Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-05-15

WnHe DeSlue ner sat neT ullupleu dnu
lovely cousin
Hector passed the time between acts
In their box. He learned that Mdlle
Marie, the pretty blonde, and her fam
lily were to depart for Fontainebleau,
while Agatha's were to go to Dinard.
IF you have never visited Dinard
you ought to come there. 1t has fine
beach," cleyerly limited Agatha's par
ents
At this direct overture Hector waa
surprised. For an instant his eyes
rested upon Marie. He had never ad
mtred any woman so much.
During the space OF Il second he was
foolish enough to think Of making a
disinterested marriage, but he was too
reasonable and too sensible not to re-
cover himself at once
He regarded Agatha; she was totally
without charm, but, having reflected
that 100000 francs could give some at
traction to this plain, awkward Great
ure, he said in the most amiab!e tones:
Certainly. have always intended
visiting the coast of Bretagnc. / shall
some day come to Dinard."
A week later he took trip to the
seaside.
That Agatha had sweet looks and
ready smiles for him he could easily
comprehend; it was the seduction Of
his mustacheS.
But he could not understand why
parents who could give their daughter
half million dowry should SO plainly
encourage his advances.
One day at low tide Hector decided
to burn his ships and commence the at
tack.
young girls are very romantic and
very foolish" his aunt lad said to
him.
He approached NIdlle. Malufroy, and,
putting tremulo in his voice, said
with a sentimental sigh: agatha, !!
nm very unhappy"
You unhappy. Why?'
"Have you not OWNED? / love you"
"You love me, you love me! Well!
Then why not go and ask my father
for my hand?"
Half an hour later the parents re-
ceived the young mans request.
"Rut, my dear friend" added Papa
Malufroy, caressing his favorite with
cheerful looks, 1--WE are certainly fat
tered at your suit and have every rea-
son to believe that you are not indiffer-
cnt to our child
'"There is SO little sentiment here be-
low-but, pshaw! it is fair before
things go too far to speak of interests,
you know"
81 see what you are coming at, old
dolt," thought Hector, "you want to
crush and dazzle me with your half
million; wait little, l will intercept
your design and make myself appear
most magnanimous."
And, as NJ. Malufroy continued in
slow tones:
"The dowry of Agatha"
The young man interrupted him with
a superb gesture:
"Ah pray do not speak of that! I do
not know what mademoisclle your
daughter has, and do not wish to
know I love her and it is for her
self that wish to marry her.
"Bravo, young man. that's right"
And Malufroy, tenderly blowing his
nose, continued
GAS to love match, they can say
that this is real love marriage for
example"
mon Dieu, but fathers are simple
and amusing" thought Hector on re-
turning home. "He really believes that
I take his daughter solely for her beau
tiful eyes"
The betrOtnal nad DCen OHclally an
nounced, and Hector at the feet OF
Mdlle Malufroy continued with effort
to play the role of the smittcn lover.
"Chere, do you remember the happy
evening when l saw you for the first
timer
Eyes, yes, it was at the Theater
Francois; we were in a stage box l
wore striped gown, did not?''
"Yes and blue bonnet completed
the young man.
"A blue bonnet--a blue bonnet? then
laughing brightly "Ah. 1t is true,
you are right, it was my cousins bon
net"
"How?"
Goodness, yes. Young girls take
these notions. We had dined together,
and at the moment of starting for the
theater we changed bonnets one with
the other Marie took mine and l took
hers"
Hector became green at this revela-
ton and did not have power to articu-
late a syllable.