Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-07-25
A TEST OF LOVE,

II assure you, mother, that | do not
want to marry yet, =" said Antoinctto TO
Mme. Odiot. II am so happy with your.
self, but should | enjoy the same happi-
ness, the same peace and tho same content.
mont when change your ilrcsido for an
othcrp doubt 1t! No, no, ] have plenty
Of time yet, am only IL years Of age.
While am much honorcd by thoattcntions
Of NJ. le Baron dc Mcrillac | repeat that
l must refuse him"
my dear child, - replied Nine Odiot,
"you should reflect that one Of these days
You will lose me + havo been suffering
for II long time, and very littlo would suf-
fee to carry mo off. You will then find
Yourself without support, since your dear
fnthor Is gone, and husband Is tho nat
ulral support Of young girl when she has
lost her parents. Baron McrilIno Is II very
ostmnblc young man. You will probably
never get such another offer. He Is cnor'
mously rich, and he has u title and Is the
only son of parents who will adore and
worship you ns If you were their own child.
II would surely be madness to persist in u
refusal that has no basis, The baron Is u
handsome cavalier, and his manners are
of tho best What more can you wish
"rhcn you know himY' asked Antoi-
ncttc with surprise.
"Without doubt.
"Yot have never seen him here, per
sisted the girl.
"No, ho has never been here, but l have
met him several times mt tho house of Nine,
do Savcrny, whcro you would never accom-.
pnny mo, under the prctcXt that she dis
pleased YOU, and 1t was Mime, dc Snvcrny
who spoke 70 me of tho baron rs n man
who would BE- suitable for you, from every
point of view.
~ shall like Mime, do Savcrny still less
now, exclaimed tho girl. "What bust
ness Is It Of hers? If she Is 50 anxious tC
got NJ. dc Morilluc married, let her take
him herself She Is II widow. y
"You aro foolish, ma honno chcric. NJ.
dc Mcrllac is 20 years old and Mime. dc
Snycrny Is 90 She might he his mother.
But you should not get angry. ono would
almost think that you hnd some other
reason than the ono You give sovchcmcnt
ly for refusing NJ. do Mcrillac
"Somu other reason, stnmmcrCd An.
toinottc, lowering her oycs, whlo u pretty
little flush cnmo into her checks.
Mime. Odiot watched her smilingly, and
several minutes passed in silence.
Antoinctto took mp her sewing again
md being aware no doubt that her moth
cr's eyes were fixed upon her presently rost
and went over to the piano Nine, Odiot
stopped her Ms she went
'Wc will settle the matter once for all, y
she said, never to return To II Tho rcn
son You refuse NJ do Morillao Is because
You don want TO marry Is IL lut%'
"Mais oui, mnmnn, " said Antoinctto In
II voice that nevertheless lacked the ring
of sincerity.
$50 that 10 matter who else may come
to mo to ask your hand ! may tell him nt
and send him about his huSincssY"
cont didn't say thnt--pcrhaps later
when | am oldcr--if theft liked him, g
stnmmcrcd tho young girl, much cmbar,
rlsScd.
$50 TO I'll VIZ 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. llC
has boon very busy making somo sketches
In tho woods for another ono he has In
view. think ho Is with your uncle nj
this moment, Let MS go across and see
him-l mean my brother. He has not
been very we'll of lato,
"Oh, no, mother; my uncle Is quite
we'll again, said Antoinotto quickly.
"Ah, You hnvc some nows about himY"
Antoinrtto hit her lips, Her answer had
Slipped ont too quickly
THE gardener told me, she added
naivcly.
Mime. Odiot pretended not to notice her
daughters embarrassment,
"Will you como with meY | ann going
nj once. As he Is your guardian | ought
to lrt him know ut onco of your decision
with regard to NJ dp Morillac, for he knew
all about him
"Oh, my uncle knew"
ayes,
"And ho approvcdr'
eyes"
"Thon CASTOR knew that 1t was pro.
posed should marry this barony'
"perhaps
:, hut ho has said nothing TO me abolI
itI'
II thought you had not soon him"
ooh, yos-that Is oh, mol l have rot, "
rcplicd tho girl turning her face away In
her confusion over her little ihs with
which she was inexperienced
Let MS 80. Are You comingY"
Nine. Odlot turned away to hide smile
Is my presence very necessary" the
young girl asked, Then she added ~
thina that my uncle and yourself will be
able to talk moro nj your casc II 70 away
besides my unrlc will question mo, and
shan't know how tn answer him -
That Is quite simple, You will an
kwcr him just as you answered me-
You are making fun OF me, mother, y
replied Antoinsttn pccvishly.
mot tho least In the world 1t is moi
quite natural that YOU should refuse II
match So agreeable ~ your mother and
your tutor for so plausible u reason. You
do not want to got married But hero ",
arr talking again On this subject. which
we had agreed To leave alonc Ii was yor
thnt started IL again, you must notice.
"Oh. now, mother, you make mo cry !"
And Antoinutte burst into tears ant
threw herself upon her mothers neck
Why do you cry, ma mignonneY Their
IL surely no caure for tears In our CONVEX
sation"
| AT this moment u servant girl entcrc,
| tho r,,on, and npnnnnppd fhnt thu Rarn,