The Washington herald., 1907-10-06

are so full Of compliments and so anx-
ious to show me attention. You told me
you thought It was because they think
have money"
"Of course there Is always a pOssibil-
ity, when a girl IS rich, as you are, that
some Of the attention she gets may be
due to her fortune, but / did not say II
was so in every case. I should not be
so unjust Some Of these men who ad-
mire you have plenty OF money OF their
own"
Then I wish they would be satisfied
with what they have and not tease me, ,"
said Miss Densley, restlessly
Nine. Leblanc, VINO had a unge Of
unusual color in her checks, turned to
s. Quinun with "a little. laugh
Girls have changed since I was one
myself she said. 1T was the fashion
then 10 be pleased II one were sought
after"
/ 4 can understand Miss Densley's feel
ing quite WELL said the young man. tax
! ing her part bravely she does not ike
20 disappoint so many. knowing that she
can only confer happiness upon one"
Miss Densley took advantage Of this mo-
ment when he was speaking 10 her aunt
I 10 escape into the house, and St QuhJin
+ suddenly perceived 4 great change in
/ the elder lady when he was left alone
with her. Her air Of caution and dry
I reserve disappeared, and she became
/ friendly and communicative at once.
"Oh. these girls. these girls"' she said
/ with a laugh as genial as It had preyi
ously been dry Trey viii have their
own way, in spite Of guardians and
/ friends. Monsieur Marbeau IS the man
! she ought TO marry. the man her uncls
would have her choose, and she viii have
nothing at all to say to him"
I should think not.' cried he, excited.
Iy. "A man Ike a hippopotamus. and
old enough to be her father"
Madame put UP her finger
'Ah, You English are all for such
young marriages, But We in France SAY
that girl who is ignorant Of the world
should have for a husband a man old
enough to knowNnore" =
But not if she doesn't like him,"
she would have grown 10 like him ir
time. But we may as we'll give up that
hope, fear, dear old friend Of our.
though he IS. Marie prefers men Of hel
own age"
a man Of her own age" corrected
St Quintin; "and We in England shouldn'
blame her for it. What objection hav,
you madame. to my marrying youI
niece? My fortune is ample so that In
sure you can't suppose I want money
with my wife. And she likes me. In
taearly sure. Though you came upon u.
just too soon for me to have got al
answer TO the questionT put TO her"
"Ah!"
You can guess what I wanted to ash
her Tell me, Nine Leblanc. is ther,
any objection TO my asking it?"
Madame looked reflective
In an ordinary case I should say non,
in the world, except that we have no
yet known You very long. Mr.. ST. Quin
tin. You must admit the shortness Of our
acquaintance.
But I'd met her before and I've neve
ceased to think about her" pleaded he
You did not know her before. Havin.
seen her at a hotel. and spoken to he
once. does not count as an acquaintanc,
either with French or English people. il
the case of a young girl But even I
it were not for that, there remains tn
fact that the guardians Of a girl witt
property have 10 exercise more care
"Oh. what do I care about the property
Let me marry her, and do what you lik
with the porperty," cried St Quintir
impatIently.
Madame smiled again.
My dear Mr.. St Quintin, that is. un
fortunately, not possible To our Frencl
ideas, you know, the property is as i'm
portant as the girl
well, but property or no property, sh
must marry some one, and you had onl
to notice what she said herself Just nov
to realize that this stream OF suitors +
becoming a sort of persecution. Te
me what you want to know about me
and I'll contrive to satisfy your scTuple
about letting me marry Marie; that is
if you have any"
Softly, softly. In the first place, yo
have not assured yourself of my niece
answer"
But"
In the second place, it is too sool
! much too soon, TO do so. In the thir
place, there is her uncle to be consulted
and I am afraid he, who is much stricte
: ! in these matters than I, will be angr