Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-03-12
'EHE NO'rARY'S BRIDE.

II would be hard to enumerate all
the services rendered Durrieux by hia
friend Levignard. 1t may be that Dur
rieux realized them, but Levignard
never once suspected, for the reason
that when Durrieux used his friend,
he neglected to tell him of it.
Durrieux lived at Robigny with his
wife and her niece. When he went to
Paris he stoutly declared his intention
to return home the same evening, but
oftener it was the next day. He insist
cd that Levignard had made him lose
the last train; he did not hesitate to
ndd that his companion did it out of
malice. II Nine. Durrieux was unable
to find the 200 francs which she knew
she had placed in the drawer, her hus-
band had loaned them to Levignard to
relieve him Of temporary embarrass-
ment Durrieux even whispered to her
that it was some scandal.
Nine. Durrieux stopped him by ex-
claiming: That's enough. I forbid
you to associate with that fellow"
"You do not know him." answered
Durricux. mo doubt he is n bit dis
sipated, but he has heart of gold. He
is sowing his wild oats, and cannot
abandon him. His father intrusted him
to my care; II do not counsel him,
he will become Incorporate in his hab-
It's. Fortunately, he is little afraid
of me-"
To tell the truth, Durrieux, who had
suddenly become rich in the unbleached
cotton business, had but one desire in
life, and that was to 60 to Paris with
out his wife MS often as possible and
squander his money. He found it con-
venient to cast upon the shoulders of
third person the burden of his own
pronigacy. Nine. Durrieux swallowed
these tales without suspicion, and the
sly fellow spent the day after his revel
in perfect peace, nursed by his wife,
who was q most estimable creature,
and by her niece, a bright young girl
whom one could always interest by
telling her that she would be married
some day.
For two or three years Durrieux
made use Of his friend Levignard in
this manner, when the startling news
was received that Levignard was in
Robigny; that he was going to settle
there and take up the practice of no.
tary.
This announcement did not please
Durrieux, for he would have to furnish
other excuses in the future to account
for missing the last train from Paris.
"Now, then," exclaimed Nine. Dur
rieux, 1--WE shall see great doings; our
young ladies will have to look out for
themselves. Point this rascal out to
me; am anxious to see him."
Her husband was alarmed, but casu-
ally observed: "It is not necessary to
speak to him of the past. 1t would
annoy him, and, besides, it might In
jure him in the community"
But Nine. Durrieux had had plenty
of time to relate the stories confidential
ly to the pharmacists wife, to the col
lector, and to the grocer, who in their
turn had spread them in the neighbor-
hood, so that the new notary came to
Robigny preceded by the most ques-
tionable reputation.
Nine. Durrieux had pictured to her
self Levignard with waxed mustache
md blond hair falling upon his shoul-
ders; such fop as would wear long
coat and sigh for becoming uniform.
Now Levignard appeared with long
beard, short black hair, dressed in a
severe frock coat and wearing eye
glasses. It was great surprise to
Nine. Durrieux; nevertheless, she
scanned him cautiously, for one never
knows-"still water runs deep" She
had opportunity to observe him closely,
but she saw nothing to confirm the evil
reports. In thinking it over, she con-
.luded that he must be very clever and
was concealing his game.
Everybody knows how good women
are, how anxious they are to save a
soul. 1t is temptation they cannot
resist, even il it has its perils, and they
enter into it with their whole hearts.
Sometimes they neglect their hus-
bands. We do not accuse Nine. Dur
rieux Of this. To be sure, she nour-
ished more and more secret resent
ment against her husband because he
had not resisted the evil advice of his
dissolute friend. On the other hand,
she regarded the new notary with an
indulgence more and more marked,
and she bravely undertook the task OF
pointing out to him the path OF a sedate
life; but she never went beyond the
limits of a conventional sermon.
She lectured Levignard without show
ing her usual sympathetic tenderness
and yet he was SO far encouraged by
her gentleness that he resolved to put
an end to the lectures by asking for the
hand of her niece. He had seen her
about, and besides had heard that she
would have dowry, and that would be
quite useful to notary.
"Neyer!' said Nine. Durrieux
"Never, so long as live! No, indeed!'
And the good woman dismissed him
with so much energy that casual OBJ
server might have thought there was
some spite about it.
Born Of French parents, q bachelor
honorably discharged from his regi
ment, graduate of law, at last a no
tary, Lcvignard was astonished at this
check, and confidcd in her husband.
Indeed! my wife dismissed you?"
"Yes; can you tell me why?"
"Well, you have such deuced repu
;ation--"
These words had no sooner escapee
Durrieux's lips than he would have
given the world to recall them.
II deuced reputation" exclaimed
Ievignard. "How the devil could ge
It? My habits are regular, work Il
hours day, am not incorporate,
eat little, and am not conscious that
have a single vice. A deuced reputa