhs
II beg of you. have prcsentiment. "
"COuld you let us have another roomE"
said Maurice to the clerk. "ThirtcGn, you
know, is supposed to be an unfortunate
number.
II am dcsolatcd, monsieur " said the
clerk, with an eloquent shrug of his mag
nificent shoulders, "but it is the only
room we have left Besides, it is the room
you asked for in ADVANCED
And in spite of the young wOman's re-
pugnance, there was no choice except to go
elsewhere. The porter put down the bag
gage and withdrew.
Next morning Madeleine wanted to go
out early and see the city of Paris, of which
she had heard so much.
Maurice, good naturcd as every husband
of n week, took her to the Bots de Bou-
logne. The lake, the fountain, the flower
beds and the finely dressed people amused
them immensely. They were all new to
her.
After a long walk they took carriage
and drove down the Avenue des Champs
Elysees, chattoring together. They spoke
of their plans and Madeleine wanted to
pulSllttot llttllSllItSN lOI llltlI
She explained to him where she would put
the piano, the divan and all the other
pieces of furniture.
"The sofa in the left hand corner,
n'est-ce pas? Above it your fathers pic
ture."
They would do this and that and the
other thing, he acquiescing in every small
est wish Then, carried away by his wife 5
enthusiasm, he, also, conhded his ambi-
tions to her.
"You understand my little Madeleine,
1 cannot stay at the bank. L don't make
enough there"
"But, what will you dop' she interrupt
ed anxiously "be prudent"
"This is my intention. Your uncle has
assured your mother that he is going to
give us present, big present 1 will
start a bank at Orleans. Our relatives
will be our first clientele"
"You, a banker That frightens me.
Surprising you were not successful?"
"Don't be foolish OF course 1 shall be
successful, and we shall grow rich and
live in Paris which you think so charm.
ing"
"Live in Parisl My dear Maurice, ]
should be perfectly happy"
Their conversation was ended by the ar
rival Of the carriage at the hotel door.
"Go up stairs without me, said Maui
rice. 81 must see my chief"
"Ah, you are going to leave mel And
a little pout was visible on her laughing
red lips.
"a moment only. am obliged, abso
lutely compelled to go and see my supe
riors in the bank"
Madeleine went up alone, and after tax
ing off her hat and cloak began to unpack
a light knock at the door made her turr