The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-07-23
THE Blue BONNETT.

read, for the tenth time, the letter that
his elderly aunt, Nine. Dufrelle, had
sent him.
Mon chere ami" the letter said, 81
have often thought of our last onver
sation and your confidence regarding
marriage.
'There is a young lady-Mdlle. Ma
lufroy-who, admitting that you agree,
would suit you wonderfully well.
81 will not speak of her moral quail
ties, knowing that you are much too
practical to trouble yourself about SUI
pcrtiuous details; but will content my
self with saying that the young person
is afflicted with a fortune of 5OO,OOU
francs. and, in spite of that, dresses
and lives in the plainest me
Now, you understand, that l do not
try to make this match; besides, l pack
my trunk and leave this evening for
T%ouraine. l have no desire to make
myself ridiculous by asking people to
give half a million to a poor devil of a
nephew who has nothing, nor will have
in the near future.
You nave an amiable manner, some
times are witty, and have beautiful
m~ustaches; young girls are often very
romantic and very foolish. 1t is why
l mention the fact to you.
IF you wish to see the object in
question, l know that you can be found
this evening in the stage box on the
right at the Theater Franchise.
"Once you know the person by sight,
it seems to me that, with a little skill,
you can manage an introduction, and
end by entering into relations.
ut is possible that you may not sue
coed; but the stake is beautiful enough
to be worth all the trouble that it gives
you.
"Au revoir. 1 will see you OH my
return, and i'll the meantime wish you
a happy Summer and good luck.
M. DUFRELLE.'
"P. S.: 1t may be that the other Ma
lufroy for there are two brothers of
that name), will also be in the box.
Do not confound the two, for that one
need be no misfIka, as the right ore
will wear a blue bonnet"
Hector rolled the letter mechanic
| ally through his fingers and pulled
png curls of smoke into the air.
Never better than On this warm June
Afternoon had he understood all the
pleasures of a bachelors life.
What was she like, this Mdlle. Ma
lufroy? His aunt had been very
concise in speaking, for it was true that
the question of interest in his eyes was
the principal: yet there was, however,
other details to which he was not in
| different.
He preferred a pretty woman, ever
in a marriage of convenience.
"She would be ugly, this Mdlle. Ma.
lufroy, under her blue bonnet"
He was SURF of this. "She was hide.
GUS" No, decidedly, he would not &C
to the Theater Franchise. But again
his eyes fell upon the open letter.
Five hundred thousand francs! Hall
a million! He was 500 lost in thought
Some hours later Hector made his
way toward the FRANCHISES; but be i
said, to his praise, without too great
belief that the beauty of his mustacht
and the foolishnoss of n young CIR
would enable him to espouse so great {
fortune.
From the orchestra chair, where he
vi Stdttb1 IC I hlS NJ ShNtte
toward the famous stage box. await
ing with Impotence the arrival of it,
owner.
Soon after the Malufroys made theil
entrance, the parents taking seats il
the back of the box and the young girl
in front.
One was a beautiful and graceful
blonde. The other was tall and angu
lar, with an extremely long nose, ant
wearing, alas! a blue bonnet.
Just my luck: the cousin is adora
ble!" thought Hector, with g
All during the first act he kept hi;
lorgnette fixed upon the two girls; TIL
one with the blue bonnet was discour
agingly ugly; while, on the contrary
her companion, with every movement
became more and more fascinating.
The curtain had just fallen, when h.
felt a light tap on his shoulder. "Ah
Eugene" said he, turning and recog
nizing an old comrade, you are here
also"
Yes; but | must go. l simply cam
to see how the little ingenue wOult
take. She doesn't appear again now
and as | start on a journey tomorrow
l must go and make my preparations.
Can you remain until the mex act!
81 haven't a minute, mon chere; be
sides, | have just discovered that th'
Malufroys are in a stage box. and or
binary politeness obliges me to pay M,
respects to them"
Hector caught hold of him.
"Ah! you know the Malufroys? Tel
me something-that girl with the blu
bonnet
But the other glanced at his watcl
and gave an exclamation.
by lingo. Already so late! Quick
| must pay my respects and depart"
courage.
Tell me something; those Malu
froys."
But Eugene, pressed for time, hurried
through the passage.
Hector ran after him.
Tell me something about these Ma
lufroys."
"Ah, diable, you tire me with you
Malufroys. What is it you wish
Don't you know them"'
mo"
"Ah. we'll, if you wish it, I will intro
duce you. Come with me-"
Hector had no time to think. The,
were already at the door of the box
and Eugene, who only thought of get
ting away, paid his respects, presente'
his friend, and in another half minut
was gone, leaving the latter somewha
embarrassed at thus finding himsel
with the Malufroys.
Although the Young blonde was IRE
sistahly lovely, Hector had the courag
tn address his most charming smiles +