The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-11-25
so THEY DECIDED
TO REMAIN SINGLE.

During the 60 years of her life Mile.
Sophie de la Servittere had spent her
time in her quiet home in one of the most
peaceful quarters of a peaceful little
city.
Behind the house and separated by
courtyard from the street stretched
vast garden that was almost park.
There, beneath the shade of the beautiful
chestnut trees, Mile Sophie spent the
long summer days, oblivious of any
wider horizons or any interests outside
her narrow life.
1t might not have been SO once, for In
her youth her beauty seemed surely des-
tined to adorn the high court Of the king,
but just when she was ready to leave for
Paris the news came of the arrest of the
king and the bloody days of the Terror.
They had heard Of what was happening
through their old family lawyer, NJ.
Facherie. From father to son the busi-
ness had been handed down by genera
tions, and Mile. Sophie had played and
grown up with Servais Facherie.
Now that her mother was dead, he was
the last of her friends. Each night he
came to pay his respects and play the ac-
| customed game of tric-trac.
Without her perceiving it, the proud
beauty had become little by little a
naughty old maid. but her glance was still
| gentle for the friend Of her youth, and
she replied with an affectionate Ser
vais" to his respectful Mile Sophie"
Their evenings were charming. With
feet on the fender, for the fire was always
burning in the large salon, winter and
summer, the two old people talked of
the little trifies that filled their lives.
Their opinions were exactly the same on
every subject; they looked at life from
the same standpoint, and the old salon
was the home of perfect harmony and
peace.
But one evening, without knowing
why, Mile. Sophie was somewhat sad and
melancholy. She looked at the stately
portraits on the walls and regretted thai
her own was not among the number
Alasi she was the last of her family, ant
there was no one to regret the absenc,
of her painted features.
II NJ Facherie seemed melancholy foo
The aged gentlewoman noticed 1t as b.
bent to kiss her hand, and hastened II
inquire its cause.
"Servais, are you not feeling well?"
"Oh, there is nothing the matter. Mile
Sophie; l am merely growing old" re
piled the lawyer. sitting stifly down il
> the chair. I'VE old folks must expect {,
give way before the younger ones"
IL Mile. Sophie was silent Then sh
asked, suddenly:
, why have you never married, Ser
. vais?"
81 have never known but the title 4
: my romance. my lady" replied NJ Fa
T cherie, looking steadily into the fire.
And what is that?" the old maid per
: sisted 81 have imagined that perhap
you loved some one whose name did nc
know. Yours is brave and honest fam
fly; there is nothing to prevent you
marrying whom you choose"
But honesty and bravery are not nc
bility, Mile. Sophie. That has been th
I trouble
They are equal in my eyes"
. "Ah, mademoiselle."
n The two looked at each other, strangs
= ly moved.
a do you mean that I might-migl
70 have told you" began Servais.
"a "You were wrong not to speak" sal
the marquise. "Oh. will tell you nov
I have regretted the loneliness Of OF
a two lives, and / have suffered for II |
silence"
She paused as the lawyer stopped |
kiss her hand warmly.
They were confused and almost frigh
8. ened at the double confession, but pre-
q emily. hand in hand, they talked of VIII
from its reality.
81 have always wanted a daughter WI
n would resemble you," said Serval
70 softly.
~ And would not have been happy hi
q my son been unlike his father" repli'
!, the marquise, proudly.
81 should have made him an officer
NJ the army" declared NJ. Fachiere. den
v. ing the business of his ancestors.
III You would have made him soldi
K truly, I imagine that / should ha
ne something to say about that"
n Excuse me, In matters of educatio
IN women know very little"
III Excuse me, men know nothing whs
,a ever about the training of child. I t
,a you, my son should never, in any possit
case. have entered the army"
ie What Would you have had him grs
IL gray and rusty in his little village?"
IN Thank you, Am rusty?"
as 'T should really hate to express
y opinion"
Their voices, for many years quiet a
peaceful, had risen high in wrath
n The old butler entered hastily, and
de spite OF the fact that 1t was still early,
p arranged the card table.
lt, At the sight of the accusomed cha
re- the marquise fell silent. Her libel
as seemed doubly precious. How could s
=. even have thought of changing her gu
life?
"You begin, Servais." she said, SIN
en- ing. T perceive that things are bet
De as they are"
ms True" replied the old lawyer, shr
ial fling the cards. And peace was once mt
a restored in the quiet salon.-From
French, in N. Y. Sun.
ire Satisfactory.