The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-30


II have heard"
The color mounted to the young name
face. Il should say rather" he contln-
ued, THAT ! am compelled 70 sell her;
It Is the only way that can rid myself
Of debt. and myself much involved"
80 have been Informed" said Nom
sleur Alphonse. gravely.
II am IN no greater straits than
most men IN my position. / have simply
lived carelesSly from year TO year, and
so Outrun my income: now ! wish TO
clear myself. and-well-Carmeu Is the
sacrifice"
at Is Carmen have come TO buy"
said his vlEltor, and there was slight,
uncomfortable pause.
"You are undertaking o serious mat
ter, SIR Are you a judge Of horse
aesh7"
Monsieur Alphonse passed his hand
carefully over his rnoustache 10 hide .
smile. ut does not come within the
range OF my-my profession, sim mdy
cay know a good horse. have seen
yours. viii now make you an offer.
She will be a sacrifice at twenty thou
sand dollars; ] cannot pay more.
The princess handsome lover stared at
him In anazemeht; but stu he hesltat-
ed, while Monsieur Alphonse Impatient
~ repeated his Offer
"Y0u are most liberal" he said, at
length, "and do not DOUBT your hon
esty OF purpose, but you will readily un-
derstnnd that such a transaction, In
vulvlng, as 1t does, large amount OF
money. requires mutual confidence,
You seem to know me and my aftalrs
pretty thoroughly. know nothing
concerning you, save that you are tor-
eigner, a FTenchmRn. believe.
Monsieur Alphonse bowed.
"And things would not be regular, you
perceive. without an introduction"
$50! Well, monsieur, that might ar.
range Itself; my bankers, par examplei
Would their good word suffice, think
your"
"It would depend upon the bankers
standing"
Ny bankers are we'll known" and he
mentioned the name OF a prominent
frn. asee, win take you there, and
transfer from my account TO yours the
amount / wish TO pay Tor the horse;
sufficient that they know me, and would
be willing TO obllgc. nest ce pas?"
"oh, yes, they are thoroughly relia-
''Then we will go now, II convenient to
you," said Monsisur Alphouse, anxious
to have the matter settled.
So the deed was done, the bargain
scaled, and the happy young fellow
shook hands heartily with the new own
or OF Carmen. "You will come home
and lunch with me. he said, eagerly as
they came out OF the bank.
Monsieur Alphonse consulted his
watch and shook his head, mo. merci;
l have an engagement at that hour.
"Thep some other day. perhaps
mo. monsieur, ] have already tres
paFsed upon ynur Kindness in refusing
TO tell my name. ! will impose no fur.
Their, 1 hope our little transaction VIII
be a fortunate one for you, wish
YOU good morning." and somewhat
afraid Ia trust himself further Nom
sleur Alphunse took HE leave, and bur-
ried homeward.
pasable; the very soul Of the chez
| hreathed through the repast, and the
prlncess's plates bore witness to such
dainty demollshiIg as to gladden. the
heart.
"'Rr 'lghness is happy this day" OBJ
served James. as he settled himself py
the fire after the last COURSE Sucn . =
nile of flowers as come awhile back, ana
note. I'll lay It was from I'M: one
don't smile that way for nothin,.
"Ah!" thought Monsieur Alphonse;
.it works well and quickly. We shall
soon hear more"
And 90 he did. A few nights after
wards james tumbled into the crulslne'
between courses, most astonishing
nrocepding. and the butler seemed out
az his head with excitement.
al couldn't hold It," he painted 10
hIs wondering audience. Il tipped the
wink TO George and boiled. That there
handsome chap Is there, i'm as Is beau
inc the prlncess; uncommon smart e
is Would YOU believe 'e's sold that
tberc 'orse. Carmel? e just lit out
nuIet-llke with the news, and II knock
Cd the old man fiat; says e, ! 'avent 4
5sIyt IN the world now'-an' e looks al
no prlncees-myi" and James whose
sentiment was as efrervescert as cham
pagne. clasped his hands, and signed
Those were busy days for Monsieur
| AIphonse. for as the hearts upstairs eN'
handed in the spring sunshine OF love
and hnppIness the board grew more res
tive ana the cuisine had to augment
Its force in order to attain that degree OF
nerfectIon necessary to carry out the
chefs original ideas And yet. after all:
thIs mngnifcence was but rehearsal OF
the wedding feast, for 1t came to that
IN the end and Monsieur Alphonse' nav
inc carte blanche, eXcelled even RIM
self in his highest flights. Hls oIe ,I..ls
10 the bride on this occasion was poin
in state by James. and SET peAote nel
delighted eyes. 1t was great trans trans
narent SNOWFALL. made OF some strange
CONNECTION which resembted glass; m
cssed In this was bunch OF royal vio.
Iets oe fresh and blooming as II tnat
had been their native soil. How tney
found their way there was Monsieur
Ainhonse's secret, which, In deterence
10 His noble art, we dare not probe. no
r,ora are we ut liberty to guess VINO
sent that exquisite bit OF bronze scu.p-
turs 10 the bridegroom; but the accom-
nonvInR note tells Its own story anu
may. perhaps, be NJ some lnteieSS ; ,,--
"Monsieur: have had the go9n III
tune 10 reap valuable profit IN aispos-
Ing Of my horse, Carmen; ana as l AM an
ono who does not speculate, uesi.S
onIv 10 reimburse myself The surplus
nave nut into a token for yourseh anu anu
yorr charming bride; and what more
St,iop Than an efiigy OF the horse when
nI s 40 important a part In the happy
FO Tsat, too, is Monsieur AlphOns0's
secret.
1