Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-03-12

y
house after your dismissal. But trust
yourself to your old friend; will ar.
range the matter"
"Truly?"
II tell you will see to it. see
way out, surely; but on condition that
you will not step inside my house until
tell you. Do you promise me?"
"Oh, well, If that will help it along"
1T is absolutely necessary. You
promise me that you will not show your
face?"
II swear it."
They parted mutually satisfied. Lev.
ignard was comforted by Durrieux's
promise; the latter was reassured, for
he knew he could postpone, at least for
awhile, the dangerous explanation to
his wife and Levignard. He must still
find the solution which he had prom
ised, and, TO tell the truth, he could
think of nothing that would prove sat
isfactory. But he was too kind-heart-
ed not to feel remorse with respect to
his comrade, and to appease it he felt
that he must fulfill his promise.
When Nine. Durrieux returned lit
tie late from a walk, there seemed to
be something unusual in the home at
mosphere; her husband. with his
cheeks swelled out by something that
seemed to be suffocating him, turned
and twisted through the salon with q
disconsolate look; as for her niece
she was assiduously playing the piano.
making discords, which showed that
this occupation was only pretense.
"Well-what's the matter?" said
Mime. Durrieux.
Her husband raised his hands to
heaven, loosened his cravat as though
he could scarcely breathe, and, gasp
ing, said: "Ask your niece"
Her niece, with her hands on her
head, leaned hcr elbows on the piano,
producing about as much harmony Us
a moment before, her plump and grace
ful shoulders shal1ing-perhaps with
sobs, perhaps with suppressed laugh
ter; it was hard to tell.
"Well," said Durrieux, who had at
last succeeded i'll controlling himself,
"your niece went out during your alb
sence, and where do you think found
herr"
"How should l know? You make
me uneasy; has anything happened TO
her?"
II found her at her lovers Office"
Nine. Durrieux rushed to her niece,
seized her by the arms, and turned her
about, exposing a roguish face, young
and lovely, but enigmatical. For n
quarter of an hour it was impossible
to tell just what this pretty face ex-
pressed confusion, remorse, or the
torment smothered laugh inticts
upon one who tries to control it.
'Do you mean to tell me you have a
lover?" said Nine. Durrieux.
"She went to his Office" interrupted
her uncle.
"You went to his office!"
"She even resorted to his house"
again answered her uncle.
"You will be good enough to-"
But the child had had time to catch
up her handkerchief with deft hand
and cover her face under pretext oi
weeping; thenceforth it was vain tc
try to question her.
'You little rascal" Durrieux took
advantage of this to exclaim. "SbS
does not wish to answer, because she
has nothing to say; she does not wish
to tell the name of her lover, because
we do not approve of him. Yes, hel
lover is the very one / have forbidden
her. 1t is a lover whom ] decline 4
sanction, and they are both aware o
it. 1t is lover to whom both you ant
1 have closed our doors, and with goot
reason; it is the notary"
He might just as well have called hin
executioner; he could not have alluded
10 the suitor's profession in more dis
paraging manner.
"a child looked upon as my owl
daughter" he began again in m'lt
tone, II discover at the notary's in
clined to revolt against her aunt's au
thority as well as my own. What viii
become of us? She cannot stay will
us after such an insult. 1t will b
necessary for her to leave the country
But the scandal of her misconduct vii
reflect upon us."
ibid anyone see her?" said MDe
Derrieux. frightened at the goss'J
that might ensue.
"She may have been seen, or she mt.
not; but. my Gear, in our little com
munity, everybody knows such thing
as that. How unfortunate that TIL
scoundrel, Le7ignard, should hav
such cursed reputation. I should 81
that they ought TO marry at once, wifi
out delay. lie is of good family, a;i
late- will inherit some property; IA
sidea, he ALREADY has an established {
sition which may become brilliant
But to give him our niece would rehcC
upon us, and surely I do not wish tha
no, it would be better to exile the ur
fortunate young girl"
"What are you dreaming of? Ar
you crazy? A marriage would be pre-
cradle to all this scandal. Go an
bring that scoundrel of q notary an
let's make an end of all this"
II will not"
II insist"
II repeat what I said, my dear; l.
will-not. That ends it."
"You-will-no I shall send th
maid for him." and the imperior
woman ran to give orders about th
message.
After she had gone, both uncle an
niece sank into their chairs, exhauste
from their efforts to control thei
laughter.
"But, uncle" said the notary's futul
intended, "when poor Levignard fine
out that he has compromised me, he wi
protest his innocence and my aunt wi
nccuse us of 6eceiviDg her."