The Detroit times., 1908-12-25
BY RAUoL DUvAL.

| bJ nAOOL OONAIs
l~lEASIDE pensions are rare places
hi To pick up a suitable wife. On.
III NJ Won may laugh no doubt you
are thinking OF the many III
diculous stories tTotted out
every year about the summer girls ana
seaside courtships that end with the
vacation and are forgotten on the way
home
But. why should vows of love aud
devotion be less sincere when spoken
by the sea. II is all nonsense NOW
| listen
She was Just the sweetest bit OF
femininity that ever looked up from
pension table d'hote To notice a new
conner. | was the newcomer. MY
name is Jacques Dubois of no partic-
ular occupation. thanks to a foolisn
old father who scraped and stinteu
during the best years OF his lie 10
provide for his only son, and nad
gone down to Trouville more by way
of an experiment than the idea or get
ting any enjoyment out or the VISIT.
AS | said before, she looked up from
the pension table dhote, and then
saw a pair of clear, blue eyes, small
shapely nose and the most lovely
mouth that ever tempted man. Her
hair was the deepest shade OF
brown. and her ears were the tiniest
ever fixed for practical purposes. You
NAV Judge from this that | made good
use of my eyes during the first meal,
but afterwards, when l had been prop
erly introduced, and had somehow
managed TO lure her TO take a stroll
on the cliffs with me, came TO the
conclusion that Trouville was a re-
markably pleasant resort, and |, my
self. was very fortunate to have chos'
en- 1t.
There are no stupid conventionali-
ties at the seaside to mar the progress
of an acquaintance. II you fall In
mean II you take a fancy to nice
girl. you appropriate her quietly, but
firmly, and set about the pleasant TASK
OF giving her a good time-that 10
what | did.
Mile. Claire Dessaix, that being her
full name, was the orphan daughter
OF an army officer who had died, leav-
ing her not too well on. but comfort
ably provided for. Further, the rea-
son for her not being chaperoned was
reluctance to accompany ner maid
en- aunt to Baden Baden, which had
ended in open rebellion and flight 10
Trouville. This little story she pour
ed into me as q special mark OF con-
fdence the night of my introduction
After we had known each other
few days, | noticed a growing reu-
cence about her escapade. TO tell the
truth, think she was sorry she mad
told me-yes, knew she was
We did Trouville and the surround
| ing neighborhood thoroughly, every
place of interest was visited, we polk
ed about old ruins. went for moon
light trips on the steamers, we danced
at the Kursaal. we gladdened the heart
OF every itinerant performer VINO
claimed our patronage, and finally we
fell In love with each other.
make no excuse for this apparent
weakness on my part. To see her
dear face tanned by the sun, her
sweet lips parted in a cupid's bow,
drinking in health and happiness.
would have conquered stronger hearts
than mine, so two days before her de-
parture / asked her to be my wife.
IL was a beautiful moonlight night,
and as we sat together on the cliffs
we could hear the soft strains Of mu-
sick from the bank that played on the
distant pier.
Claire" I whispered. and my arm
stole around the tiny waist, Il love
you, dear, and want you 10 be my
wife, that may go on loving and pro-
tecting you forever"
| waited for moment TO hear her
reply. and as none came turned her
face towards me and saw she was In
tears.
What is the matter, darlingY Have
hurt your feelings?"
But still no reply.
Answer me, lear" | urged. do
you love me?" And as | bent my head
and listened breathlessly | heard a
feeble Yes" Then she raised her
tear-stained face and | knew she had
spoken truly.
Then you will be my wife?" cried
joyously.
She shook her head. mo, JAG
ques," she sobbed, II can never. new
er be any more to you than I am
now
| turned away with a groan OF an
|