The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-04
JEAN-L0UIS.

Christine. the innkeepe-. seated be-
fore her knitting. dropped her
work as she spoke and liked her eyes
upon two figures coming along the liz
tie street. 1t appeared that from each
doorstep a like summons had been
given. for almost all the inhabitants OF
Coubertin were gathered a: their front
doors. Mdlle. AIine, the object OF such
great interest, passed along accompa-
MED by a young fellow dressed after
the manner OF 4 farmer. with whom
she talked. and never seemed TO no.
tice the tumult which her radiant
beauty had caused. She smiled and
bowed TO those she knew and finally
entered a store which bore above its
door the sign: Louvre de Couber-
tin" AS soon as she was out OF sight
the tongues began 10 move.
ON, my, but she's pretty"
There's not a girl in this town that
can stand next 10 herr"
IT'S her husband who will be the
lucky man"
It's funny she hasn't married."
IF only she would have taken NJ.
DuviQuet!"
o NJ. B~onnassal. the advocates
nephew!'
"Oh, well, look at Jean-Louls. the
nephew Of NJ. Beaujars. He seems hap
by enough with his cousin, doesn't
he?"
Il wonde If he is in love with hero
He? He's too stupid. All he thinks
about is the COWS and chickens on his
uncle's farm. He couldn't fall in love-"
Aline Beaujars merited her reputa-
ton for beauty. Nothing could be
more exquisite han this young girl Of
IS years. with her blond hair, her gray
eyes and her brilliant complexion. She
lived happily at her fathers farm,
where every n loved and worshipped
her as a sort of queen, beginning with
Jean-LOuis. who, in spite of his stu
pidity, possessed marvellous ingenuity
in satisfying the young girls caprices.
He was an orphan and had been
adopted in his childhood by his uncle,
NJ. Beaujars, and now occupied on his
farm the position of general manager.
IF il were not for Jean-LOuis,"
Beaujars had often said Il would not
be as well off as 1 am. He is a treas
ure, but it is queer that he seems so
stupid about other things"
1t was on account Of this reputation
for innocent stupidity that Jean-Louis
was allowed to be the constant COM
paniOn OF Aline when she went to
town. He vas a protector, nothing
more, in the eyes of the girls parents.
In reality he and the girl were fast
friends n Aline found him anything
but stupid as a companion. She used
TO question herself as to just how
much her regard for her old friend had
to do with her desire to remain un-
married. Once she said to him, a lit
tie w~istfuIy:
Jean, Bristol has asked me to mary
him. What do you say?"
II is a fine fellow" replied her cou-
sin, without meeting her eyes.
'tTheO Won yVOuld o6yica ma RI no.
cept him."
Why not, since you must marry
some day? AS we'll he as another"
Nevertheless Aline determined to be-
come an old maid, and in this resolve
she reached the age of q. Then NJ.
1sidore Bertoulin proposed to her. He
was considered a splendid parti, and
Beaujars was determined to secure
him as a son-in-law He was good
looking, rich and clever. Aline con-
scented and was hurt because jean
Louis seemed glad. He didn't car for
her, she decided, and she might just as
we'll go away from him.
M. Isidore came every day to see his
betrothed and treated her with every
mark Of attentive affection. She
seemed content and the wedding day
drew gradually nearer. 1t was her
custom to walk with her lover as far
as Coubertin when he returned HON
in the evenings, and on these occasions
Jean-Louis walked some hundred feet
behind them and accompanied Aline
back home again. On n of these
walks IsidOre said to her:
"Jean-Louis is very devoted to you is
he not?"
YES, he always has been. When I
was a child he played with me; later
he taught me to read. AS I grew up
he surrounded me with everything for
my good. He has been my playmate,
my teacher, my friend"
"And now he is a family s~ervant?"
You are much mistaken. He is not
a servant I ave the deepest affec-
ton for him and I want you to promise
that after our marriage o will treat
him with consideration"
I'm a general way, yes"
mo, more than that. He must come
to u house whenever he will and
stay as long as he will. You will make
him feel that he is welcome, will you
not?"
Yes, yes. The devotion he feels for
you is a common trait among faithful
servants"
Aline felt irritated.
please let me repeat that It Is dis
agreeable to me to nave you consider
Jean as a servant. He Is a friend, a
relative"
adopted through charity"
OH" breathed Aline, Indignantly.
They had arrived at the first houses
of Coubertin, where they always sep
arated. AS Jean-Louis Joined them,
BertOulin, with natural laciI Of tact,
and wishing to show something OF a
husbands authority, said:
Good night, Jean. l confide made
moiselle to you. Take good care OF
your MISTRESS" and with that he
turned and left them.
Jean-Louis flushed at the insult, but
said nothing. and the return was made
in silence. Aline, who usually led the
conversation, was a prey to conflict
ing thought. She thought OF her ac-
cepted lover and then stole a glance at
the strong, erect figure beside her.
Finally she said:
Well, Jean, only two or three walks
Of this kind and then We Will see no
more Of each other"
rs the marriage to be soon, Alire?"