River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-02-13
THE NOTARY'S BRIDE.

The NOIARl y BRIDE.
II would be hard 10 enun erate all
the services rendered DurrieuN by his
friend Levignard. 1t may be that Dur
rieux realized them, but Leyignard
never once suspected. for the reason
that when Durrieux used his friend,
he neglected to tell him of il.
Durrieux lived at IsObigny with his
wife and her niece. When he went to
Paris he stoutly declared his intention
10 return home the same evening, but
Oftener il was the next day. He insist
eel that Levignard had made him lose
the last tram; he did not hesitate to
add that his companion did it out Of
malice. IL 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 a temporary embarrass-
ment. Durrieux even whispered to her
that il was some scandal
Nine. Durrieux stopped him by ex-
claiming: That's enough. / forbid
YOU to associate with that fellow"
GU 10 NOT EN0N AAAAis eAAM~ANNA
Durrieux. NO doubt he is bit dis
sipated. but he has heart of gold. He
= sowing his wild oats, and 1 cannot
abandon him. His father intrusted him
TO nv care; if / do not counsel him,
he will become incorporate in his hab-
its. 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 go to Paris with
out his wife as often as possible and
squander his money. He found it con-
venient TO east upon the shoulders of
third person the burden of his own
prcfiigaey. Mime. Durrieux swallowed
these tales without suspicion, and the
sly fellow spent the day after his revel
i'm perfect peace. nursed by his wife,
who was a 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 10 furnish
other excuses in the future to account
for missing the last train from Paris.
''Now. them" exclaimed Mime. Dur
Iieux, Eve shall see great doings; our
young ladies viii 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: 1T is not necessary TO
speak to him of the past. 1t would
annoy him. and, besides. ii might in
jure him in the community"
But Nine. Durrieux had had plenty
of time to relate the stories confidential
~ to the pharmacists wife. to the col
Iector, 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. DurTieux had pictured to her
self a Legignard with waxed mustache
and blond hair falling upon his Shout
ders; such fop as would wear long
coat and sigh for n becoming uniform.
Now Levignard appeared with a long
beard. short black hair, dressed in a
severe frOcl1 coat and wearing eve
glasses. IL was a great surprise to
Nine. Durrieux; nevertheless, she
scanned him cautiously, for one never
knows-"still water runs deep" She
had opportunity 20 observe him closely,
but she saw nothing to confirm the evil
reports. In thinking it over, she con-
cluded that he must be very clever and
was coneealing his game.
Everybody knows how good women
are, how anxious they are to save a
soul. IL is a temptation they cannot
resist. even if il has its perils. and they
enter into IL with their whole hearts.
Sometimes they neglect their lIs-
bands. We do not accuse Nine. Dur
rieux of this. To be sure, she uour-
ished more and more n 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 10 him the path of sedate
life: but shc never went beyond the
limits of conventional sermon.
She lectured Levignard without show
ing her usual sympathetic tenderness,
and vet he was so far encouraged by
her gentleness that he resolved to put
nm 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 a dOwry, and that would be
quite useful TO a notary.
"Neyeri- said Nine. Durrieux.
"Never, so long rs livei No, indeed"
And the good woman dismissed him
with so much energy that a casual OBJ
server might have thought there was
some spite about il.
Born of French parents. bachelor,
hOnorably discharged from his regi-
ment. a graduate of law. at last a no
tary. Levignard was astonished at this
check. and eonfided in her husband.
.Indeed! my wife dismissed you2"
ayes; can you tell Why
swell, YOU have such deuced repu-
tatiCn-"
These words had no sooner escaped
Du-rieux's lips thai he would have
given the world 70 recall them.
Il n deuced reputation" exclaimed
Ievignard. How the devil could 1 get
iss My habits are regular. work Il
toHrs a day. l am not incorporate.
eat little. and ala not conscious that
have single vice \ deueed reputa-
tioT..-then that is the reason your wife
has been moralizing all this time |
insist upon seeing her and explain
ing"
-Don't." cried Durrieux; heavens.
DON'T do that"
what harm would IL do"
Il don't know Just what he an
swered. frightened AT the abyss open
ing before him; '-b,it there Is certainly
something. Besides-bcsides. you can
not decently present Yourself at the
house after your dismissal. Rut trust