Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-06-27

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| Nine. Odiot turned away TO hide {
smile.
Is.my presence very necessary r.
the young girl asked. Then she
added: +" / think that my uncle ant
| yourself will be able to talk more al
your ease II I 60 away; beside my
uncle will question me and ! sham
know how to answer him.
| THAT IL quite simple. You will
answer him just as you answered
mev'
you are making fun OF me. moth.
err" replied Antoinette, peevishly.
Not the least In the world II
is not quite natural that you should
refuse match so agreeable to your
mother and your tutor for so plausi.
BILE reason; you do not want to gel
married. But here we are talking
again on this subject, which we had
agreed to leave alone. 1t was you
that started 1t again, you must mo-
tice ~
"Oh, now, mother, you make me
cry"
And Antoinette burst into tears
and threw herself upon her mothers
neck.
why do you cry, ma mignonne?
There is surely no cause for tears in
our conversation.
At this moment q servant girl en-
tered the room and announced that
the Baron de Merillac and his son
were waiting outside.
Monsieur lie Baron de Merillac and
his son." she said.
Then she withdrew. Antoinette
hurriedly made up her mind to con.
ceal herself. when there appeared
upon the threshold Of the room her
uncle and Gast,n. She stood gaping
at them without moving and ex-
amined them.
"What does this mean?" she
stammered, turning toward her
mother.
ASK your uncle and CASTOR him
self" replied Nine. Odiot.
1T MEANS" said M. Lambert very
seriously, that l come as your
guardian to ask for you in marriage
to the Baron de Merillac."
'But-the announcement Just
made by Justine?" interrupted An
toinette, who could not understand
why the Baron and his father did not
make their appearance, and why her
uncle made this request, when they
were evidently both waiting in the
next room.
Her interrogating 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.
"You have been crying, Antoi-
nette?' he asked her, while NJ. Lam
bert and Nine. Odiot stood apart and
conversed in low tones.
YES" she replied to her cousins
question.
why ?"
{" cannot tell you"
"Oh!" was all he said.
well, Antoine tte," interrupted
M. 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 a skein of
wool she held in her hands.
"Well?' insisted M. Lambert, "is
it difficult to say?"
CASTOR made step in the direc-
ton of the young girl as tn ough to
encourage her.
Tell them, mother, what I
answered you." murmured the poor
girl. Gaston's attitude was a tor
ture to her.
WE'LL !" began Mime. Odiot, ex-
changing q glance with her brother
my daughter does not wish to get
married ~
CASTOR made another step toward
Antoinette and seized her hand.
mot even with me ?'' he asked
with trembling voice.
with you ?" cried the young girl,
blushing and growing pale by turns.
Eyes, with me, for / love you! Do
you not know it p
Il was sure Of it, replied NJ. LAM
bert, with a wink.
For goodness sake, explain your
selves !" exclaimed Antoinette, look
ing at all Of them in turn.
1T is easy to explain" said Gas
ton. II thought had guessed your
love for me, and 1 told my father,
confessing my love for you at the
same time. He and your mother
talked it over and laid this trap to
see ifyour love was strong enough to
resist rich and titled lover"
ooh, CASTOR and you have fallen
into the trap ?"
"Yes, petite cousine, for l too
wanted to feel quite sure that / was
being loved for myself alone. Now
/ know and can no longer doubt, can
/? You will be my wife, won't
you ?"
But she has not said So" inter
rupted Nine. Odiot, mischievously,
without giving her daughter time
to reply, and having hard work her
self to keep serious face.
"Yes have, mother" cried Antoi'
nette with delightful simplicity.
"Ah! Antoinette Antoinette
Thank you. my darling little cousin, >
exclaimed CASTOR. mad with Joy.
The young girl had flung herself
upon her mothers neck and en-
braced her with oil her heart.
~ A Il