The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-04-14
An Old
Mans Bride?

b. MuRiEL BLAIR


J weeping ID the hyaeiulh beds. and
Monsieur easton nfuuet wept too un.
reaersedly hnt then he was only
twenty suue-~four years older than
Nam selie nevertheless Outside the
night air WAS fragrant with the odor
u hyaeiuths and jouqalls. and TIE
moon sh0He AZ brightly as It always
shines ia New Orleans ID spring that
i to say. twice as brightly ns any.
where else
Alam'selle had stolen out of the
house ID which her father and mother
and the two uncles and the maiden
aunt and Sister sfoiuette and Brother
Robert and the four bridesmaids and
the ushers were busily rehearslng the
part that they were 90 play II Mann
selle,s wedding on the morrow. Mon
sleur Thihoult was fifty seven aud
enormously rich and II was 70 be
fashionable affair Mam'selle did not
love Monsieur Thiboult. but her pa.
rents did
Poor CASTOR r she murmured, lay.
ing her warm hand upon his Jelly cold
one. Tonight we must say good.hy
forever"
And. being only eighteen. she could
not help but feel thrill Of romance
IN the sadness OF the separation.
Angel Beloved Adored onel'
exclaimed the young man. Il cannot
let you go. Come with me now and
let us be married somewhere You
do not love him that old pig Of a
Thlboult."
"No poor CASTOR. love you only
| answered the little bride-to-be. But
consider. Monsieur Thiboult will give
\ me much money and shall make my
parents rich poor parents who have
shaved so hard for me-"
'Lisettel' cried Uncle Henri from
the door, "Where are you, little onel
Come We are to have cakes and
| wine"
For an instant CASTOR hesitated;
then, with a despairing sigh. he
plunged through the hyaclnths and dis
appeared into the darkness. Uncle
Henri came down the path.
"pssti Catsw he exclaimed, throw
ing clod Of earth In the direction Of
the retreatlng CASTOR "Why do you
roam among the flowers SO late. little
niece7 All It IL the Inspiration Of
Monsieur Thlboult II Is love for
him Never was any marriage so
happy"
Mam'seile Lisette cast glance Of
contempt at her uncle. but he did not
see It, hecause II was quite dark under
the caves Of the cottace. lie followed
her indoors.
THE wedding was over and Monsieur
and Madame Thlhoult were seated COM
fortaby upon the porch Of their home.
II WAS only few steps 70 the cottage
next door. occupied by the brides
parents, for Monsieur Thibonlt had
simply taken his bride home with him.
That was his arrangement, and his
viii was law, for II was the will Of q
semimillionaire Madame gazed with
wonder into her new husbands face.
II was indeed wonderful TO think that
two hours before she had been Made
moiselle Guitard while now she was
Madame Thiboult. And suddenly the |
sense 81 her lnexnerience Of life. the |
tragedy Of Gaston's sorrow, and her
own little deeting happiness which |
had been accomplished AZ such a cost /
10 him overwhelmed her She began |
crying, and she looked at her husband |
timIdly. as though she had done |
something that she ought not to have
done.
Monsieur Thihoult had been smoking /
in the darkness. but now he took |
her little hands In his and spoke to
her
40 you love CASTOR very much,
Llsette?" he asked.
She started and then began sobblng |
convulslvely He knew then He Il
knew How wicked she had been.
yes. knew for a long time. my
dssn" said Monsieur Thlboult. 1T 4
must be quite two months since You
have loved CASTOR. And before that
II was Leon Brevet; and before that
Charles Bourget; and before that
who was II before that?'
Lisette was shaking with fear. He
had known al The time. then. Of these
little childish love affairs
MY dear little Lisette." said mon
sieur. caressinr her cold hands. ais
ten 10 what ] am going 10 ten Won. ]
have never thought that you loved me
an old man Ike me. old enough 70
be your fathers father. But ! love
you. lust as though yon might he my
own daughter and ! married you he
cause ! knew that II I I'D nor you
would some day run away with Gas.
ton Or some other foolish Young fellow
and I've D herd life and tasfe The
realities 81 existence. And sou Gre rot
made far hardship. my thule IIsette~
He nanss1 @Ws dear b. said. I
shall mot live rery Ions The doctor
toid me Thar Only last month Per-
bHHs one year perhaps two--nat more
than three And then. n you stlt iaye
CaNen. y0n WfH e. N him and make