Evening star., 1918-08-11

AokCE OI wdlcE TO-.
quested a personal interview on his
next visit to Paris.
What does he want. have no
think Of 1t. it must be that bad break
rather. Of mine. II Monsieur ie Min
istre imagines that I am going to
humtliate myself and offer him some
lame apologies, he doesn't know me-"
He was a little annoyed at the mis-
isfaction an opportunity some days
later to go to Paris. AS soon as he
had arrived he called at the ministry
Monster and Nine. Demeure received
him very cordially
General" said the minister. "you
may have guessed that 1t was not
alone my desire to express to you my
sincere admiration of your splendid
work that decided me, knowing how
precious your time is when you come
Now its coming" said the general
"since our son has had the honor
to serve directly under you we have
the annoyance which we felt"
In spite OF his resolutions Gen.
Meisau thought the time had come to
make excuses.
Believe me. Monsieur lie Ministre.
sincerely regretted"
u
with an air of astonishment at the
valiant soldier. who certainly was
finding himself less at ease in their
presence than on a battlefield.
1T was my excellent friend. Nine.
des Sablons-Deville who undoubted-
ly-
Certainly that lady could not have
foreseen 1t. But let US look at the
situation frankly. You know. general,
that we have only this one son.
Though we are ready to make all sac
rifces for his happiness. we cannot.
nevertheless. regard this mesalliance
with any cheerfulness."
The general Strengthened up. He
had not expected this. A protest rose
to his lips.
you have just spoken word. Mon
sieur lie Minietre. which you will GER
tainly regret. This lady is of the high
est character. She is worthy Of all re-
spect. OF course. I see that your son
has yielded to an inexplicable fasci-
nation"
THAT is what we have vainly tried
to make him understand" said Nine.
Demeure, sadly. HE doesn't want to
understand. In his letter he begs us
to give him our consent"
THE difference in age, madame.
ought to make him hesitate. On the
other hand, can you be sure of the
consent Of the other party?"
He is too persistent In tormenting
us not to have reached a complete un-
derstanding with her. The opportunity
is brilliant one for her to make a
marriage above her hopes by profting
from the folly of poor young man."
Il know her too well. madame. to be
capable OF believing that she is moved
by any such consideration. What as
tonishes me more than all is that in
view OF our long-standing friendship
she has given me not the least cause
to suspect her intentions. ! saw her
breathe a word"
oonshs, She is Ia a clever lie person and skillfully
"But. with her white hairs should
never have suspected it."
NV
you say that she has white hairs?"
isn't that permissible at her age,
Monsieur lie Winistre? But though
in the eyes of sexagenarian like
me she Is still youthful. I am sur
prised, none the less, that she should
have been able to inspire such
passion in a young man."
"Of whom are you speaking, gen.
eral?"
''Of Nine. des Sablons- -Deville Isn't
Sne tne person you are OlSCuSSlnBI' e
Monsieur and Nine. Demeure could
not suppress a smile at Gen. Mel
sau's mistake.
"No, we are discussing young
woman with whom our son became
infatuated during the call you made
about three months ago at the house
of her mistress. And after declaring
his intention to marry her when the
war Is over, he has said that he will
kill himself IL we refuse our consent"
This time the general smiled. He
appreciated the tact with which Nine
Demeure had avoided going into the
circumstances which had thrown the
two young people together. He re-
covered his serenity as soon as he
saw that nothing more was involved
than mere love affair
"Ia! Ha! The young woman is
charming. She is the godchild of
Nine. des Sablons- -Deville, the daugh-
ter of one of her farmers, with an
education much above her station In
life"
"Still. my dear general. the son OF a
minister. even though the latter
should be sincere democrat, as
flatter myself I am, cannot marry a
soubrette."
"Why not? Especially II she has an
irreproachab1e character. Haven't we
seen kings marry shepherdesses? 1t is
true that was before the revolution
Of 1889. You are astonished, Monsieur