The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09

COLONEL THE MARQUIS DE
~ TRENEY had spent most of his
life in Africa, after beginning his ca
reer at Metz. where he won his first
promotion. But the day he learned
that the command of Tlemcen. an i'm
portant station in Algeria, which he
had long been coveting for himself was
given to another man he sent in his
resignation.
For year he stayed shut up in his
old feudal castle on the banks Of the
Cure His neighbors sought in vain to
make much of him; he replied to all
their advances in a sulky tone:
what should I do in society? I am
shelved and done for since l am not
thought good enough to command two
regiments. Besides, don't know how
to talk to ladies'"
There was more than one fair neigh
Dor who would have been glad. to give
him lessons. in the art of conversation,
but he persisted in his retirement and
probably would have been there yet
had it not been for a chance encounter
one day in the train when he was on
his way to Macon to look at a horse.
Two ladies, mother and daughter,
were already seated in the compart-
ment into which the guard hastily
propelled the marquis and his Valise.
The beauty of the two ladies, their
grace and distinction and their hand
some frocks could not fail to be pleas
ing, even in the eyes of man who
had spent the last twenty years in At
RIGA. sa
Nevertheless, this African was of a
chilly nature and delicately sensitive
to the cold; and seeing that the two
ladies had lowered the window at their
side of the compartment he went
straight to the point, in the manner of
an ex-fghter of Arabs.
Madame" he said, bowling, 81 see
you like fresh air..
Somewhat surprised, the two. tray
elers looked up from their books With
an almost imperceptible touch of mock
cry the elder lady asked:
Are you afraid of catching cold,
monsieur? ?"
81 am only afraid of one thing" re-
piled the marquis CALAMITY, land that
Is that may displease you. If I could
be relieved of my fears on that score
l.
my first winter in a Northern climate.
for many years"
At signal FROM her mother the
young girl laid down her book and
rose to close the window. Treney
sprang to assist her, but he was too
late. But his movement made it posi-
BILE for him to read two<words written
on the cover of the young girls book.
He resumed his seat, closed his eyes
for two or three seconds. as If seeking
to recall something, then studied once
more the face of the lady who sat OPP
posite him. Without appearing to have
noticed anything, he said quietly:
"a thousand thanks, mademoiselle. I
trust I have not imposed any sacrifice
upon your mother"
zone is obliged to do something for
ones travelling companions" replied
that lady, civilly.
Especially" said Treney, with slow
emphasis, "for a companion that one
came near marrying"
The lady'S eyes, which were not small
naturally, grew wider in her astonish-
ment as she replied in a dry tone:
'Sir I never came near marrying
anyone that I know of, and you will
oblige me by combining your attention
to general facts
VERY we'll We will say, then, as
general fact, that we have, each of us,
during the course of our existences.
come near suffering catastrophes that
we did not dream of. If my poor old
cousin, De Macornay were still alive
She would tell you of a danger that
once threatened YOU
did you know the Canoness de Ma
cornay?"
mot very well. She lived at Poitiers.
which is some distance from Bur-
gundy. She was a good, sanity crea-
ture. But she had some singular
ideas; one, among others. to marry Off
a man who fed at the mere word mar
riage."
According to that then, the danger
of which you spoke just now could not
have been very great for-aDybody."
"Wait a bit At that time l thought
I possessed all the qualities of an ex-
eeIlent husband I had just been very
ill and I thought one lung was affect
ed. 1t was then that my old cousin
was so foolish as to want me to marry
Laure de Cramans."
What! So you know my name! L
suppose you will tell me yours now"
mot at ALL The world is full Of
naughty men. Someone would be sure
to say: You'd better burn candle
to your guardian angel and be thank
full He would have been miserable
husband
EITHER my memory fails me, or my
guardian angel preserved me from ever
meeting you, for 1 certainly do not
know you. Perhaps / might still have
been saved if l had met YOU"
Every possibly. But misfortunes
come quickly, you know.
ALLOW me to tell you that have ac-
cepted more than one misfortune of
this kind.
81 know It only too we'll You have