A TROUBLESOME LOVER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2832, 22 April 1882, Page 2

A TROUBLESOME LOVER.

There are many love-troubles which have more of the ludicrous than the pathetic about them, and it is impossible that there should not be some merriment mingled with the sadness with which we contemplate the sorrows of the Rev. Father Henry. Though this rev. gentleman is the vicar of St. Vincent de Paul, in Paris, and is, of course, vowed to celibacy, his love story is entirely devoid of anything like scandal, "for his part in it is not active but altogether passive. The French proverb says that there is always one who kisses, and one who offers the cheek, but Father Henry does neither—seeming, indeed very anxious to get his cheek out of the way of the kisses which, metaphorically speaking, a certain Mdlle. Gastineau is anxious to shower upon him. This young lady has been in the habit of dodging the unfortunate ecclesiastic from his house to the church and back again; and when, to escape her, he has neglected his duties and stayed at home, she has established herself on his doorstep and waited patiently for his appearance. Driven to desperation, the unfortunate priest first had his prosecutor expelled from the church ; and when that plan failed, got her confined as a lunatic. As in France, however, the identity of love and lunacy cannot be admitted, she has been set free to begin her torments again; and the modern St. Anthony must now be at his wits’ end. As Father Henry cannot mary Mademoiselle Gastineau, her passion may be eternal.