The San Francisco call., 1899-02-26


me that?'
Yes, certainly"
"Then come back in a week
/ did go back-in three days-but only
because Pere-en-Rapport had written me
note to say that the young girl from
Nantes refused to marry foreigner.
found him as hopeful as ever, with three
other splendid matches for me.
This was getting serious. 1t seemed
better to investigate another matrimonial
agency. and l fell very shortly on a less
straightforward one. 81 want rich mar
riage," l said, shamslessly, TO rather
tricky looking, middle1aged lady who ad-
vertised them in the Lanterne. must
say that she looked .me over critically.
therefore hastened to reassure her.
"The lady's past is not of so much i'm
portance to me-" 1 said.
You are right she answered, and she
frightened with smile. Il know these
! ladies. and perhaps / can do your affair
for you. For myself, I prefer them to
those pretentious little middle class
daughters of families who know nothing
and who are never content. What Will
YOU get from one of those agencies ike
that in the Batignolles? An old maid,
who, in exchange for a small Got, eX-
poets a husband who will adore her. On.
MOI don't talk to me of the little 'bour-
geoise They will never go out of certain
occupa tions for men. Their ambition Is
to marry an engineer or manufacturer.
You are wise, young man. she repeated,
with conviction. Il will get you an act
ress-rich. witty, a trif1e passee, perhaps,
but a superb match.
Her little fat eyes cleaned with antici-
patton. 1t was clear | was to be victim
lied, but it would be worth something to
see it out.
Monsieur she went on, in manner
meant to be tempting, with women who
have lost their class there is no d1sad-
vantage at all. There are no notaries or
guardians to divide with and no parents
to be inquisitive about the spending Of
the dot You deal frankly with them
no treason! no heart mysteries! no de-
ceptionsl She will say to you, Yes,
have had romances. 1t was the Prince de
G. or the Marquis de Y. But let us not
speak of that. Let US speak of the fu-
ture, not the past That is what she will
say to you. And has she not the right to
impose conditions? She has money. She
can choose her husband You are not the
only one who offers himself. There are
noblesr
Authentic nobles?"
Authentic, authentic? 1 do not know.
No one insists on that. Only if you were
titled with a real baptismal register, you
could make one of these rich marriages
Immediately. If your father had only put
de- to his name-but l forget; you are a
foreigner"
Then how shall succeed against three
noblemen?"
Appear to be serious. intelligent hon
est! These ladies are always afraid their
husbands will waste their money. They
want honest husbands, good young men,
proper, respectable, honorable. That is
the style for you. young man. Appear to
be intelligent. Pretend you are journal
ist. Another thing. and it is little deli
cate. Are you good?'
'How-good?"
Are you sound in wind and limb?"
Il should hope so, at my age -
so much the better-but-n one
can never be sure. Young men are not
always what they should be nowadays
They drink too much, they smoke too
much, they keep late hours. If you are
good, so much the better l have wife
for you, a beauty and she will make your
life a paradise. Fifty francs, now, in ad-
vance"
L paid her 35.
Thirty-five francs is 81.
She gave me an appointment with the
lady in one of the interminable picture
galleries of the Louvre.
lone instant" 1 begged. What is her
character of mind? How shall L fit my
the theater politics, travel, music, Htera-
ture or the remembrances of my child
hood? Does she desire to be amused or
have her heart touched?'
Between the two
] went to the Louvre and waited. The
lady came, She was really beautiful,
dressed with quiet elegance She had
charming manners, almost timid. She
could not have been more than 80 years
old Madame, the matchmaker, was with
her. She presented me and walked away.
The charming lady with a past" sat
down. We spoke few moments. think.
of the grandeur of my native land and
! the happiness of American wives. "Oh,
Mon Deui" she interrupted. "It is 4
| o'clock, and I have an engagement with
my dressmaker at $3.50! Bon jour! An
! other time!'
| That was all. 1 think there was no mar
! riage intended. | think the beautiful lady
| is already married. She is good and re-
| spectacle. She needs pocket money, and
the marriage broker gives her half the
proceeds of each deal. Otherwise-but
| otherwise I do not like to think of it. 1t
is not fattering to the man who paid his
80 francs down-for a rich Partisan wife
! STERLING HELLO.
and returned to this city last night
- -" " -.