The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-01-03
WANTED-A HUSBAND.
FROM THE FRENCH.

The following personal might have
been seen all that summer on the
fourth page of a prominent journal:
WANTED-A young lady residing
in the provinces, pretty and distin-
guished, with a dot of 100000 francs,
desires to marry a gentleman OF about
thirty five years; one IN the legal or
military profession preferred, who r.
sides in Paris; no agencies. Address
Madeline T. T.. Box 333. this office. =
Elodie Rabbotteau, the party refer
red to, was a young lady, to be sure
and SO still, more's the pity She also
resides in the country still, for her
father is Judge at St. Colombon, an
obscure town in the canton Of Beauce.
But: First, she was not pretty; sec
ond, she was not at all distinguished
third. the above mentioned 100000
francs are principally expectations
from her uncle-a bachelor, it is true
but scarcely forty years Of age and
solid as rock.
As to the mo agencies" that was a
base deception. Madeline I. T.,
Box 333,' was in reality Theodore
Tardavel, whose trade Is to arrange
matrimonial matters.
'Tardavel has written me d long
letter" said Judge Rabbotteau to his
wife one morning Of last autumn.
Here is his plan: The army maneu-
vers commence a week from now, and
st. Colombian has been designated to
provide quarters for half battery Of
artillery.
This half battery of artillery is com
manded by Capt Lecomte, and Capt.
Lecomte wishes to marry a young lady
who has been brought up in the coun-
try. Now, don'tyou think of anything
but making the house look its best.
Wemust!have a second girl, too, 50 that
the cook Will not have to wait on the
table.
Goodness" gasped Nine. Rabbot
ueau, what an eXpense!"
Il do not deny that it Is quite con
siderable outlay But do you or do
you not want Ilodie married? She's
twenty six now, and for the past eight
years we have offered her TO every
bachelor, green or ripe, in the country
round, TO say nothing OF widOwers
Now a chance offers itself and we
must profit by it. [ shall go ana fix
with the mayor, SO that they quarter
the captain on us"
When September came the cannon
sounded all the morning long through
the vast plain that surrounds St. Co
lomban, and toward 4 o'clock in the
afternoon the approach of the half
battery was announced.
Presently the captian appeared at
the whitewashed gate that served as d
boundary for Judge Rabbotteau's ter
restial paraGlse.
Rabbotteau, under the spreading
acia trees, was reading the Revue des
Deux MOndes;' his wife, not far away
was cutting punches of grapes from
the yellowing trellis, and behind the
white muslin curtains of the parl0I
window Elodie, warned by a precon-
certed signal, burst, with the energy of
despair, into a love song.
Madame" he began, with a bow,
allow me to introduce myself. | am
You are known to Us already, l..
Lecomte. We were expecting you
The officer bowed and smiled, and
shook hands with Rabbotteau. Then
he was led to the parlor, to the great
confusion of Elodle, who suddenly cut
short her song, blushing as if she had
been 100 miles from suspecting that
an artillery captain was to set fOOt
that day within the limits of the can
ton in which her father administ ered
justice.
The captain discreetly suggested that
be would take his meals at the hotel
bat they soon made him understand
that that would be an unpardOnable
insult
ltls unnecessary to say that the din
ner was a feast. By dessert the fom
persons assembled seemed to hay,
known each other for ten years, and the
captain made a conquest Of them all
At 10 o'clock he asked permission
to retire.
"Of course. dear VI. Lecomte." sale
Nine. Rabbotteau. after such fa
hgmng Journey, [ hope you will sIeeI
well under our modest roof"
In the morning at 4 o'clock, wher
the captain went down to mount hi.
horse, the judge was waiting for hin
to take breakfast. That evening ther,
was a new repetition of the follies O
Belshazzar.
Lecomte politely asked the fai
Elodie to play for him, then in hi.
turn the young man was invited t,
sing. He accepted without hesitation
and he had superb voice. Next h,