L'Abbe Constantin -- Complete

mmunicating directly with the kitchen by a door, which stood always wide open. This room was furnished in the most scanty manner; two

e, examining the domestic arrangements of

use, everything is char

onstantin followed them, scared, bewildered, stupefied a

ious and gloomy air, exa

id to herself, "these Protesta

so beautifully kept. Look, Susie, is not the

o say so, you do not know how happy it makes me to find you just what you are. In the rail

eur le Cure, exactly. No, we could not have been more fortunate. Excuse me for speaking to you in this manner; the Parisians know how to make pretty phrases, but I do not, and in speaking French I should often be quite at a

e, everything which for some moments had completely abandoned him. "My parishioners

y we are

tholics!" repe

tholics!" echo

h surprised that a single word should produce such an effect, and, to com

ine saluted him w

ics! Ca

lic by descent; that is why my sister and I both speak French, with an accent, it is true, and with certain American idioms, but yet in such a manner as to be able to express nearly all we

"but there is also another; but for tha

y are," s

n to the two Americans, but his agitation was so great that the introduction was not made strictly according to rule. The

eutenant of artillery, now quartered

foraged in their bags, from which each drew a 'rouleau' of 1,000 francs

this for your poor

rought this,"

, I am going to give you five hundr

l do like

to the right and left hands of the Cure, w

are very heavy; there must be money

come to him in small sums, and the idea of such an offering as this had never entered his head. Two

you, Madame; you are ve

hem enough, and Jean thought it ne

en you two tho

warmest gratitud

cs! Two thousand f

uddenly r

he Cure, "put away this

treasurer, dispenser. Her hands received with a respectful tremble these two littl

nth! But there will be no

e has a great deal of money, too much, more than one feels to be just, tell me, Monsieur le Cure, is there any other way of obtaining pardon than to keep one's hands open, and give, give, give, all one can, and

something else-of hunger, to tell the truth. Monsieur le Cure-I know that I am going t

" said Mr

alone. Won't you, Monsieur

had promised him one thousand francs a month, and now they wanted to dine with him. Ah! that was the last stroke. Terror seized h

ould like to

id he, "if you would kindly stay. But I know what disturbs him. We were going to dine to

u? It will do us good to pass a quiet hour here, after such a day as we have had! On the railway, in the carriage, in the heat, in the dust; we had such a horrid luncheon, in such a horrid hotel. W

ter fondly; then tur

Monsieur le Cure,

na! Be

ck, Pauline, two more p

! do let me; it will be so amusing. Monsieur le Cure

e signal for a charming catastrophe. A whole avalanche descended in torrents, in long cascades, over Bettina's shoulders. She was standing before a window flooded by the rays of the sun, and this golden light, falling full on thi

red, nothing could prevent Bettina fro

he cloth. Ask my sister. Tell him, Susie, when I was a little

indeed," sai

hat and mantle, so that Jean had again the very agreeable spectacle of a charming figure and

, thanks partly to the impromptu and original nature of the entertainment, partly to the good-humor and perhaps

dying of hunger. I never was so glad to sit down to dinner. This is such a delightful finish to our d

that in such an extraordinary and unexpe

ieur l'Abbe, that yesterday was my sister's birthd

ercival, Mon

ittle more of that excell

he charming American, who fixed upon him the glance of two large eyes, in which sparkled frankness, daring, and gayety. The eyes of Jean, meanwhile, repaid Miss Percival in the same coin. It was scarcely three q

ster, 'I shall not be with you on your birthday, but you will hear from me.' So, yesterday, presents and bouquets arrived from all quarters, but from my brother-in-law, up to five o'clock

iss Per

are in the

lery, and that, yo

egiment is

near

l be able to

greatest

ed. Let me see

ettina, and you are telling these gentle

ate is the only subject of conversation in the neighborhood j

. We went for our ride, we returned at seven o'clock-nothing. We dined, and just when w

in your name, of the castle and lands of Longuev

nto a fit of wild lau

of the country. My husband knows that we had longed to have an estate in France. For six months he had been looking out, and found n

after the little fit of gratitud

it had cost, it seemed so like a fairy-tale. Well, for five good minutes we laughed with all our hearts, then we seized the map of France, and succeeded in dis

that the place was sold yesterday; but I have not dared to ask either agent or farmer who accompanied me in my walk-for my ignorance would have seemed too absurd-I have not dared to ask how much it cost. In

ure, "for many hopes and many ambi

! You frighten me.

e mil

rs. Scott. "The castle, the farms,

delicious little stream which wanders throu

Cure, that there were several person

Mrs. S

was my name mentione

inly i

your silence is a sufficient answer; they did speak of me. Well, Monsieur le Cur

felt himself upon burning coals, "

y said that I was very rich, but had not been rich long-that I was a parv

I have heard

you very unhappy, because naturally you are the soul of truth; but if I torment

re right. They said you were one of the m

h a little indulgence they might say that; bu

assur

It seems to me that I am in a lucky vein to-day, and I feel as if you were both a little inclined to be my friends, and that you will be so entir

n, "you are right

u are a soldier, and courage is part of your profes

understand by

thout explanations,

I pro

y frankly, 'Yes' or

wil

had begged in the s

they s

been a rider in a

y said th

whence I come. To begin, then. Poor! Yes, I have been, and very poor. Eight years ago my father died, and was soon followed by my mother. I was then eighteen, and Bettina nine. We were alone in the world, encumbered with heavy debts and a great lawsuit. My father's last words had been, 'Susie, never, never compromise. Millions, my child

id Bettina, "that I u

money, to bring such a case to a conclusion, and you have nothing. They offer to pay your debts, and to give you ten thousand dollars besides. Accept it, and sell your case.' But my father's last words rang in my ears, and I

y,' said Mr. Scott; '

an, he looked at me, and

usi

ich

ars before this meeting he had been sent to Europe to finish his education. We shook hands; hi

d lend you such a sum upon the uncertain chances of a very complic

her. That is not what

well, but what she

ered me for the first time since my father's death. I burst into

romise to accept what

omise

that my father shall know nothing about it,

o know what the lawsui

I do not wish to. Besides, you have promis

ty became beyond dispute the property of Bettina and me. The other side

they offer you such a sum it is be

urn you your money; I

hurry; I am very easy about it

ror of debt! Perhaps there is another way without se

rriage. As to the history of my fortune, it can be told in a few words. There were indeed millions in those wide lands of Colorado; they discovered there abundant mines of silver, and from those mines we draw every year an income which is beyond reason, but we have agreed-my husband, my sister, and myself-to give a very large share of this income

custard, and while Jean

reporters hastened to subject Mr. Scott to a little examination on his past history; they wished to give a sketch of our career in the-what do you call them?-society papers. Mr. Scott is sometimes a little hasty; he was so on this occasion, and dismissed these gentlemen rather brusquely, without telling them anything. So, as they did not know

e signs to the Cure, who persisted in not understanding them,

re, it is a qua

you to excuse me. This evening I have th

And will the servi

dire

our train sta

st nine," r

e not go to c

u. I should like very much, the first time I dine at Longueval, that you would dine with me, and you, too, M

as heartily,

as possible. You call that having a housewarming, don't yo

orner of the room, and was talking to her with grea

Bettina, "and you will t

re. Here is Monsieur le Cure;

were obliged to cross the churchyard. The evening was delicious. Slowly, si

very simple, but which, by its fine proporti

ped, struck with this inscr

f the Souvigny Mobiles; killed January 8, 1871

it, the Cure, poi

s his

contemplative. Then both turned, and at the same moment, by the same impulse, offered their hands to Jean

ole. Jean conducted Mrs. Scott to the seat

shadow behind one of the pillars. By a steep and narrow staircase,

old Cure left the vestry, and at the mome

hose heart beat with impatience. "Po

such emotion, such joy, that the tears came to his eyes. He could not remember having wept since the day when Jean had said that he w

e American had been brought across the seas to play a

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