Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-25

was with my friends there, / could not
very well talk to the maid. I did not
mention you either-you will under
stand, I'm sure
II certainly did not understand at
all. but did not say so, and he went on
talking and twirling his mustache.
She's very pretty woman-Mme.
Dalbert-a charming womanl' he said.
II did not answer, for, to tell the
truth, l had scarcely noticed her even,
for my eyes were taken up with Loui-
settle always
Would it really be much of sacri-
flee to break of this engagement he
asked after pause.
"That was just little too much, and
l reminded him how we had waited for
three long years, and how we had, both
Of us, never had thought of such a
thing as not getting married now.
He bit his mustache impatiently,
and soon after left him to go back to
my work. For three days we were so
busy at the hotel that was not able to
get off. could not see him then, for he
was neither at the cafe nor yet at his
hotel. 1t was week after when he sent
for me, and this time was shown up
into his room-a largo, handsome room
ON the first floor of the hotel He seemed
very excited and kept walking up and
down the room. Presently he stopped
short right in front of me and said:
Can I count on you? Are you pret-
ty brave?'
go on, I said, what is it:' for 7
felt that something had happened, but I
did not want him to be ashamed of me.
He looked away as he told me the
news. well, it is just this. fell over
head and ears in love with Mime. Dali
bert, and-well, the long and the short
of it is she cares for me too. The only
thing is I am SO vexed for you, old fel-
low he said laying his hand on my
shoulder.
For me-but why?'
"'Good heavensl Can't you see?
Well, you cannot exactly marry her
maid now! You could not come to us
as servant, could you? Itwould be too
ridiculous-perfectly humiliating, in
fact, for mel
II felt myself go cold all over, and
suppose my face must have turned
pale, for he said:
We'll, have patience, and we II see
how it can all be arranged-perhaps
something can be done -
Pirotou stopped suddenly, and two
great tears, which had come into his
eyes, would have rolled down his cheeks,
but, making desperate effort, he
blinked two or three times and so made
them disappear.
"But how about the wedding, them"
asked after brief pause.
"Well, you see, sir, there's been no
wedding" he said, looking down on the
floor. 'Perhaps there never will be now
either. I've waited and tried to be pa
tient, but my brother does not write,
and Louisotte hasn't written lately
either. suppose they haye talked to
her and showed her that it can t be, and
don't know perhaps they II get her to
give me up yet altogether. Idon't know
how it is. Anyhow, they're back in
Paris. 1t was a. bit hard, you see, sir. for
I'd been in love with her so long, and
we'd waited SO patiently, and then, you
see, sir, with MIN it was all just fancy
just a pretty face that took him. But,
there, it's all the same, there was moth
ing left for me to do. I couldn't humil-
late him, you see. He's older than l
am, and I've got no one in the world
but him. And then too, sir, just think
AN officer! couldn't have stood IN
his way, sir, but it is bit hard"
And this time, as blinking was of no
use, poor Iirotou moved away and
busted himself shutting the window. -
From the French in Strand Magazine.