The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-22


Taking advantage OF the absence Of
the coachman, who had sought shelter
in a neighboring doorway, he entered
the coupe It was a bijou little convey
ance, upholstered ia blue silk and x
haling an aroma Of youth and elegance.
The marquis settled back in the corner,
which was still warm, and availed him
self Of a wrap that hid been left behind,
and in that blissfulstat of comfort he
soon fell asleep. How long he slum-
bered / cannot say, but he suddenly
awoke rs the coupe drew up in Nine. la
Marechale's courtyard.
The rwast hPownopen and a young
woman of extraordinary beauty APP
preached. When she saw thatthe coupe
was not empty, she suppressed an excla-.
nation, and, hastily divesting herself of
her wrap, threw it in upon the as
tonished occupant,
"Are you mad, to throw off your cloak
here in the court!" exclaimed the young
man, who had escorted her to the car
rage. 1.-THE air is freezing"
Il am s~uffocating," she replied; and,
stepping hastily into the coupe, she
closed the door with a bang.
IF you care to drop in ut mothers,
l will go with you"
'No, no; I have changed my mind. l
am tired. Goodnight. l am going di-
rectlY home"
The coupe rolled rapidly away. The
marquis did not stir, Not a word was
spoken until they reached a dark street.
when the lady withdrew her mantle.
"Gaston!" she exclaimed, what reck-
l~essness! You might have been my
ruin!"
AS the marquis was about to reply,
she laid a little hand on his lips.
"No-not a word. l know what fool
ish excuses you will make. will not, ]
dare not listen. My mind is made up.
He is breaking my heart, but what is
the difference? First take back this
ring. Ihave no right to keepit."
The marquis was conscious that Q
ring was being slipped on his finger.
"And now kiss me, sweetheart-you
deserve that much for your silence and
Gsvotion."
The marquis spent five e~cstatic min
utes, which, however, neither you nor
| need dwell upon.
"And now leave me. In another mo-
ment 1 shall be home. Make haste
make haste!"
She let down the right-hand win
dow and addressed a few words to the
coachman, to divert his attention from
the supposed Castor, who alighted on
the other side and disappeared, filled
with regrets chat he had not been able
to follow up to the end this unexpected
and delightful adventure.
The coupe drove off straight ahead,
and was 500 lost in the darkness.
A clock was striking two as our hero
reached home. The marchioness was
just alighting at the door. The mar
quis passed her without seeing her.
why, my dear, have you been asleep
in the v~estibule? You must help me
upstairs whether you want to or not.
They improvised a cotillion, and I'm
simply exhausted"
As he offered her his arm she noticed
the ring he had forgotten TO remove
from his finger.
What a beautiful ring!" she cried.
els it for me? I'm sure it was meant
for a surprise"
The confusion of the marquis was
only equaled by his wife's delight.
"Yes, it is ga. surprise. I shall tell
you about it in the morning"
For the next three days the young
wife was in the most afable of moods
in expectation of the diamond. She
didn't open the piano once.
While the jeweler was making a fac
simile of the ring, the marquis en-.
deavoredto find his charming unknown.
I'm a thief" he said to himself. "I'm
a thief, and here's the ring to prove it.
What will Gaston-the real CASTOR
say to her? Poor thing, what a beauti-
full tTinket she lost. Poor fellow, whaT
kisses he lost. The recollection of them
makes my head swim"
This little adventure cost my friend
just, 5000 francs, and to help him cut
OF his embarrassment, I am sending the
following notice to the spape
Lost, Monday, Sth, in a coupe with blue
livery, a amor ring worth 5000 francs
A liberal reward offered to the owner.
Translated for the San Francisco
Argonaut by Grace Thorne.