The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-09
A TEST Or LOVE.

ness, the same peace and the same content
ment when change your flreside fow an
othcrH 1 doubt It No. no. have plenty
Of time yet, am only IS years of age.
While am much honorod by the attentions
of N. lie Baron de Merillac 1 repeat that
must refuse him."
My dear child" replied Mme. Odiot,
"you should reflect that one of these days
you will lose me. 1 have been suffering
for a long time and very little would s,f-
flee TO carry me Off. You will then find
yourself without support, since your dear
father is gone, and husband Is the nat
ural support of young girl when she has
lost her parents. Baron Merillac Is q very
estimable young man. You will probably
never get such another offer. He is enor-
mously rich, and he has title and is the
only son of parents who will adore and
worship you rs II you were their own child.
1t would surely he madness to persist in a
refusal that has no basis. The baron is
handsome cavalier, and his manners are
of tho best What moro can you wish"
"Then you know himf" asked Antoi-
nette, with surprise
without doubt"
"Yot l have newer seen him here" per-
sisted the girl.
"No, he has never been here, but I have
met him several times at the house of Nine.
de Saverny, where you would never accom-
pany me, under the pretext that she dis
pleased you, and 1t was Mime. do Saverny
who spoke to me Of the baron as a man
who would be suitable for you, from every
point Of view."
II shall like Nine. do Saverny still less
now," exclaimed the girl. "What busi-
ness Is 1t of hersp II she is so anxious to
.lo I,4 a..
him herself. Sho is widow
"You are foolish, ma bonne cherie. M.
de Merillac is 25 years old and Mime. de
Saverny is 80. She might be his mother.
But you should not get angry. One would
almost think that you had some other
reason than the one you give so vehement
ly for refusing NJ. de Merillac."
"Some other reason" stammered An.
toinette, lowering her eyes, while pretty
little flush came into her checks.
Nine. Odiot watched her smilingly, and
several minutes passed in silence.
Antoinette took up her sewing again,
and being aware no doubt that her moth
er's eyes were fixed upon her presently rose
and went over to the piano. Mime. Odiot
stopped her as she went.
1--WE will settle the matter once for ALL"
she said, "never to return to it. The rea-
son you refuse M. de Merillao is because
, you don't want to marry. Is it not?'
"Mais oui, manan," said Antoinette in
voice that nevertheless lacked the ring
of sincerity.
$50 that no matter who else may come
to me to ask your Land may tell him no
and send him about his businessY'
"Ohl didn't sGy that-perhaps later
when am oldar-if theft l liked him."
stammered the young girl, much embar-
4 rassed.
$50 be It'll wo will talk of something
else. For instance, my dear nephew Gas
ton 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 go across and see
him-I mean my brother. He has not
been very well Of late"
"Oh, no, mother; my uncle is quite
well again" said Antoinette quickly.
"Ah, you have some news about hims"
Antoinetto bit her lips. Her answer had
slipped out too quickly.
"The gardener told me-" she added
naively.
Mime. Odiot pretended not to notice her
daughters embarrassment.
"Will you come with meP I am going
hb Oute. AS hb Is YOUR i OuBHG
to let him know at once of your decision
all about him."
"Oh, my uncle knew"
"Yes."
"And he approvedP" "
"Yesn
"Then CASTOR knew that It was pro-
posed should marry this baronPn
Perhaps"
"But he has said nothing to me about
itp'
~ thought you had not seen himl''
"Oh, yes--that is-oh, mol have not"
replied the girl, turning her face away in
her confusion over her little fbs with
which shel $ inexperienced
Let ussgo. Are you oomingP"
Nine. Odlot turned away to hide smile
"ls my presence very necessaryp' tho
young girl asked. Then she added: ~
think that my uncle and yourself will bo
able to talk more at your ease if go away;
besides my uncle will question me, and
shun't know how to answer him.
"That is quite simple. You will an
swor him just as you answered mel'
You are making fun Of me, mother"
replied Antoinette peevishly.
"Not the least in the world 1t is not
quito natural that you should refuse
match SO agreeable to your mother and
your tutor for so plausible a reason. You
do not want to get married. But here we
are talking again on this subject, which
we had agreed to leave alonei II was you
that started 1t again, you must noticel"
"Oh, now, mother, you make me cryl'
And Antoinette burst into tears and
threw herself upon her mothers neck.
Why dc you cry, ma mignonneP There
is surely no cause for tears in our conyer-
sation."
At this moment q servant girl entered
the room and announced that the Baron
do Merillao and his son were waiting out
side
3,
an. 10 Baron dc Merlllao and his son."
che said.
Then she withdrew. Antoinette hur-
riedly made up her mind to conceal her.
self, when there appeared upon the thresh-
old of the room her uncle and CASTOR.
Sho stood gaping at them without moving
and examined them.
"Whatdoes this meant" she stammered,
turning toward her mother.