The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-08-04
An Old
Mans Bride?
By MURIEL BLAIR
(0. 1921. Western Newspaper Union)

reservedly. But then he was only
| twenty-One-fOur years older IMAM
Mam'selle, nevertheless. Outside the
night air was fragrant with the odor
of hyacinths and jonQuils. and the
moon shone as brightly as 1t always
shines In New Orleans In spring-that
is to say, twice as brightly as any
where else.
Mam'selle had stolen out of the
house In which her father and mother
| and the two uncles and the maiden
aunt and Sister 'Tolnette and Brother
Robert and the four bridesmaids and
| the ushers were busily rehearsing the
part that they were TO play at Man,
selle's wedding on the morrow. Mon
sieur ThibOult was f1fty-seven and
enormously rich, and II was to be q
fashionable affair. Mam'selle did not
love Monsieur Thiboult. but her pa
rents did.
"Poor CASTOR To- she murmured, lay
ing her warm hand upon his icily cold
one Tonight We must say good-by
forever"
And. being only eighteen. she could
not help but feel a thrill of romance
In the sadness of the separation.
Angel Beloved! Adored One~
exclaimed the young man. II cannot
let you 60. Come with me now and
! let us be married somewhere. You
do not love him. that old pig OF Q
! Thiboult"
"No, poor CASTOR, I 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-"
"Lisette! J" cried Uncle Henri from
the door. "Where are you. little onef
Come! We are to have cakes and
wine"
For an instant CASTOR hesitated:
then. with a despairing sigh. he
plunged through the hyacinths and dis
appeared into the darkness. Uncle
Henri came down the path.
"Psst! Cats" he exclaimed, throw
ing a clod OF earth In the direction Of
the retreating CASTOR. "Why do you
roam among the flowers so late. little
niece7 All, II Is the inspiration Of
Monsieur Thiboult! II is love for
him! Never was any marriage 50
happy"
Mam'selle Lisette cast a glance Of
contempt at her uncle, but he did not
see Il. because II was quite dark under
the caves Of the cottage. He followed
her indoors.
The wedding was over and Monsieur
and Madame Thiboult were seated COM
fortably upon the porch Of their home.
1t was only a few steps to the cottage
next door. occupied by the brides
parents. for Monsieur Thiboult had
simply taken his bride home with him.
That was his arrangement, and his
will was law. for II was the will Of q
semimillionaire. Madame gazed with
wonder into her new husba nd's 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 Of her inexperience Of life, the
tragedy Of Gaston's sorrow. and her
own little heeting happiness which
had been accomplished at such q cost
to 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 Thiboult had been smoking
In the darkness, but now he took
her little hands In his and spoke to
her.
'Do you love CASTOR very much,
Lisette" he asked.
She started and then began sobbins
convulsively. He knew theni He
knew! How wicked she had been.
"Yes, knew for a long time, my
DEAR" said Monsieur Thiboult. ut
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 thatr'
Lisette was shaking with fear. He
had known all the time. then, Of these
little childish love affairsi
my dear little Lisette." said mon
sieur. caressing her cold hands, "lis-
ten to what I am going to telS you. !
have never thought that you loved me
an old man Ike me. old enough to
be your fathers father. But love
you. just as though you might be nv
own daughter, and ! married you be-
cause ] knew that II I did not You
would some day run away with Gas.
ton or some other foolish young fellow
and live a hard hfe and taste the
realities Of existence. And you are not
made for hardship. my little Lisette. !"
He paused. my dear" he said. !
shall not live very long. The doctor
told me that only last month. Per.
haps one year. perhaps two-not more
than three. And then. II you still love
Castor. you will 60 to him and make
him happy, and your little head wilI