Year: 1874




tions was that before Mariette was sew
epteen years old various offers had been
made TO the widow Dubois for her fair
daughters hand. The blacksmith, the
apothecary and the inn-keeper were all
her declared admirers. But the widow
seemed hard to please.


The inn-keeper, a burly well-to-do
parsonage, a veteran with an armless
sleeve, did his very best to combat the
objections of his hoped-for mother-in-
law. But in vain.


The hero of a dozen battles was too
much a man of the world to lose his
temper visibly. He only shrugged his
shoulders with an air of disdain.


so be it, then, Madame; but'-and
this he knew to be grand stroke of
reyenge-'if it is indeed upon that
young meier do-well, Jean Lerou, that
you have fixed your heart for son-in-
law 1 would have you take care. A
brainless youth such as he is no fit pro-
tector for the mademoiselle, your daugh-
ter. And if at the next conscription his
name should be drawn that would be
nice for her, would it not? All! Hu! a
cripple indeed! 1t is something to have
fought the battles of ones country 1t
is not every man who returns to tell the
tale Jean Lerou? Uh!


The widow was for a moment sta rtled
by this sudden attack but quickly re-
covered herself.


And if it is upon Jean Lerou that
my choice is fixed, what business is it of
thine, Monsieur Fire.eater?' she rotor
ted angrily. And if the poor lad should
be unIucky enough to be drawn for the
next conscription dost think have not
little bit of money put away some
where, in an old shoe, perhaps-eh?
Just enough to pay for a substitute, or
perhaps a few sous overf


And 30 the old soldier was fairly
beaten off the field. 1t was as he had
said however.


By peculiar sympathy, not perhaps
unprecedented between mother and child,
the widows choice had fallen on the
man whom her daughter would certain
Iy have preferred had the matter been
left to her. And the sympathetic chord
must have had good deal to do with
it. for, with the exception of hand
some face and fine manly figure, Jean
Lerou had little to recommend him as
an eligible part for the young heiress
But youth and good looks have won
their way with pretty maidens and ro-
mantle mothers, both before and since
the time of Mariette and the widow
Dubois.


AT least they were handsome coup
le-every one said that when the whole
village turned out en- fete to celebrate the
wedding, and Jean was pronounced OF
all sides to be a fortunate fellow; bu
one who at the same time would ne
doubt prove kind husband to Marietta
and a good son to the widow. Indeed
happier trio, as time went on, it woulC
have been difficult to find, until the trit
was one day turned into a quartet, ant
the happiness SO increased by at leas
one-fourth. Surely never before hat
there been such delighted boy-father
such eontented child-mother and sucl
an absurdly happy grandmother. But
unfortunately, it is given to few in thi
world to live long in a state of bliss
and soon after the birth of the littl
Babette an occasional cloud appeared O.
the horizon of the small household
A certain change came over the gooC
mother. Lines of care and anxiety fix
ed themselves upon her face. Her yer
character seemed to change. From tn
most open-hearted and generous of bt
ings she became close and parsimoniou
always preaching economy, and urgin
upon lazy, lighted hearted Jean the ne
cessity of working and providing for hi
wife and family. Rumors went abroa
that this change in the widow was
some way connected with scapegrao
son of hers by former marriage,
whom no one heard for long Will
But of this the widow said nothing.


So another year passed on happil
enough in spite of occasional clou(
and threatenings of storms, until OF
day terrible blow fell upon the lit
houshold. The health of the wido7
never very strong, had been undermil
ed by secret worry and anxiety. A
epidemic startled the village, and a
most before her children could belie0
that she was i'll the good mother lay d.
ing.


Then she spoke of this trouble whic
had so oppressed her.


1T grieves me, children, that do n
leave you as could wish, rich and i
dependent she said, holding hand
each. But the last few years have be-
sadly disastrous. We have lived; '
have enjoyed our life, it is true; but Il
times have been hard. War, scarcit
you know of these things, and then n
poor boy, too, must bear his share of Il
blame-'


Dear mother, do not trouble yours'
now about these matters, interrupt
Jean.


I'VE have been SO happy sobb
Mariette.


But must speak, my child the wi
ow went on feebly. The little that
mains is yours. There is the farm. Y
must exert yourself now Jean---y
must work for---for her sake. VIII y
uot?'


YES, mother, yes said Jean, pressi
the dying woman's hand.


And then see, in that old bureau i
little sum put by for thee, Jean, if th
shouldst be drawn for the conscripti
800 francs and more. But if thou shou
escape, then it is to be dot for lii
Barbette. Dost hear, my son? Here
the key of the bureau. Put it by
cord about thy neck


Il will do as you wish, good moth


'Ah! that Is WELL


A few more words of tender, low
counsel, and then the death came wit
voioo not IN ha dapiad calling the OF