Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-09-12
A TEST OF LOVE.

Il assure you, mother, that | do
not want to marry yet, said An
tionettc to Mime. Odiot. Il am so
happy with yourself; but should !
enjoy the same happiness. the same
peace and the same contentment
when change your fireside for
another? doubt it. No, no, !
have pleIty of time yet; l am only
Is years of age. While i am much
honored by the attentions of M. lie
Baron de Merillac, / repeat that
must refuse himv
NY dear child, replied Nine.
Odiot, you should reflect that one
of these days you will lose me. /
have been suffering for long time,
and very little would suffice to car
! ry me off. You will then find your
self without support, since your
dear father is gone. and a husband
is the natural support of a young
girl when she has lost her parents.
Baron Merillac is very estimable
young. man. You will probably
never get such another offer. He
is enormously rich, and he has a
title and is the only son of parents
who will adore and worship you as
if you were their own child. 1t
would surely be madness to persist
in a refusal that has no basis. The
Baron is a handsome cavalier, and
his manners are Of the best. What
more can you wish:'
Then you know him" asked An
toinette, with surprise.
Without doubt
yet | have never seen him here,'
persisted the girl.
No, he has never been here, but
| have met him several times at the
house of Nine. de Saverny, where
you would never accompany me,
under the pretext that she dis
pleased you, and it was Nine. de
Saverny who spoke to me of the
Baron as a man who would be suita-
BILE for you, from every point Of
view
Il shall like Mime. de Saverny
still less now exclaimed the girl.
What business is it of hers? IL
she is so anxious to get NJ. de Me-
rillic married let her take him her.
self. She is a widow
You are foolish, ma bonnie cherie.
NJ. de Merillac is 25 years old and
Nine. de Saverny is so. She might
be his mother. But you should not
be angry. One would almost think
you had some other reason than the
one you give SO vehemently for re-
fusing NJ. de Merillac.'
Some other reason,' stammered
Antoinette, lowering her eyes, while
pretty little flush came into her
cheeks.
Nine. Odiot watched her smiling
ly, and several minutes passed in
silence.
Antionette took up her sewing
again, and, being aware no doubt
that her mothers eyes were fixed
upon her, presently rose and went
over to the piano. Nine. Odiot
stopped her as she went.
'We will settle the matter once
fer ALL, she said, never to return to
it. The reason you refuse NJ. de
Merillic is because you don't want
to marry, is it not?'
'Mais oui, maman,' said Antoi-
nette, IN voice that nevertheless
lacked the ring of sincerity.
SO that, no matter who else may
come to me to ask your hand may
tell him no, and send him about
his business?'
'Oh! didn't say that-perhaps
later-when l am older-if theft
l liked him. stammered the young
girl, much embarrassed.
$50 be it! We will talk of some
thing else. For instance, my dear
nephew CASTOR has now been with
US for three weeks, and has nearly
finished his picture. He has been
very busy making some sketches in
the woods for another one he has
in view. | think he is with your
uncle at this moment. Let us 90
across and see him-I mean nv
brother-he has not been very well
of late
oh, no, mother! my uncle is
quite we'll again. said Antoinette
quickly.
'Ah! you have some news about
him?'