Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-04-26

with so small a foot. l noticed it as you
walked up stairs. In a word, you are my
ideal BE gracious and fill my cup of hap
pincss. We will make each others &C.
guaintance. Your adorer, LUDovIC.
"P. S.-My room is No. H."
Madeleine read this love letter through
four times, stupefied, amazed. She could
not understand it.
Suddenly she heard the key squealSing
IN the lock. Seized with fright, thinking
that this audacious person, having vainly
waited for her, was coming to see her, she
ran as fast as she could and concealed her
self in the cupboard. Fortunately it was
her husband. .
She would not open to him, however,
until she had peeped through the keyhole
and satisfied herself that it was he.
Maurice, noticing her changed manner,
said to her:
"What is the meaning of thisP'
"Ah, Maurice, have been so frightened
while you were awayP
"Why?"
"Look at this" she replied handing
him the note.
Maurice read it through, and, furious,
with clinched teeth, seized his hat and
dashed out of the room.
Maurice, where are you going"' cried
the young wife wait a moment, I i'm
ploro you'll"
"I'm going to see the monsieur in No.
II, he cried, without stopping.
Madeleine frightened and without any
voice left, sank upon the sofa. She was
very pale, and her breast was heaving.
Maurice found room No II and knocked
at the door. without waiting for an an
swcr he opened the door and found him
self in the presence Of a big bald man,
with round eyes and puffed checks, who
was in the act of shaving himself and APP
pearcd very much surprised at this brusque
entrance.
"MonsieurN' began Maurice, "this is
your room, is it not?"
Eyes, monsicurW
"You have written a letter to my wife
that is impertinent and insulting"
"Why"-
ooh, do not feign surprised
"Monsicurr
"It is useless to assume the injured in
nocence expression, monsieur" roared the
cxaspcrated Maurice. at is all l can do
to keep myself from twisting your neck!"
"Oh!" cried the big fat man, making a
step backward
"Having the impudcnCe to write to my
wife and to give her a rendezvous in this
roomp' gasped Maurice, choking with
rage
The old gentleman, without replying,
hung himself to the bell rope, crying to
the man who answered its wild alarm:
"Talle this lunatic out of here!'
"Lunaticl Lunatic! You call me a lu
natic!' spluttcred Maurice.
And, bang! the enragcd husband gave
the old gentleman resembling smack on
the side of the face The stout gentleman
replied at once with a formidable whaCk
with his shaving brush.
"You are an old scoundrel, sir" roared
Maurice, wiping his face, which was coy
cred with lathcr.
Leave my room at oncer' painted the
stout old gentleman.
"Whcn l have cut your hand off, you
will never again write insolent letters to
wOmcnp'
"Hclp Help!" beloved the occupant
of No. II.
At this moment the hotel manager and
several guests, attracted by the noise
burst into the room.
ARREST that mailman! He's going to
cut my hand off,
They threw themselves upon Maurice.
Gentlemen, let me go. Iwish to chas
tise this individual He had the impu
dcnce to write an insulting note to my
wife," cried Maurice.
ut is not true"
Liar! You dare not deny It'll Here it
is. You had even the audacity to sign itr'
"MIy name is not Ludovic. You are n
crazy man"
"You are all witnesses, gentlemen, that
this old scoundrcl continues to insult
me"
pardon, mcssicurs interrupted the
manager, "thcre certainly seems to be II
mistake somewhere. Ludovic was the
name of the man who occupied the room
before monsieur"
"This letter was brought to my wife
less than an hour ago"
at is only an hour ago, " said the portly
gentleman, THAT a young man, very po-
lite and well dressed, gave up this room to
me as the only one to be had in the house.
He told me he was leaving the hotel today
and it would make no difference to him"
In word, Maurice had made mistake
and the real author of the letter had left an
hour before for Switzerland.
Thoroughly disconnected he overwhelmed
the man with excuses and apologies
81 will accept them. Monsieur, have
lived in America for 80 years and such
thing never happened to me before, by the
ancestors of Pintard."
"What!' cried Maurice, in amazement.
"You are NJ. Pintardr"
"Does my name also annoy your"
"My uncle, my dear uncle, how am
desolated by this fatality"
"I-your uncle? would rather drown
myself"
"Only yesterday married your niece,
Madeleine"
"Oh you are the husband of my niece,
are your Well, you're a fool. I'm sorry
for my niece"
Forgive my mistake, uncle. My anger
was legitimatc!"
"No, monsieur; an explanation is one
thing, but to throw yourself upon people
in the way you did-bahl"
"My uncle, beg Of you"-
81 forbid you to call me your uncle.
All, I've had enough of my family" con-
tinued the exasperated old man. "My
sister has done nothing but foolish things
all her life. Giving you her daughter is
the climax"
Nothing could soften the old man. He
never forgave the young husbands on
| glougbt and tho yarv pnyt xrnnly he sailed