The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-22
THE EVENING STORY
A Deputy Governors wooing.
(By Paul Almond. J

(By Paul Armonol
Can you receive Mime. Blouet, sir p
asked an attendant, as he opened the
door of the deputy governors office.
Hubert Boinville, the deputy gov
ernor. raised his grave face and
1T is an old lady, SIR said the at
tendant.
Let her come in" replied the
deputy governor. The visitor was a
little. old lady. dressed in shabby
Sir" she began: ct am the daugh-
ter. sister and widow of men who
served their country. / applied some
time ago to the department for help,
and have come to see whether there
is any hope
The deputy governor listened with
out moving.
"Have you ever received any as
sistance 2" he asked, coldly.
mo. SIR she replied. ST have
managed to get on until now without
asking. I have a small pension
"Ah," he Interrupted. Gin that case
I am afraid we can. do nothing for
you. We have a great many. appli-
cants who have no pension to rely
upon"
.'Ah. listen. sir!'. she cried despair
1ngly. Il have not explained every
thing. had three sons and they are
all dead. The last one was carried off
two weeks ago. He had supported me
and his child. I had to raise money
on my pension. Now I am alone in
the world with my grandchild, and we
have nothing. I am eighty-two years
old, SIR
''You are from Lorraine, I see,
madame" he said at last. ct suspect
ed you from your accent"
Eyes, sir. 1 am from Argonne," she
answered.
II also am from Argonne. I lived
near your village for a long time, at
Clernant, and then he added. Keep
up your courage, Madame Blouet, I
VIII you give me your address?"
mo. II Rue de Ia Sante, near the
Capuchin convent. Thank you. sir.
for your Kindness
As soon as she was gone NJ. Boin-
vile rose, and going to the window
stood looking down into the garden
until his dreamy gaze wandered far off
70 a little old town with tile-roofed
houses. He had left home in his
twenty-first year and had returned
only to attend his fathers funeral
Possessing superior intellect and an
iron will, he had risen rapidly and at
thirty-eight years of age was made dep
uty governor
His heart, indeed. had once asserted
itself, before he had left home, but as
he then had neither position nor for
tune, the girl he loved had refused him
in order to marry rich tradesman.
suddenly he returned to his chair
drew Nine. BIouet's petition to him,
and wrote upon it the words, very de-
serving case Then he sent the docu-
ment to the clerk in charge of the re-
lief fund.
On the day of the official assent to
Nine. Blouet's petition NJ. Boinville left
his office earlier than usual for the idea
had occurred to him to announce the
good news himself to his aged country
woman.
Three hundred francs The sum was
but drop, but to the poor widow it
would be as a beneficent dew. Hubert
Boinyille walked all the way to the
Rue de Ia Sante. Directed sto the
Widow Blouet's lodgings upstairs, M.
Boinville knocked, and great was his
of about twenty years, holding up a
lighted lamp and looking at him with
astonisheda eyes.
rs this where Nine Blouet lives?''
asked M. Boinville after a moments
hesitation, and the girl replied, yes
mother, here is a gentleman who wants
to see you.''
II am coming" cried a thin, piping
voice from the next room.
Holy mother!' she cried in amaze
ment on recognizing the deputy COVER
nor, sis 1t possible sir? Excuse my ap--
pearance. 1 was not expecting the honor
of a visit from you. Claudette, give M.
Boinville a chair"
NJ Boinville explained the visit, and
the widow exclaimed:
"Oh, thank you, sirI How good you
are. 1t is quite true that pleasant sur
prises never come singly; my grand
child has passed an examination in
telegraphy, and while she is waiting for
a position she is doing a little painting
for one and another. Only today she
has been paid for a large order, so we
made up our minds" said the grand
mother ito celebrate the event by hav-
ing only old home dishes for dinner"
His face became strangely animated.
M Boinvflle. you have already been
SO kind to us that am going to ask of
you another favor. 1t is late and you
have a long way to Cove should be so
glad if you would stay here and taste
our totfait, should we not, Chandelier
Certainly said the girl. but NJ.
Boinville will have plain dinner, and
besides he is, no doubt, expected at
home"
mo one is waiting for me- he an
swered, thinking of his solitary meals
in the restaurant.
Seated between the CHEEKY octogenar- |
ian and the smiling girl. Hubert Boin- |
Vile, the deputy governor, did honor to |
the meal His manner thawed out rap
idIy and he conversed Familiarity with |
his new friends, returning the gay SAL !
lies of Claudette and shouting with |
merriment.
When 1t was time to go, after thank |
ing the widow warmly for her hospital |
ity and promising to come again, he ex-
tended his hand to Claudette. Their |
eyes met and the deputy governors |
glance was so earnest that the young |
girls eyelids dropped suddenly. She |
4 accompanied him downstairs, and when |
they reached the house door he clasped |
her hand again. but without knowing |
what to say to her. And yet her heart |
was full.
Hubert Boinville continued to give as
Is said in official language active and |
brilliant impulse to the department"
The ministerial machine went on heap /
mo- I'm on his desk the daily grist of re-