HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1896-03-06, Page 21'a \V1 N( H4k,M TiES, AIA h 'IT (i, 1: 146,
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have s(/Ille identity of illy own. Just fu MO Tinted Veniis, When lie sawlier Xhitted tenderness ' the panty -no
think of my being tL be ,1 of E•istex•.: with gilt, that he 1 acs so often longed to
illol:e dire poor 4;11ust huwa'rinl>, rotund 1 F A 1 t essure, when he heard a whisper- ;
Joyful Iron lent when it returned
old C'hipperiey!" Aud Its the ghosts c11(1
nut seelll to Sl10ve her father She hhul
resort to the last argument ---tears.
"There, there, there," said her rather.
1TI'\t'rD.1 You know very well that I :abhor
tears. I---: will couie:;s that I luta waist
o embrace some one. << as lief let your mother see that I had a
Oh, Marian, he said, ",you are the' will of xnv owls as xla't. But the fact is,
best friend a man ever had.''' yo will he a pauper. Anal can't think
"No, no, nor' she gasped, pink with of that."
her blushes. "What do you do snelh a "I told you, papa, that we—that Ted
thing for? Oh, I am sure Mr. Chipper- has yet horse. It will be talo ;neatest
lea sato you,' pleasure in the world to make it habit -
"What if he did? 'Mutt do I care for able. And you've no idea how profit-
Chipperley? Olr, Marian, you have made able my asparagus beds are going to
sue the happiest plan in the world!" be."
Aud Mr. Chipperley, whom some dame `Honor'."
ing fellow hat, robbed of Honor, saw the '•011, we have figured it all out. It's a
act and heard the words, as he came delightful old place, Maddy and I went
down the orchid house, and noticed for , out to see it."
the first time that Marian Marcy, in her "Maddy—there's another thing. What
misty toilet of lavender satin and tulle, is to become of Marian, as well as all
was really a most attractive person and the rest, if you persist in this course?"
zuost becomingly dressed. He knew "Why shouldn't Marian marry Mr.
that Marian had little or nothing of her Chipperley, papa, and keep the money
in the family?"
"Simplybecause he doesn't want her."
"Ile does. She is just and exactly the
very thing he wants. Only he doesn't
know it yet. He would find it out. For
Marian is precisely the sweet, pale, quiet
nun that would make him feel as if it
were all a bad dreara that lie had ever
had any other wife—as if they were all
at a charity concert, playing on the viu-
in, looking like one ofFra xlge. ice s
angels, in a long red gown, spangled
with golden stars, with the loose sleeves
falling open over an arm fit for a tawny
young Cleopatra; lie wanted to cry out
to all the world: "She is mine! She is
mine! ' Bat you would have °tbought
she had never seen him before. All the
mune, ho was quite positive that when
she was his wife, fast awl sure, she
should never ~rear a red gown again. In
this red gown she was so unlike, so bril-
liant, so overpowering, so effacing, that
::he gave Mr. Chipperley tlho singular
sensation of being unfaithful to a wife;
the felt as if there really was something'
unlawful in his passion, and it was far
from being agreeable to hint. "If it
were anything but herself," he thought,
"I should declare that gown could bo
worn only by the Scarlet Lady, It puts
out a man's sight. It ahhost puts out
his love. How ixhluch more womanly,
,low much fairer rand softer that silvery
thin;; her cousf wore, a very sweet
woman, that 1 ria Marcy. I must
reallyspeak s al to -Ionor about her u vivid
toilets. As for the gentle cousin, sale's
altogether too nice to waste on Ted
Dane! 'A creature, not too bright or
good for humin nature's daily food.' "
And then vaguely and obscurely Mr.
Chipperley thought what a pity it was
that a man might not marry two women
at once.
own except her mother's jewels, and
that it was owing to Honor's determined
insistence that she had everything as if
she were a daughter of the louse, and it
only made Honor seem more charming
still. i•'.o',1• well thet young woman
•a:ou1d spend a l.ig income, with what
:getter.- y, what nobility!
As i..- Ted, when Honor had finished
-that dance lie was awaiting her. And nothing but different phases of one Somehow or other, Marian Marcy was
vhat took place out in the grand hall woman. He is bejuggled with me just always in the room now when Mr. Chip-
-whey. :wo o people sat on the pedestal of now, but, oh, lie would so regret it In a pel;e3 was admitted to the presence. It
- the Pe -(!he and Ero's group, in the broad little; my canary anruby colors would was not so much of an effort to follow
drive him wild, an.-lche wouldn't live a Marian as he had found it to keep up
;. l..re of the candles, one opening and
i,kuttii.g her fan, the other leaning to- year with all the exactions and exasper- with Honor's flights and vagaries; she
-ayard her eagerly and taking the fan into Ittlons that I should bring to ,flim. Can't soothed him after the attempt; she el-
ide own ,lands at last, all the world you reason with him, papsy?" ways agreed with him, and he felt with
might see, but only two of all the world I code, reason with him a great deal half an uncertain sight that Ted Dane
relight know. atter than I could with your mother." was going to have a very restful person
"It ie time," said old Gen„ Humphreys "Well, we won't try to reason with for a wife. '
to hi. lighter, a week, perhaps, after mamma. I've heard you say • many a e "Mr. Lawton has returned and we are
that night, "that Mr. Chipperley had a time that she never would hear reason. talking of their domino party," said
definite answer. He is very impatient. Of course you know, darling, I'ni not Honor. "A wilderness of flowers and
Your ,,,other thinks your conduct is fast doing anything imprudent. Teel is only Seidl's orchestra. Maud Van Wieck is
becoming scandalous." And he cleared ! waiting fer Mr, L oeton to come home going as Catherine de Medici, and Rose
his throat and straightened his collar into have his appointment as attorney to as Catherine of Russia, and Belle Devers
!
preparation for the fray. "Yes, fast be- the Creamery Trust with a salary of ten ' as Catherine of Arragon—"
coming s„ andalous, 'thousand a year; and a family that And you?" said Mr, Chipperley.
"She will think it is quite scandalous ( c :: 't live on ten thousand a year ought , We thought firs of Petrucio's Kath -
before I ani through, I fear." i to starve. And besides, that is only a arine and Camoens's Catharina,—"
"I can't imagine your objection to a beginning. W hen people sec what Ted " `Sweetest eyes were ever seen,' "
man of Mr. Chipperley's worth—"is the big cases will comp in, and we quoted he.
"Oh, he is worth too much." ! shall have an income to astonish you. i "And that of Iris and Charniien,
"This is not au occasion for trifling, , That ought to content mamma. And it . pearls and asps, and all that, - you know.
Honor." 1 isn't as ff Helen Rand Terc:a wouldn't i But it's too calla trouble. We will go
+n
is marry. Now, P ,,just in our 171'0 'il dominoes."
U v Pespa Hllm phR O Oes
"Well, then, the chief objection 3 , a 1 1 ey •� you ,,
that I prefer some one else," said Honor, ' are an old soldier ; you named' me Amor Ill wear my, brown gown and never
carelessly swinging her for rnon. 1 because Honor was the dearest thing on dress too fine," quoted Marian.
`•Someone else!" and the eyebrows earth to you. And I'ri not going to auk I "Yee; we will, just go in our brown
like epaulets lifted themselves and fell you to do a• living thing contrary to dominos. That is exactly the way I
again ominously. I your principles, only to take mamma on should like to be married," Honor said
"Yes. I presume that at least my :1 little journey, to Washington or to suddenly, looking Sip with a flash of
preferences are hay own." New Orleans—anywhere. You press eyes and teeth. "No fuse, no feat=hers,•
"May I ask who this some one is?" ' that button and 1.11 do the rest. And no company, no coeds. Just Ted and
"How can I hinder your asking, it was at the end of a delightful half you and Marian and I, all at one trine,
papaer " hour that Mrs. Htunplreys found Honor all our own witnesses—stealing out from
"Let me know the naive at once!" r sitting ou her father's laces, all smiles the ball, going to tko minister's, and go.
"It is Theodore Dane." I and tears mid tangles. s 1 ing one own way afterward!"
Great heavens! cried the General. 1 "I et:ppose," said Mrs Hunp,lieys, It v: Quid he admirable! cried Mr.
"A fellow with not$ ug but a pedigree! `flour ,he appearance of things, that 1 Chipperley. "It was one of your bril-
A man of family without a penny, a your good some has come to the rescue, 1 Haut thoughts.- No need of waiting for
lawyer without a brief, an idle, dancing, my child. Of a course. Mr. Clapperlcy's - paraphernalia; that can be had in Paris.
driving, shiftless—" theatre its our '1;'t coaside atiol. It is ' A handbag in the carriage, and 'over to
"I wot'ldn't talk so, papa, about a �,i.h:se1f, his itteliig once, his breeding, the Utopia's dock directly afterward;
man to whom you may by and by stand his goodnces that we think • calculated she sails tit sunrise that night—1 mean
in the relation of a father," said Honor, . to make you happy. But it is outside morning."
calmly,' ! of the possibilities that a young girl i "What do ou say to it, Ted?" asked
"Never! The day you married that -•souk, 'refuse the scttlemente he 0'f• Mtu'h'A as that young man joined them
fellow you would. cease to be my tors "Na hat do -on say to it?"
daughter !" I "Well, ell, mamma, std Honor. iixovina Oh, wha • ever Mr. Chipperley thins
"Nonsense, papa ; you are just like from her pleasant seat and twisting up best." i
my nutstilf ! Old Proudfoot's bark is her hair, •I give you - fair warning that And to MU CC ippoiley it seemed that
he wee abon to enter a charming family
where even he remote cousins were so
engaging n•
A ca.pitalciiotion," said Ted. "For of
all things to be dreaded e marriage
ceremony isi the
chiefr• If orae could take
ether now, or nitrous oxide, and wake
up and find it ell over—"
"Pshaw !" said Mr. Chipperley, before
he thought, "it's nothing at all, nothing
at all, "
Still, Mr. Cliipperly was not displeased
with the anticipated privacy and quiet-
ness. For, feel as you may, the world
-
will have a little fun over a man's fourth
nuptial; and then the elopement -like _
plocess gave a color of poetry to the
,,fair which it otherwise ha.cited When
they parted Mr. Chipperley made haste
to send his berth trunk anal ste..lner
chairs and rugs on board the Utopia,
and to secure the best state roeym to be
had for looney, and Ted to see about the
licenses and the minister. It gave Mr.
Chipperley a jolly feeling of being
young and rash and reckless and roman-
tic. 1.
"I shall wear iny glory gown, ''mid
sed better see Air. Chipperley at once Honor when she and Marian wore al e.
1121(1 give him to uia erstand that disc 'It will stun ,him out of his wits who 1
mut be approached most delicately." ' open my domino. Yon have the hard. t
• part. Malian. Oh, how I pity you!
"My love, you would do all that much "You needn't," said Marian quietly
better r yourseIf - a
man's blundering ngI tn
equal n
al to it."
bludgeon—your
dainty
rapier— "But
o dread it—just a little."Ie
.
"Very cry well, then; leave it all to me," "Jost a little. I would rather not, if
saidHrs. Humphreys, with great good Vs could be arranged el in any other way.
nature,But Isacrifice
and. •eti 'fid m r,e.,a she said with
E, s e that eventsa
were
my
seta,"
to her inind, she wrote a note , quiet laugh, "to my :Hints and cousil>r;,"
rummoning Mr, Chipperley, and when - "Liarian, to say you. are a trump, is to
r
hE, camesa • nothing; at all.
shegaveleu < c You are a whole
n t > understand
y
b
that at Inst his suit was aceei>ted, but straight flush!"
that, in fact, as some one in Shirley said The day before the Lorton's domino
of all women, Miss Honor was very part;' Mrs. Humphreys saw two of
little-kattle, and there must bo no men honor's trunks taken down on an ex-
tian of gifts or settlements. or, in fact, pressman's back before .her very eyes,
of the understanding itself. "My under the supposition ,that they were
daughter is exceedingly seiltiitive, and 'either Pinky's or her own 1packcel for tho
the idea that it 'might bo thought your ; Washington trip with the General,
wealth was a factor in this happy con- t 'which her cold had deferred.. Another
junction—"trunk was sent later from, the Louse of
"Oh, precisely, exactly," said the de- the Humphreys to the steamer. Ana it
Iighted oft Chipperley. "I understand, +
1 uuclerstam1," and slid not understand . 'panted hardly a couple of hours to sun -
in the least. . rise when Ted any, Mr. Chipperley with
Poor Mr. Chipperley! It was not two dominos masked tut lnerveil left the
really a blissful period to hint that foie . Lortons' lights and flowers anal inusic,
lowed this rather peculiar betrothal iu entered the coach in waiting, and drove
Iv1>icIi the bride heti given no promise.. across to the Church of St. Peter-cum-
ei gnified 11f> assent 01(1 expre esed no Paul.
feeling, Ile would ,have liked to arm.; ' light There was
i n t hcaadimltar. The solitary
that hand of hers, but it was than
who had been napping in This study, was
away before he had more t11 ik kilo hardlymore than half awake now. lie
touched it. HE, would have ,sleet, to
drop the opera cloak on those lovely examined the licenses perfunctorily, and
shoulders, but that officious Ted Dane hurried through the service, as he had
was allowed to be before him; he longed been begged to d18, as if he were expect -
to fold hie arias about her and press one ing a policeman to interrupt him. For
kiss upon those luscious lips -he would the first time Mr,i Chipperley took with
as soon have offered such a fanhiliarity,
very much worse than his bite. How when I marry Mr. Chipperley I will not
can I ever cease being your daughter ?" accept a settlement of any sort."
And then she had her arm about the "My child!"
olci herds neck. "You know very well, "No. No man shall think I harry
papsy, yen would never wish to make him for his Money."
;your dear unhappy." , '`But, Honor, what an absurd high -
"No, certainly, no: of course not, no," flown notion!"
disengaging himself. "And that is the "No matter, mamma. i give yon my
very 1•reag''11 I wish you to marry a man ultimatum. It you want mo to marry
quits suitable in himself, and who can M1'• Chipperley, no settlement, no gifts,
not a ring, not a flower. And you may
tell him so.
"Humph! 1 suppose he can give it to
you afterward, just the same. But I
must say it is the most quixotic 110n -
indulge all your extravagant ta€tes and.
hinder yon by and by from the unhap-
piness of seeing your mother and your
sisters deprived of all their gratifications
on my death."
"How absurd,
papa!
As if you were
going to die! It's perfectly ridiculous!
Hale and hearty and strong and good,
with a father and mother that lived to
be 00, and their father and mother be-
fore them. I won't listen to such talk!
Besides, if worse came to worse, nnamma
and the others could live with us. We
shall have a home of some sort—"
"Shall ?"
"Yes, we shall live in an old house of
Ted's in the country an old place on a
river—quite a place once—and had such
lovely gardens. He will come into town
to his office every day, and I shall
raise asparagus."
"You, Honor!" he groaned. "Do you
know what you are saying ? Is it all
cut " and
dried ? t
"Yes,papa," she said, and again in n .e
the movement to imprison hint. But
Gen. Humphreys s caught her in time
Y
p
and held her off at arm's length, looking
straight into her eyes.
Do you mean
to sayyou can talk
to
this way without nut a blttsh—
" You kuow I can't blush, papa. I'm
too- dark. I can turn purple, if you want
me to." •
"I've as good a mind as ever I had to
eat to call in a Justice of the Peace and
marryyou
out of hand."
.
"I wish yon would," she cried, "to
Theodore."
Bt1t as he released her she flung her-
self upon his breast. "Papa, papa!" she
cried. " You must help ane ! I love
Ted—I hate that old Mormon! And
oh—I ehould think you would find it
such fun to get the better of mamma—
and you remember the traverse she
worked on you when you wanted De
Pup to marry Kate Appleton, and she
arranged it all for Henrietta von
'runhp—"
"I iIt"l't Trnow what that has to do
';t"'. You • smother has 11411c11
the bee, :..-. ,: (it all of us. De Ph;y's
has trolled' out a very comfortable
marrioe, . ' g.Ie is a little Ilen•;Iecked.
Yorue • --_
"c 'a • shall simply throw my-
self : , the train if yen shako me
mom .at:. ,.-nii'!,erley! I should like to
sense--"
- i ever mind about that. You are
willing to sell ole—but I have ;some
rights, some feelings—I will arrange
the terms myself." And she swept out
'of the r'boin.
• •Well, " said her mother to the old
General, who stared confused, not quite
''ccomodating his ideas to Honor's words,
• but keeping tt Vida) )•ilence in the pre-
eense. of his 'ttperior officer, "I and so
tied, so relieved that she consents at all,
tont I will sag no more at present. You
mace in the responses, when, those
stikxnd sleepy tones pronounced thew,I
,hind and wife. He hastened down
thesky ttisle with :t treuhbliug. cling-
121.';tdaw beside hila. Ted delayed a
lnlelt or twos for the certificates, fol -
c 1 •with the other domino, and then,
the .tains of the carriage closely
(11'414110y drove through the gray
thamora teed, e,; it of the empty streets
t tried Tit belong to some other life,
breat:s, worlitless, over the ferry and
to thole
They was growing silver over the
silent E- as tlC (• (tl, .L Etal
was
,• :sp
melttheck into the light like to pearl
aiyseh,':il. a x:-rp of gold ; ynddehlly i -WORKING THE ORACLE,
racy lit the mast heads and tipped
them e1• one with fire; and it was in
as they stood on the deck,
thatIncur,
partly no shelter of a great pile of
luggage,Iat Honor faun open her
and you shall have a, tender husbanct,
Great powers! To think I might have
yielded. to that ort of temptation, and
been disturbed, wearied, wretched for
lifo! I thank heaven for your wisdom
and courage that rescued ane. You
could never have done it if you had not
loved me. I thank heaven that you aro
Mrs. Chipperley!" And May's smile
played around Marian'e mouth, and
11Tarian's eyes looked up with Mary's
gentle ixnploration, and echoes of Maria's
voice fluted in Mariau's tone, and Mar-
ion's lips trembled with a kiss he had
known before, incl Mr, Chipperley, with
a deep and quiet satisfaction, felt again
that are had never been a widower.
THE END.
do:nino s lot the sunshine l;zneile all
the radiay of her glory gown—a sheen 1
of satin ,;, o; intense yellow, exabroidery •
of gold '4'ada ripplin ,- all over it in
lines of I1Inablaze of deepest tinted
tde$' wh , incl hre
ruby.Spanish So °i.,'so itrich,here so splentdied, ina
the full lir; the brown skin, the great
teeth—Tern:heart stood Estill as he
luminous ca the Meal of the laug.ing
glanced at 1,• and leaked away and
glanced bacencliug it hard to believe
he was awalthat he sasv her, that she
was his.
But it was;tll no ouch eyes that Mr.
Chipperley lalcd her. That yellow
gown—it shot be ford for fishes as
soon as they ati in sleep nater ! Those
burningtopnayncl rubies—he was very
tired from wItof sleep, from hurry,
from uncertaiii from emotion—they
forced his eyes't;n and pinned the lids
kAheror onwift
secondbac! shse sseeonisodto Mthe Cfhipperleyesan
embodiment of sin of the world.
And he was bad ,land' and foot at
the chariot of tlilazing creature. He
instinctivelyl;t,t the
world never
besaw master again: 'ho three Mrs. Chip-
aerleys rose wt-ing before ,him,
wringing their ha' •incl , ,, • .• r int
thin air. He felt;lu'.'' he gall � 1 and
tried to collect hii;.1f, that he should
like to go to sleep ii never wake.
But Marian alseta thrown off her
•
domino and meek, '(1 she stood, in a
soft inoonlight-coke velvet, ashawl
of white blond lace sled on, her blond
ro
'1
'heir fallen about h�) ,
x �like a veil, while
she gazed at him. `ilh, now," thought
pks like a bride,
ow abomination
right when he
Lzzlec' when elle
Mr. Chipperley, "L,A
she does. But that
—why—Ted Dane t1'
said of her once sh
sun is mown and robse world of rcpt.
She's about to rob 1.lyaml,1 of rest!'
• But all this was in 'se r ;vi n1f1ine of
-an eye, intuition not!,•,;:bht, while
Marian was hanging ]donde° ova:
her aim and . Honor est folding hers
about her again, as peol came hurry-
ing by, and. the confu.,l of ,starting
became noticeable ; no re pausing to
think twice of f gee- pan ccenetoined
to goleg dad co..nnl;, whti,••g aefeeeee
on botl,rd in their ball dregs•
"'Well. 11Iariati," rail. '11, " here is
you eertiiieate. No ; thus,, ,'i'IO?'r r'r
and mine, You will find ajl right,
.Mr. Chipperley. Honor an I will be
thinking of you in thee inrconligllt
nights es you go porting tae moth
seas. You'll he quite is tnl< for the
carnival. Yogi have helped tin a way
not to be forgotten, and we—at-Honor
, and I --shall always associateem with
the happiness of our lives."
"I--wlho—what—what thie stain
manta Mr. Chipperley. hearing Ted'e
voice like a vole() in a dream, =Sat the
same time looidng ovc_• I.I: ,i:tn'seh.oul•
cler at the scroll of paper she unilcled,
"Theodore C1hi'lppeeley—Merian llc,lcy.
There is a inflate here. There—p"
"No, no," said Ted calmly. "Ndiine
of the sort. No mistake. That tared
be impossible. I have married IT101
and you have married Marian, au, i;a,
we intended. Wo could never Ike
overcome Mamma Humphreys if y'u
,.
hadn'tcatered
so i l n.•
ts
� t iatcl'fa
x d
scheme. It's of Ito use to try and time
you; wo can't, There go the lest peop
off—there isn't a moment—good-b3�
good -by!" "There was ahurried shah:i.ne
of hands, a hurried embrace of Maria:,
and Honor, and Ted and one of the dom-
inos were ou the pier waving farewells
and the Utopia was slowly sliding sea.
ward.
• For an instant Mr. Chipperley stared
at them, at Marian, at sky and water,
't11 aghast, and then his eye rested on
Marian again in her :;oft pearl .color and,
tare, and in the midst of the whirl in
,xis brain the words of an old, old lover
oame bath"to hini: "And her eyes are
doves." Yes, her eyes were doves. And
then he was caught in
a wild
revulsion
having feeling, a sense of having cast off a
,.yve, a sense of.having conte hogie into
cac efultwnllmh
twilight
after long
revel ev
el and
r ,t, of thick wines honey sweet. of
fi vers, of burgling sunshine among
Ci beast:.
Iie remembered
the rod
aux yellows, the mastiff, the spitz, the
poo e; no more treading on a soft fur
iii tl dark hall and Ihaving it turn and
rend •0'.I, no more sitting down on•some
softly )utehioned seat and hearing a
yell a a snarl from the cushirn; no
more t cing of resemblances between
v
o
mscl
and
matnoset
te,
no more
atarts, o more dazzles, no more
nips froth
the paroquot, no vociferation
ot canaries, on staring oat of counte-
nance from the owl, no menagerie in
his house no mother-in-law with her
cou.ershiTp;that always seemed to mask
all assault, 13t, took Marian by the hand
and led h • into the stateroom, "May,"
he said, tang -W -I beg your pardon—
Maria, 1 .an Marian! ton have made
a great sac •ifiee for nee. e'en have per -
leaps save(
,gess. Let
and the .de'
pay you.
knew xnyse
bewitched!
me alittle
out of my i
sed not bee
ins from a gest nnhaapi-
pre recover my equipoise,
tion of a lifetime shall re-
ou knout me better than I
I was benuinbctd; I was
I was blind! It tarty take
ale to get that other linage
wind, but I shall do it --it
me a habit. Be patient
TAY J. II. CONNx9LLY.
CHAPTER L
TIHE COY WIDOW,
OLJBTLESS, if M. Anatole
Duprez had not removed
to those now apartments
in the Rue Fontenelle, he
might have continued in-
definitely the careless and
joyous existence that had
been hie ever since he be-
came of age and entered into possession
of his patrimony, seven years before.
When Fate first noticed Anatole,
handsome, happy, lucky and thought-
less, she said to her,.=elf : "There is no
merit in trapping this young fellow; his
capture will be too easy; but, just to
jostle him a little with the idea that
something can happen to him, he must
have a small tumble." So sho set for
him a very tempting pitfall in the Rue
Fontenelle.
Tho pitfall was matrimony, and its
excellent bait was the fascinating young
widow, Mme. Natalie Girard, who had,
however, no consciousness of or desire•
for being a bait. In fact sho had, thanks
to experience and discretion, decided
prejudices againet matrimony. Madame
Cantillac, her nihther, had successfully
dragooned her into nlcrryiub Monsieur
Girard, a worthy exporter of sardines,
oil and olives. whb was too stout to be
agile, too red to be handsome and too
old to be attractic? •, ,slut whose wealth
made him dsirable�—'!n the mother's
eyes exclusively. But Fate, foreseeing
other and butter uses for pretty Madame
Girard, took caro that the overripe ex-
porter should step into an apoplexy pit-
fall within a year after his marriage;
and Madame Cantillac had by this time
gone where sho could no longer dragoon
anylictly, except, pelllaps, through table -
tipping and planchotte, which must
scorn exasperatingly insrfficient means
to any strong-7nlntled ghost. So the
widow Girard was the happily indepen-
dent possessor of a very handsome for-
tune, sufficient to last her well all her
life if she clic, not throw it away upon
sono scapegrace of a second husband, a
thing she was quite resolved would nit
.ba ,pen.
'Truly, Anatole was right in consider-
,
ing her the most clellciects of all capti-
vating widows, as he did the moment
his thee rested upon her, They met at the
foot of the stains when he lyes coming
in and !lie was going out to a carriage
awaaltei,ngwiftohr hhist i_xat rodeC,U►ay. shHe e)sstsot
and still continued. standil.g in the salve
attitude, without being aware of it,
-until the sound. of her carriage wheels
could no longer be heard,
"He stares at me as if he thought. I
was lost prol;c1ty of his," thought tho
lively widow, as she sank back among
the cushions. Then she dismissed Ins
existence from her memo_;•.
But Anatole did not so easily, 0r, in-
deed, at all, disembarrass his mind of
that seductive vision of loveliness. Na-
turally, he addressed himself to the
concierge, whose duty it is to know all
about everybody in the house. and who
can be relied *mon to tell a little, all or
much More than he knows, according
as he is arid.'
"Tho lady," said t: r.) concierge, this
time confining himself to the truth, "is
'Macrame Natalie Gira:rel, who, with her
maid Am unliu5—who 1`s black eyes
and is very saucy—occupies the apart-
, ments beneath talose of lnonsier. I need
not observe that she is pretty, since the
act has probably not escaped mon-
iour's notice., There is good reason to
elieve she is rich, ancl, although ;;
idow', her cbucluct is unexceptionable.
ry respectable people call upou her,
their own Carriages, and, though she
lived here nearly two years, with
• maid, as I have told you, I have
r seen anyone shake the head and
ii
11
11
210
sins when her name was mentioned.
Yo t predecessor in your apartments,
whe
1v-
< s ann rolnine t Ufilcial in a
rail-
way
o,ih p•Inv •®
oracle them
most gel
Y , aleau
effor : to cultivate an acquaintance with
her a
with mu�h disgusted r,
c s�•ustecl
tiv th his
entii,
cls of success that he ,covet,.
away. No; I alp sure she does not re-
ceive
're11 m
t5 an
whopays s court
r
nY
to
her, �rr +'
u,,nclmewho i
s a very xo„u<1sh
girl, avt s that her mistress thinks of
entering a convent; but I believe, if
she does, t will only be on a visit. She
is still to( young and pretty to contem-
1:tttr, wast ng herself."
>
That ee ging, contrary to his habit,
Anatole rH11ained at home. He felt a
disinclination for going out, notwith-
standing lle'J newveryagreeable friends
would be satprisecl by his note -appear: •
ante in his acetal haunts. It seemed to
Minn pleasant r to stay, et least, under
the same rooftwith the widow axid cogi-
tate upon seTlemes likely to he more
successful than those of the discomfited
railway ofticil•l, And, as the evening
woreon, he became conscious of pro-
ccecdings in rho ;Veit/Ants beneath him,
which claimed hie interest.
Madame ,Girard was having a little
reception. His attention was first toll-
ed to it by the tattle of wheels and
stamping of horses' hoofs in the ordin-
arily quiet 'street. 'Tien, as the looked
to discover the cause of that noise, he
Ltixxr el hatelit iiltitninatioil glowing out
Ont the night frons her , do winilows.
Sitting on his own vtO,n 1 sill, he could
bear much of what wap ruing on below
hint and follow pretty •rectly the pro-
gress of events, The • ollrteeus greet-
ings of guests, murn;urs of compliment
and buzz of gei>. iral conversation floated
up to him. Ho knew a gauge of ecarte
was going on in a cool corner elose by a
window. There was music, different
persons playing, not all badly, the'
piano, encu sumo one—leo wa$11141. a rt
must be the widow—singing clelicicusiy
an aria from "Carmen." That pure,
sweet voice xfot only charmed his senses
but seemed to delight his very stud, .
Afterward, there were rata' ngs of cups
and saucer's and tinlclings of glasses;
finally, a little dancing, and then, at a
sedately early and proper hour, the
guests went away.
The next morning, be know he was
,right in supposing Madame Girard the
charming singer of that aria. Stao ayes
up early and caroling like a bird when
he awoke.
At the same hour the widow had gone
riding the afternoon before, a carriage;
appeared at the door. Anatole, whose!
hope had been prescient, was ready to I
grasp the opportunity which be imagin-
ed presented itself and nimbly ran down! •
the stairs to the front door before Ma-!
dame Girard emerged from her apart-
ments. There he listened for her de-'
scent and Binet, his return so well that
again he met her, exactly at the foot of
the stairs, as if by accident. He raised
his hat, bowing elaborately, She looked
at hien in cold surprise and went on her
Way.
Anatole was not accustomed to being
snubbed by pretty women, and the
novel experience confused him. He
felt himself blushing—actually blush- t
ing, under the sarcastic smile of the/k
concierge, who was looking on, and
with a weak pretense of carrying. the
clatter off easily remarked:
"I have forgotten my cigar -case."
The: excuse compelled slim to re -ascend
to his room. In a few moments he carne
down again, affecting to settle the
cigar-case—where it had been all the
wnile—in a breast pocket, and walked •
aviay, nonchalantly as he could. And
in has heart he knew the concierge be••
hind him was grinning and probably
saying to himself; "The railroad official
Oro tried that," And, in<lced, that was
what the concierge was recalling, with.
the fuetherreflections: "And, next, he
too, will bo seinlina her flowers. It is
singular how monotonouslyu alike the
,r
,
actions c 1 y ounce men are. The fel
low's farsight was as good as his
memory .
It was not in the character of a son of
the gallant Gen. Antoine Duprez to be
discouraged by a single rebuts or even
1,y a succession of then. Obstacles
only stimuluted Anatole's ardor to over-
come them. and he consoled himself by -
refiocting that it is prccieely thole wo-
men most worth winning who are with
difficulty won. • An easy conquest is
not a sati' ;'yin;; assurance to the Philo-
• sol)'.lic 'nisei contemplating matrimony,
„'t that c :tre se e etep, really math-
ee:,sot retty widow Girard as
it) o')ject, was whet the young man al-
renly t:c..ousl;,- had in view. But it
nets _:ct ec' for i•• `e Cie -ie t1000.
the :,. t -:'y, of his ehee, Anether
false ono entt bo dreaded. And he
ift 1' n c df lamentably deficient of ox- -
pcxience i11 the 1cr.nti<xg of shy 11•idolvea •;
If it had been a eau:.;tic i of approaching
111au.:"•oiselle i,'oralie or the little
17vn r." --n"11:.,• n
rux:ling a ,,a,..,.. _' to be foliate -a. by
bonbons, with eonLs pretty ir.wel or
hanks': tho tt)x, suffic: ':t to gist 011 .
appeiito'e mc--;,
_Ito just tecai-se
that would ; ;,7::ectcours ithose
cases, it (cis not teem suitable to the
presort e enc .
I' ••'nt:cglncr,i he decided, not without,
tenting::''le arti,dion, however, that,
so fat as the `i.+-1•:::.; went, that line of
attack wc.;,i do; and the manner of
their reception would have to determine
whether fa -eller rclvences should be in
accordance with trail precedents as he
posse:,sea or 1'y,- ao:Ee other and at area
exit incli:.coveiable method. So he pro-
cured
p„ ,• . e�
a haat„ u up bouquet, tand,when i
�. a 1 „ h n
i
nOs e31i0i1 0f it foundlui t f
s 1 p t u:<scl . xu a new
quandary: Whether he might, or might
not, venture to attach his card to 1t. Re-
verting to precedent, he reflected that
Corahe Nanon would have expected
to see a bard; therefore there should be
none in ,tending to the window. Beyond
. tlhe prinlany step of the flowers them-
selves—flowers being supposably pleas-
ing to all women—it would perhaps bo
placlent to just follow the rule of re•
verting all the precedents, in making
advances to Madame Girard.
• The concierge delivered the beautiful
boquet at Madame Girard's door, while
she was out, only to have it returned to
hila by
Amadiue immediately upon
Ill, •
stn e,.; s return hume'c Ixh'
with tc
r h h ' s-
sage that " Madame does not receive
flower from m ti=knownt.ao
lna
',>
"Come Come to think about it," said Ana-
tole, to himself, "it was stupidity to •
send a < fashion. t 'bouquet 'in that S nU2x. HUw
could she know it did not come from the
obnoxious railway official?"
So the next day, he sent her a magni-
ficent bund. of fragrant and beautiful
exotics, accompanied by his car<l, but
the response was even worse, being
,
more personal than that eif it d by tld
first offering. Ama1 i1e carried them
back to the concierge, with
the message:
"Madame does not receive flowers from
gentlemen with whom she is unacquaint-
ed."
CHAPTER II.
THE WAY 08' THE SAGE.
"1 believe," said Anatole to himself,
"that in so extraordinary, a case as this
I might do well to consult Monsieur
tSocllecOurt,
It was an excellent idea. Monsieur
Rochecourt enjoyed. and deserved try
reputation of having, during his fif
years of bachelorhood,entertained
infinite number of theories about women
""a ' 1 vatting them all to practical test
['I'rl 1121' c•f>`•1'ly' `r•:b. J
W.
- (cure,
Pug tx
N'e eul
to the sur
ince Unic
Ast tltreu
residence,
. pens',.
As the
pate,t'ur
D mi ltt',n
day to „u,
There i
t
But on,
There f1
But lust
W i±l
the Ora
ed for
to the
from ti
The B,
the fir:
lecture
Seve
Christi
enhurs
at Mr
superix
the lut
assistin
bundt'E
Nape f
.4k which
outside
among
Musi.o'.
at the
very 1i
for war
several
needle:
other 1
"Th
fallen
but w
Certaltl
to die:
upon c
homes,
church
the nit
who si
of shat
'silly'
finger':
of twit
both 11
ing ]li
for the
raised
and t
Mit. GI
ALGI
CAT.
IN 1
Let
charm
by tht
Catar't
Iriei'it;
said o
the II
Catai-:
speed
,
all.'
"Mint
for the
used
Mesita
of its
and 1
- 3-eetl)
Ctxurc
110111)'
IiU
iVlr
ore a
sent:
by v
take
final
ser
1n1
I�iarol
hove
self s
love,
less
t
out o
ever
scien�
will
let et
civil,
while
wilt
with
tell
weep
1 Ile
g[xn)
path!
F�Iinu
'ixtotr'!
tore
V.1ix..a,