The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-04
ROUTED BY GIRLS.

'"The deuce!" or 1.-THE dcvllw or even
a 'Damnm that shocks every one who
hears her. Its an old habit OF mIne,''
she explains, land cling to 1t because
1t is an old one. And then" she adds.
with gay smile, at saved me once
from the greatest peril woman can
run"
And here is the story as the Marquise
tells it:
"Old though am, am not very SER
iouS person: but. as II little girl-ih.
how long ago that was, how long ago!
Il was the greatest madcap that ever
got out of breath chasing. butterflies, or
tore her gown and left her hair ribbons
on the hawthorn trees, though that
did not prevent me-egad! would you
| believe 1t, Mt fourteen-from being very
much interested even then IN the hand
some hussar, gold laced, embroidered
and hediZcned. who adorned the front
pages OF the romances of that day.
Naturally my friends We're hardly
less feather-braIned than ]. You would
have TO search long to ind 4 dovecot
more full or turbulent chatter and
laughter and flights of song than the
Convent, OF the Sacred Heart, where l
took my vows-neYer to be nun.
ut was in the evening that we used
TO play our greatest pranks. We had
discovered n way to slip out OF the dor
mitory without waking up the Sister
who was supposed to guard over us.
As soon as she was asleep. we would
creep downstairs into the great dark
garden. carrying with us tablets OF
chocolate. a coffee pot, and an alcohol
lamp, and, climbing up TO favor!te
perch high in an old oak tree, we would
make chocolate and drink n trium-
phantly in the darkness.
In the town where this convent was,
there was also a garrison. The walls OF
our garden were very high, and we
never so much as set eyes on uniform;
but walls that prevent seeing, do not
prevent hearing. The officers and COM
mon extraordinarily attracted by
the presence OF so many girls, ! suppose
used to stroll along on the other side
of our wall in the evenings, chatiering
together. and we girls used to listen
We could hear them so we'll! They
would describe what they had done In
battle, or what they would do In case
there should be war. and when they
got excited, they used 10 talk In the
most bloodthirsty way. twas terrify-
ing TO hear them. but so fascinating!
And what formidable oaths they used!
We could remember few OF them.
zone day, as we were walking to-
gether in one OF the paths, Eveline de
Scbran, exclaimed. BY thunder, girls
this is a devllish fine evening"
1T was a revelation! From that time
forth. the entire convent. inspired by
her example, began TO pepper their con-
vcrsation with oaths that would have
done credit to NnpoleOnlc veterans. And
we did not content ourselves with the
garrison eNpletives overheard across
the wall. We recalled peasant profnn-
Ity we had heard years before, and hunt
cd through rOmanccs to find the oaths
OF fine gentlemen. roisterers and scrv-
ing maids. 1t was not long before we
had acquired special and remarkable
erudition In that line.
"As you may imagine, 1t was not in
the classes, before the pious ears OF the
sisters. that we aired our new accom-
plishment In the daytime we swore on
~ before the abess, who was deaf as u
post. But as soon as night camc-Oh, we
did not think OF chocolate any more,
you may be sure-we met on the lawn
under the big oak and had a grand
time. Deuce take IT.! Jane de SeauS
would begin. ! would follow with by
thunder, blast your eyes,. and the 9TH
ers would chorus Devil fly way with
met 'Damme. sirl' BY r LADY, Ten
hundred thousand devils!' Grape and
Canistcr! Thunder and lightningH
'CoufOund IT. To see us struttlng about
with our hands on our hips or twirlinE
imaginary moustaches. with our little
voices coming from the bottom OF our
boots, you would think we were more
- liza
As she said this. the marqulsc burst
into peal OF merry laughter. and imi-
tating the childish uproar OF the pre-
cocious blasphem"rs. the gentle old
lady swore delightfully."-.
at must have been an amusing
scene" We SAID. laughing but we don't
see the danger 1t saved you from
Devil take you. my dears." she re-
piled, how impatient you arei" and
checking her laughter she continued her
story:
After the convent comes marriage
after the mother superior, n superior OF
another kind NJ. de Lionne was pre-
sentcd to me-a tlnc-lookIng army man.
l thought Immediately OF the hussar OF
romance. He could take the part we'll.
ION. And POUNDS, why shouldn't I
marry him? ThIrty-nve years OF age.
courage and unqucstioncd honor-in
fact how shall say the pleased me
very much. Only one thing Kept me
from saying yes at once, Novels were
always being written At that time.
had put lot III absurd Ideas into my
head. II were to give myself 10 n man
forever, ] must know his intimate.
thoughts, his past. above ALL
one fine evening. then. between two
cups Of tea. / said bravely to NJ de
Li0Dne:
Well. yes, | love you. But come.
toll me frankly. looking me straight In
the eye--it IL not very disaEreeable TO do
so. fl it?-haye yea nothing. absolutely
nothing. to rcprodch yourself with-if
not as regards m-n. as regards women
Nothing, he replied. with an ingen-
unus eaTnestness that made me wish to
throw myself into his arms.
Then he suddenly blushed. I had
forgotten one instance he said I con-
fcss that l have committed. or almost
committed, n bad. very bad action
"BlushInE Mt first he had now turned
pale ! almost regretted having asked
him. But 1t was toflatc IA curb my Gu
riosity.
Tell me everything
"'I obey. Twelve years ago vas In
garrison at 4. There was tall, Of
war in the ait at the time, and this. add
cd to our youth, gave us an aulaclaus.
almost n feroCiou1, gayrty. One even
Ing when We were all ipHy-for we got
tipgy in th0an days, which / hope YOU
will pardon-h sublirutcnant, more tlpsy
than the others. proposed that we scale
the walls Of a convent in the neighbour
hood ana friEhtcn the nuns and pupils
IN their sleep. II was stupid. nm In
famous idea. Wine Is n bad counselor:
not man there brave and honorable
though they were. slapped the face OF
the man who had made the wrstchcd
f,roptuItIapE W., r,,.I,h1 ont pf tbp ,a,.