Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-01-08


bush with that young man, and. some
how. liked him for it.
"'Who is the singer?' he asked at
once.
"'Little French girl says I, named
Mile. Justine
Justine what?'
"Laftte.'
"Lafltte.' he repeated, rs though the
name seemed familiar to him somehow.
How old is she?'
"'About IT. says I, making q rough
guess.
"The front door changed to just at
that minute, and a light footstep was
heard
81 peeped out.
"There she is now,' says I, Mile. JUS
tine herself
Like n shot he was out of the shop,
but in a few minutes returned.
Exquisite he said, his voice trem-
bling a little. Her face is as exquisite
as her voice
"Well, to make long story short"
broke off the cobbler, "that young man
had fallen desperately in love with
ma a'm'selle, but how to make her ac-
quaintance was a problem that was
troubling him.
"'Ef you was only poor, now,' says
I, you might get chance, but
"The young man did not wait for me
to finish.
"'Tll come tomorrow in my plainest
suit of clothes,' said he. Thank you,
Mr.. Devine, for solving the riddle. You
can send me up to do a little repairing,
you know-a friend of yours, steady
fellow, looking for n job, and so forth
"Well, the plan worked, and bless
me, sir, if Edward Pendleton, rich and
well connected, didn't spend about half
his time looking at ma'm'selle, and
talking to the old man.
"And so the days passed on; MAIN
selle in spite of her shabby dress and
skinny fare, growing roster and pref
tier every day.
"ItNvas the night before Christmas.
and mossoo left his bench and sat si-
lently down by Ned.
"Presently mossoo's thin white hand
moved toward the pocket of his worsted
jacket; and then, as the lapel of pocket
flew up, Ned caught CLEAN OF some
thing which brought him to his feet
with cry.
"'What is it?' cried rossco, scared
out OF his senses. My poor Ned, what
hast thou?'
"'A diamond" shouted Ned, grasp
ing the old worsted Jacket, and tearing
piece of it away. See, see, the level
has been hidden within the lining Of
your jacket all this time
"'Twas re will of Ccd.' said the oil
Frenchman, a little later. All! some
times my heart was like to burst. To
die thus-to leave my wife, ny little
Justine. Who would care for them?'
"'I, SIR said the young man, 'your
son.
IA little warm hand at that moment
crept into his own. 4 2
"'Hast heard, dost know?' saf1ssas
old man.
al know she answered, soft 1s.s
happy smile lighting up her face. ?
"Well," l prompted, as he sat srSnt
for awhile. there is something more
to tell"
"Well. Mossoo lit the lamp. and Ned
was about to ask him for his daughter,
when the old lady's Voice was heard
from the coroer.
"'And now,' says she, wen give it
all up and go baol. to France
"'We will, ma mic,' said mossoo.
lneeling by her bedside. we will no
longer strive for ze ecmpossihle. ~
Documents
'Documentsp' said Ned.
at think hnve told you before said
mossoo, of re Marquis de Lafltte, Hhc
was martyred upon ze scaffold with
"Louis XVII said Ned who hat
heard it so times. Yes, sir, thinl,
you have
"'Dut that which I have not tolt
you,' went on mosaoo, lis that one O.
his remaining family fed to America
and became the proprietor of Il large
estate. He died unmarried. The prop
erty is in alien hands thought hat
hoped
Iafltte,' said Ned-Iaftte! Sin
gular that it never occurred TO me be
fore!' And then he told the family how
and why he had deceived 'em, confess
Ing himself to be Edward Pendleton, tn
Junior partner of the great law firm o
Pendleton g. Pendlsion, who for SONS
time had been looking for the heirs b
the Laftte estate, but up to the pres
ent had found no cIew.
"And soon after tAat lost my lodg
crs; but bless YOU, sir, they don't for
get me. Mr.. Pendleton, he always vii
think that but for me he would neve
have got acquainted with ma'm'selle.