Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-06-01
USot the least IN the world n

y
fuse q match so agreeable to your
mother and your tutor for so plausible
n reason you do not want to get mar
ried. But here We are talking again
on this subject, which we had agreed
to leave alone 1t was YOU that start
ed it again, YOU must notice !"
"Oh, now, mother, you make me
cry!'
Aud Antoinette burst into tears and
threw herself upon her mothers neck.
"Why do you cry, ma mignonneT
There is surely no cause for tears in
our conversation
At this moment servant girl en-
tered the room and announced that
the Baron de Merillac and his son
were waiting outside.
Monsieur lie Baron de Merilac and
his son, she said.
Then she withdrew. Antoinette
hurredly made up her mind to conceal
herself, when there appeared upon
the threshold of the room her uncle
and CASTOR. She stood gaping at
them without moving and examined
them.
"What does this mean?' she STAN
mered, turning toward her mother.
"Ask your uncle and CASTOR him
self" replied Nine. Oiiot.
at MEANS" said NJ. Lambert very
seriously, "thst come as your guard.
ian to ask for you in marriage to the
Baron de Merillac.
"But- the announcement just made
by Justine?" interrupted Antoinette,
who could not understand why the
Baron and his father did not make
tn il appearance, and why her uncle
made this request, when they were
evidently both waiting in the next
room.
Her interrogatlng glances passed
from her mother to NJ. Lambert and
CASTOR, the latter of whom appeared
little disturbed and nervous in spite
of his smiling face. Antoinette had
dried her tears, but her eyes were
still red and swollen from crying.
Castor noticed this.
"Yor have been crying, Antoin-
ette?" he asked her, while NJ. Lam
bert and Nine. Odiot stood apart and
conversed in low tones.
eyes," she replied to her cousins
question.
"Why?"
81 cannot tell YOU"
"Oh!" was all he said.
"Well, Antolnet'e," interrupted NJ.
Lambert, "you have given me no
answer!"
''Mother has already spoken to me
about this gentleman, uncle, and
and"
"And?" questioned Gaston's father.
"And-" continued Antoinette,
playing nervously with skein OF
wool she held in her hands.
"Well?" insisted NJ. Lambert, sis
it difficult to say?'
Castor made step in the direction
of the young girl, as though to en-
courage her
"rell them, mother, what | answered
you" murmured the poor girl. Gas
tons attitude was torture to her.
SWELL" began Nine. Odiot, ex-
changing glance with her brother,
my daughter does not wish to get
married
CASTOR made another step toward
Antoinette aud seized her hand.
"Not even with me?" he asked with
trembling voice.
with you?' cried the young girl,
blushing and growing pale by turns.
"yes, with me, FOR love you. Do
You not know it,"
81 was sure of it," replied NJ. Lam.
bert with a wink.
"For goodness sake, explain your
selves!" exclaimed Antoipette, look
ing at all OF them in turn.
at is easy to explain said Castor.
81 thought | had guessed your love
for ne, and told my father, confess.
ing my love for you at the same time.
He and your mother talked it over
and laid this trap to see if your love
was strong enough to resist n rich and
titled lover
"Ob, Castor and you have iolIen
into the tramp
"Yes, petite cousine, for | too want
ed to feel quite sure that | was being
loved for myself alone. Now | know,
and can no longer doubt, can II"
You will be my wife, won't you?'
"But she has not said So" inter-
ruptel Nine. Odiot mischievously,
without giving her daughter time to
reply, and having hard work herself
to keep serious face.
eyes, ] have mother" cried An
toinette, with delightful simplicity.
"Ah! Antoinette! Antolnette !
Thank you, my darling little cousin,
exclaimed CASTOR, mad with JOY.
The young girl had flung herself
upon her mothers neck and embraced
her with all her heart.
Naughty mother" she murmered
in her ear as she kissed her.
"You are crying still?' asked Nine.
Odiot, happily.
ooh, no, chere petite mere, l am
laughing nowl"
And, turning her radiant face
toward her uncle and cousin, she
placed her hand in that of CASTOR and
allowed him to draw herto his should
er in warm embrace. From the
French.
A p,.nhictnr;, IJnI