The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-07-20
A Happy
Coincidence
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

|
some fine old wine Gallipeaux said {
his friend.
where is your son LoulsT
Travelling"
My daughter also is travelling Sh
will be at home for the autumn ball. I
will be her entrance into society,""
MY son will be at home about tina
time. / am looking forward to hi
coming with pleasant anticipations
He has not been here for ten years
When he was twelve years old pu
him to school in Geneva. From there
he passed to the university, and since
then he has been travelling. But why
did you ask about my SOM"
II will tell you. 1t would give me
great pleasure and / should consider
myself highly honored to unite our
families in the marriage OF these two
young persons"
"Just what have been thinking OF
for some time" replied the other.
How old is your daughter?"
marie is twenty"
And Louis is twenty-five
1t was then and there agreed that
the youngsters should marry. That
was time when parents In France ar
ranged marriages for their children.
When Louis Recardier returned to
the paternaI chateau his father met
him at the door, and the two were
locked In each others arms. They
chatted for some time, when the IA
Their said:
Louis. 1t is now time that you set
tied down at home. am getting lone
some In my old age and want you with
me. | desire also that you should
bring wife into the house and that
I may have grandchild in whom to
be interested. l have arranged
match for you with the daughter of an
old friend OF mine, and it is expected
that the marriage shall take place very
soon"
The young mans face spoke plainly
that this was unwelcome news to him.
He made no reply for some time, and
when he did it was quite backset to
his father.
MY dear father" he said. II have
always obeyed you and will continue
to do so save in this one thing. the
choice of wife. do not approve OF
our ancestral custom Of parents choos-
ing mates for their children. / am a
believer in love and that marriages
should be made for love-"
But my word has been pledged. To |
tell my friend that you win not marry
his daughter would be an insult"
Not since have never seen her."
NJ. Recardier argued long while /
with his son without effect The young
man had met girl in his travels and
had fallen in love with her His father
was wrapped up in him and would not
break with him. A letter was dispatch
ed to NJ. Gallipeaux announcing that
he match must be abandoned Natu-
ally the latter was much incensed
hat his daughter should be refused
Ind wrote his old friend a very curt
eply.
Louis Recardier's falling in love was
me of those cases where persons of
opposite sex are drawn together at
light. Louis had attended the opera
ne evening at Milan. and In box di-
ectly above him and so near him
hat he could almost touch her sat a
Dung lady between whom and him
anne an instantaneous spark OF love.
.ouis could not keep his eyes OF her,
nd She conscious that they were al
rays upon her. gave him an occasional
lance, while a faint blush and rest
,ssness of her fan showed that she
-as much affected. The next day Louis
lade an attempt TO find the young
Idy, but was unable TO do so. The
,ason of this was that she had depart
q early in the morning with a party
18th whom she was travelling. Louis
nd returned to France, being expect
/ by his father, hoping TO gain per-
ission to set out again TO find the !
ri with whom he had fallen in love at [
ght.
Not long after the arrival of young {
ecardier at home the autumn bail j
me off. Her father remembered that e
S friend, NJ. Gallipeaux, had told him
at his daughter would be presented s
the social world on that occasion. !
ID having heard that Mile. Gallipeaux i
as a very charming girl urged his =
n TO attend the ball, hoping that !,
Getting her there he might be attract :
to her and the match might yet be =
ought about. Louis refused to go, =
ing satisfied with nothing but 10 set :, :
/ again to find the girl who had en- !,
anted him. Finally his father con- =,
nted that he should depart. provided r.
would first attend the ball. ~
Louis agreed to the condition, attend W
the ball and was standing listlessly re-
king at the dancers when suddenly II
; heart came up into his throat. Who
,uld sail by him In the dance but oil
! girl he had seen at the opera at re
Ian. tv
-ouis lost no time In securing an In be
and when he heard the so
rds Mile. Gallipeaux" he paled. He
q refused TO marry the girl with w
ON he had fallen in love, On
When NJ Recardier was informed Of -
} situation be ordered his carriage
drove at once TO see his old friend.
Galiipeaux. He was coldiy receiv-