The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-16
VOL. VIII.

u
steadily that she presently asks the reason.
"How art thou, nv child?" he answers,
still gazing at her. His voice trembles little,
as he puts the question, and his countenance is
grave.
Il am better, papa, DEAR" she responds (;
much better. The doctor says, if take care
of myself, and do not take cold shall soon be
quite strong"
"Sure thou art better?" he asks
'Quite sure, papa. Why dost thou ask ?
and SO seriously?"
Nothing, nothing Only to have thy assu-
rance"
But he looks at her still, noting her clear
complexion and her brilliant eyes, until she is
fain to bid him not do SO, for the strangeness of
his manner alarms her. Meanwhile she has
not failed to remark how sallow his face is, and
how hollow are his checks. His cavernous eyes,
too, denote watching, fatigue, and mental ankle
ty, and these afford her subjects for comment.
But be evades her queries and laughs her off,
saying that he will have no questions asked,
likely to bring up unpleasant thoughts; he is
resolved to be quite happy with hor that day.
And see, pet" he adds. Here are two
new gold peices. They are for thee, darling, to
do with what thou likst." And he places them
in in her hand.
~ will keep them, papa, till thou want st
expressing any surprise or qualification. am
in need of nothing, and have a little money by,
| in case of accidents. But how comes it thou
art so rich ?" she continues, as she places the
money in a corner of drawer, which she after
wards locks
1t is natural inquiry, and the reply ought to
be quickly forthcoming; but he hesitates, and
| presently returns an evasive answer, leaving
her to infer from it that he has had present
| from his employer for extra work.
He does not quite like the manner in which
she looks at him, and therefore changes the
| theme by telling her he is quite ready to go out,
and commence the programme they had deci-
| ded on. She assents at once, and having at
| tended to her pets, and put the starting into
| his cage-a proceeding he violently resents-
| she attires herself in her neat bonnet and man
| tie, and they go out, receiving from Madame
Elammeche an amiable nod of recognition.
They are going to breakfast la .fourchette
| at one of the restaurants in the Pdidis Royal ;
for it retains its name in the popular mind, not
withstandng the substitution of the word na-
tional for royal. They do not walk fast, for
half their pleasure. is derived from looking in
at the lastly set-out shops, and specializing up
on the cost of gorgeous silks and satins bro
cades and vevets. Lisette enters into the spirit
of the thing, more because she sees it pleases
her father than because she is in the least de-
| sirous of possessing any of the fine raiment so
lavishly displayed. When they reach the bou-
| lerard, at the corner of the Rue de Ia Chdussee
d 4nti,i, question arises, whether they shall go
little out of their way for the sake of walk
through the gardens of the Thuileries, or wheth-
er they shall 90 direct to the Ialais Royal.
Lisettc assures her father she can bear a little
fatigue to-day, and that she particularly wishes
to pass through the Thuileries. So they turn
down the boaiecard They stay awhile to ad-
miro the facade of the Madelaine, the architec-
| tural beauties of which Martin points out des-
| canting upon them with the gusto of con-
noisseur. They now turn down the Rae Royaie,
and, commenting on the noble appearance OF
the Rue de Rirol as they cross over to the
Place de la COncOrdc, stop next to examine the
obelsk of tho L,lror to see the fountains play
to glance up the grand avenue of the Champs
Eiysees, and glorify the genius of the man who
erected the 1rc de 7rioniphe. Neither is the
| Palace of the Assembly forgotten, nor the from
ton of the Hinistere de la Marine: in fact, they
stand about here, employing a quarter of an
| hour, In the most holyday-like manner, and
greatly to the delight of Lisette, who did not
think her father could be such agreeable
| companion, or that he had SO much taste and
love for works of art. They now turn into the
gardens of the Thuiferies, and Lisette points
|
used to sit, no great while since, summing her
self, when recovering from her late long illness.
They pass round that way, and Lisette kindly
inqu ires after the health Of two or three inva-
lids whom she used to meet daily, and who
| are still visitors to that genial nook. They are
warm in their expression of thanks for her be-
| nevolent interest in them and smile her good
morning she passes on. They are about to
turn aside into the broad path leading to the
main avenue, when Lisette utters an eIclama-
ton of JOY, and, at the same moment almost, a
young man, genteelly dressed, comes up to them,
raising his hat respectfully.
"Ah, Paul." calculates Lisette, "then you
| did get permission
Since you see me here he replies, I" it
seems | did. Monsieur is WELL" he adds, in
quiringly, addressing Martin.
| AS you see, responds Martin, cheerfully.
Eve meet you by happy accident"
| Not so much accident" answers Paul. "Li-
settle and had agreed -
"Let me explain, Paul. interrupts Lisette.
You see, papa, this holyday has been long
talked of, and Paul knew all about it, of course.
So it was agreed he should try and obtain leave
of absence from work to-day. Last night he
bad not seen his employer to ask him, so it was
understood that he should do SO quite early this
morning; and if he succeeded, he was to meet
us here. That is the whole mystery"
| "Ah, ah!" observes Martin, looking slyly
at Lisettc Z" this also explains why thou vert
so anxious to come this way.
| Lisettc colors up little, and Paul laughs
and presently Martin says it is all very natu-
raj, and quite the way with young people.
| They go on little further when Martin re-
quests Paul, as a favor, to allow Lisette to take
his arm, which Paul is very happy to do, of
| course, and the young couple walk on, with
Martin by their side.
| There are not many flowers in the enclO-
sures, but the few that remain make the beds
| look gay. Paul comes out surprisingly; LII
settle is surprised to find him so learned IN fiori-
| culture, trees, and shrubs. He expatiates, too,
upon the statuary, and draws out Martin, who
rubs up his classics for the occasion, and fur
nishes quite a history Of each statue. Paul, in
| turuspoints out certain spots where remarkable
| events have occurred, or distinguished persons
stood, especially in relation to the recent revo-
| lutionarv commotion, which Martin ventures to
hope may be the last Chatting in this man
ner, they pass through the garden and into the
| Place du Cdrousel, where they express a unani-
nous regret that the Lourrc should be vet un-
finished They have not far now to 60, before
they reach the Palais Royale; but as they pass
under the archway that leads into the Rue de
| Riroli, Martin stops short being suddenly
seized by the hand by an individual who ad-
dresses him in foreign language, with great
volubility. Martin appears equally pleased to
| meet with this person, and asks him two or three
hurried questions in the same tongue They
are are answered with prompttude, and, as it
would seem, to Martins satisfaction. Mean
| while Lisctte whispers to Paul, that she thinks
she has seen the stranger before, though she
| cannot at the moment tell where or under what
| circumstances they have met. Evidently a