The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-15
The Marchioness Coachman.
From the French. In Two Parts.(
PART I

surprised.
I had a. ward, young orphan, Eliane
du Rocher whose father ana motheE Hau
died before she had reached her elehln
wear. She was very delicate, ana AFTER
family consultation 1 thought 1t best 10
send her to the convent OF the Danes ue
Juilly.
7 was married and the father OF three
bows: this placed me in an awkward po-
sition. as EIiane was to receive an m
come of 600 on becoming OF age anu
T did not wish TO be suspected OF any pa
ternal designs. And, notwithstanding lhe
great interest l took in her, l rarely gave
her occasion to visit my home. she rarely
went out Of JuiIly to spend her vacations
A. She crew older and her beauty devel-
oped. L redoubled my precautlon ana plU-
dence. ,,,v,-
ion. she was so devout that l felt almost
certain of her vocation 1t is not Win
a little regret that notary sees a large
fortune-more than S,5o0,O00-sWailo"eu
I'D by society. then commenced 10 regret
my excessive devotion, which seemed at
first very convenient, for it removed all
scrupIes to allowing her to remain at the
convent and lessened my responsibility
To all nv questions she replied with q
calm determination, which is a character
! istic trait.
II am very happy, and desire nothing
better than 10 remain here all my lie.
For two years she had been free to dis
pose of herself and fortune, and had not
| vet used her allowance for anything put
10 endow the Society of Juilly and the
moor with gifts. So my mind was quite
| at ease when one morning received
/ letter which Supplied me.
! NV Dear Guardian;I am becoming
weary. After deep reflection, do not feel
| that I am fitted for a religious vocation.
! I intrust you to get me married as soon
as possible. Your grateful and devoted
ELAINE.
hurried to Juilly. $50 you are weary?"
Eyes, indeed, my guardian" -,
and you wish 10 marry for pastiIne'
81 do o,
You have considered it well"
oNot very well, but enough to Kno"
+bot am not fitted to lead this life, for
ann very lonely at the convent. To I'VE
on old maid would hardly suit me; al
that remains to me IS marriages.
death"
you go on at fine rate"
..Do Won see any other solution; YOU
who are a wise and discreet mann
what kind Of a husband do you want!
What do you require of this happy NOR
tal?" 49, 20
Nothing, absolutely nothing but 10
please me-
..Varv we'll. but we are moving in a cir
oIo nv dear child What is required 10
please Won? You must have a secret Ideal;
all young girls have
| mot T., she said quietly. You must re-
member. my dear friend, that in regard 10
men / scarcely know but two-you and
the gardner at the convent, and
And? ,,..,,
She shook her head, and with her little
hand made a motion as if to drive away
\ a troublesome fly.
THAT is not it-not 1t at all!
"Weu. what do you wish. then?"
/ .rrrne. / well knew that with my masto-
tdonic appearance, bald head and glasses
was not made to charm young girl
of %: hut to hear it said to our face
that we are not an ideal provokes ones
anger anyway.
Il shall look, said, as I arose, feeling
somewhat out of humor.
She fell on my neck and embraced me
She would probably have put more feel
ing in it had I been her ideal; however,
her gentle kiss Gained me.
u shall seek and find I said, recover
ing my good humor.
She threw me a kiss and retired with
a merry bow.
Suitors are not wanting when it is a
question of an heiress who is beautiful
and charming. 1 presented many Differ
ent ones, but they did not please her.
The thought then struck me that, haV-
ing seen my son Gustave's photograph
in the parlor, taken in the costume of a
lieutenant of the curassiers, she had fall
len in love with him and was waiting
till the list of suitors was exhausted to
declare herself.
That would have suited GustaVe admir-
ably.
/ But there were those miserables scru-
pies of delicacy which prevented me from
taking the bait. They will say that she
has been taken in" thought /, and il
will look as though / was an unfaith.
full trustee" No matter what you say
there are circumstances where the voice
of conscience is not sufficient-appearanc
es are also worth something.
Summer was advancing and every weel
Elane had the archness to send me hel
card on which were written these words
Il am weary"
do not be so particular. then; get mar
ried, 1 replied, exasperated.
This is how things stood when one Of
my friends, retired at Redon, spoke Il
me of the Marchioness de Pen-VolIoe
and her two sons; old family, distinguish
, ed name good connections, honorable for
tune So | proposed to Eliane that sh,
spend a few weeks with my wife, VIII
] was taking baths at Saint-Enogat, in com
pany with our youngest son, a boy o
16. She accepted with cries of joy.
"On the way" said I, I'VE will stop t,
, see one of my clients, the Marchiones
. ! de Pen NOlloet.
She gave me knowing look.
''Ill wager your client has a son?'
mot only one, but two"
q | 'SO much the better. we can take OH
/ choice
The marchioness lived a few leagues from
Redon, on a large farm, very picturesque
= but not productive. as Is often the cas-
in that country of health and moor.
had been told that the lady was a grea
economist, so was not surprised to tint
at the station an old omnibus. the insid
| of which had a musty smell. As we wer
E about to enter Eliane drew back.
= Suppose that we go on top? The wealth
er is fine and it will be delightful
But see no ladder 1 said, somewha
= afraid Of mounting.
"Pshaw. one foot on the wheel, III
: other by the coachman and here we at
: "a little courage, my friend
you will am at your service
You want me TO break my bones7 A
= you will am at your service"
c 1T is not so difficult as it looks sal
the coachman. do not fear"
He extended his hand and the momen
( took IL l felt as though l had wings
What a strong fellow, What a grasp!
An old soldier" thought /, as I gaze
= with admiration on his broad shoulder
T and his fine appearance, which made
striking contrast with the ugly old cal
riage and the horses, two little pOnie
: which, beside the heavy vehicle, locke
\ like two Else mitched TO a packing box.
II the coschman lifted ne with cas-
10 YOU s1av imagine that Eliane was bu