Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-06-21

know how to answer him."
"That is quite simple. You will
answer him as you answered mel"
"Youare making fun of me, mother, "
replied Antoinette, peevishly.
''Not the least IN the world. 1t is
not quite natural that you should re-
fuse match SO agreeable to your
mother and your tutor for SO plausible
a reason you do not want to get mar
ried. But here we are talking again
on this subject, which we had agreed
to leave alone 1t was you that start
ed it again, you must notice !"
ooh, now, mother, you make me
cryl"
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 n servant girl on
tered the room and announced that
the Baron de Merillac and his son
were waiting outside.
"Monsieur le Baron de Merillac and
his son." she said.
Then she withdrew. Antoinette
hurredly made up her mind to conceal
herself, when there appeared upon
the threshold of the room, her uncle
and CASTOR. She stood gaping at
them without moving and examined
them.
"What does this mean?" she stam-
mered, turning toward her mother.
"Ask your uncle and CASTOR him
SELF" replied Nine. Oiiot.
s'It means" said NJ. Lambert very
seriously, "that come as your guard
ian to ask for you in marriage to the
Baron de Merillac. j."
"But-t the announcement just made
by Justine?" interrupted Antoinette,
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 M. Lambert and
Castor, the latter of whom appeared
n 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.
"Yor have been crying, Antoin-
ette?" he asked her, while M. Lam
bert and Nine. Odiot stood apart and
conversed in low tones.
"Yes," she replied to her cousins
question.
"Why?"
81 cannot tell you.
"Oh!' was all he said.
"Well, AntoInet e." interrupted NJ.
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 skein of
wool she held in her hands.
'Well?" insisted NJ. Lambert, "is
it difficult to say?"
CASTOR made step in the direction
of the young girl, as though to en-
courage her.
"Tell them, mother, what I answered
you," murmured the poor girl. Gas
toms attitude was torture to her.
"Well," began Nine. Odiot, ex-
changing glance with her brother,
"my daughter does not wish to get
married."
CASTOR made another step toward
Antoinette and seized her hand.
"Not even with me?" he asked with
trembling voice.
"With you?" cried the young girl,
blushing and growing pale by turns.
''Yes, with me, for l love you. Do
you not know it?"
81 was sure of it," replied NJ. Lam
bert with q wink.
''For goodness sake, explain your
selves!" exclaimed Antoinette, look
ing at all of them in turn.
''It is easy to explain" said CASTOR.
81 thought I had guessed your love
for me, and told my father, confess
ing my love for you at the same time.
He and your mother talked it over
and laid this trap to see if your love
was strong enough to resist a rich and
titled lover"
''Oh, CASTOR! and you have fallen
into the trap?"
"Yes, petite cousine. for I too want
cd to feel quite sure that I was being
loved for myself alone. Now know,
and can no longer doubt, can II"
You will be my wife, won't you?'
"cut she has not said so," inter
rup.el Nine. Odiot mischievously,
without giving her daughter time to
reply, and having hard work herself
to keep serious face.
Eyes. I have mother" cricl An
toinette, with delightful simplicity.
"Ah! Antoinettel Antoinette
Thank you, my darling littlo cousin"
exclaimed CASTOR, mad with Joy.
The young girl had flung herself
upon her mothers neck and embraced
her with all her heart.
'Naughty mother l" she murmered
in her ear as she kissed her.
"You are crving still?" asked Nine.
Odiot, harpii