The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-06-06
ROOM NO. Is.

Married in the morning and still intoxi
Gated with the sense of their joy, Maurice
and Madeleine had chosen Paris as the
| terminus of their honeymoon. The train
was absolutely full. The railway com
| panies go solicitous for the comfort oil
| their smoking travellers that they provide
them with smoking cars, and of their la.
| dies that they furnish danes seules com.
partments, have not shown the same and
| ETY. for the unfortunate young married
| couples.
Maurice and Madeleine were therefore
| obliged to take their seats in a car where
there were several other passengers. They
| found themselves condemned to the strict
est silence although they had SO much tc
| say that their utterance might well have
been cholzed.
Making the best of their bad fortune,
| they sat down side by side, aIaurice hold
| ing his wife's little hand and their looks
saying the rest.
| Now the train was racing along at full
| speed, and they stretched themselves out at
| full length and, with half closed eyes, fell
into state of reverie Maurice thought
| of the future From henceforth he must
work hard, for he had married his little
Madeleine without dowry. Nine Pin.
tard, his mother-in-law, had contented
herself with pleasant phrases and swee,
promises.
Her elder brother, said the good lady,
who was away in America and had made
his fortune, there was expected home soor
to offer his present to his niece. judging
by his millions, it should be at least 100, 0OC
francs
Then, later, he saw himself with chill
dren and a grown up son by his side, and
in his joy he lovingly pressed the hand Of
his young wife, who replied to him with 9
like pressure and smile.
Maurice and Madeleine left the train al
che Care du Nord and went to the Hote
de Louvre. A luxurious room, with nict
| boudoir, had been reserved for them.
| Conduct monsieur and madame to No
49," said the magnificent hotel clerk.
Maurice" whispered Madeleine, 81
should prefer another room. This No. 1;
will bring us misfortune"
"Supecstitious little thingl Nonsense
| don't be afraid
~ beg of you. have presentiment. y
could you let us have another room?'
said Maurice to the clerk. Thirteen, yor
| know, is supposed to be an unfortunate
| number"
"I am desolated, monsieur said the
clerk. with an eloquent shrug of his mag
nifcent shoulders, "but it is the only
room we have left. Besides, it is the room
| you asked for in advanced
And in spite of the young woman's re
pugnance, there was no choice except to g(
elsewhere. The porter put down the bag
gage and withdrew.
Next morning Madeleine wanted to gt
out early and see the city of Paris, of which
she had heard so much.
Maurice, good natured as every husband
| of week, took her to the Bots de Bou
logne. The lake, the fountain, the flower
beds and the finely dressed people amused
| them immensely. They were all new to
| her.
After long walk they took carriage
| and drove down the Avenue des Champs
| Elysees, chattering together They spoke
of their plans and Madeleine wanted tc
| purchase hangings for their apartments
| She explained to him where she would put
| the piano, the divan and all the Other
| pieces of furniture.
| "The sofa in the left hand corner
n'est-ce pas? Above it your fathers pic
| ture.''
They would do this and that and the
other thing, he acquiescing in every small
est wish Then, carried away by his wife,
i enthusiasm, he, also, confded his ambi
| tions to her.
"You understand, my little Madeleine
cannot stay at the bank. don't max,
enough there"
"But, what will you dop' she interrupt
ed anxiously "be prudent"
"This is my intention. Your uncle ha!
assured your mother that he is going tx
give us present, a big present. I viii
start bank at Orleans. Our relatives
will be our first clientele
3'You, bankerl That frightens me
Surprising you were not successfulf''
"Don't be foolish OF course I shall b,
successful, and we shall grow rich ant
live in Paris, which you think SO charm
ing" :
should be perfectly happy" .sa
| Their conversation was ended by the ar
rival of the carriage at the hotel door.
| $50 up stairs without me- said Maui
rice. 81 must see my chief
| "Ah you are going to leave me-! And
little pout was visible on her laughing
red lips.
"A moment only. I am obliged, abso.
lutely compelled to go and see my supe.
riors in the bank
Madeleine went up alone, and after tax.
| ing off her hat and cloak began to unpack
| A light knock at the door made her turn
round. She saw a letter passed underneath
| the door.
| "It's from my mother" she thought
"The boy was afraid to disturb me-
Madeleine picked up the letter and saw
to her great establishment that it bore nc
| address.
"Where can this come fromP" she said
aloud.
| Hurriedly she opened the letter. A
strong odor Of verbena arose as she read it.
| Madame, I am looking for that sister
soul that is to make beautiful the remain
der of my days. You are delicious, divine,