North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-11-15

tIeWoHan. 1Hefe was out one inmate Wn ON
she cpuld not tsne-a CERTAIN M. Brllain
who, whatever he might have been, was q de-
cided bear.-His long, gray hair was always
in tumble, and MN gled with his profuse
beard, forming rough frame for the small
portion of face visible within it, OF, this
nothing could be seen out long, sharp nose
and pair of deep, dark mellow eyes, which
were irresistably attractive when frightened
by kindly emotion, but which habitually
shot forth scornful and Ill natured gances to
accompany the sarcastic wolds which fol-
lowed the slightest notice of him.
His dress was scrupously neat, but thread
bare and ill-ftting, and his figure, so far as
could be seen, was badly shaped and as IN
couth as his manners. He had room on
each foor, and passed with slippered feet
from one to the ote sr at all nlnler cf season.
Rosine often met him, upon which occasions
he seldom failed to accost her with sarcasm
bitter in proportion to the number of listen
ers by which means hs effectualIy blinded
the most lnquisitive to his real feelings and
saved both the young lady and himself from
an irksome surveillance. But either his lus-
trous eyes neutralized the effect of his lance
like wit, or his voice, which could yield the
most winning heart tones, must have given
the lie to his sparkling shafts for Rosine
never suffered from then.-She even felt
drawn towards this powerful, cross gr aimed
man, as if he were safer and stronger for bis
hressnce in the dreary building
One of NJ. BrilIain's apartments adjoiued
that of Mdme. Chstelle's and not only was
tn epartition thin, but there was crack in
Il which helped him to knowledge of
much that was going on upon the other side.
Mdme. Chatele's constantly complained of
ennui. ''It was so dull when Rosine was
away Not new novel, not canary bird
not cat to purr on her knee, not even
mignonette on the balcony What was the
use of front windows when there was no
handsome dresses or fine carriages to be seen!
She was starving, too, literally starving
How could Rosine expect her to 1--we on dry
of Rosine would be heard sometimes explain
ng and coaxlng, but more frequently detailing
little street incl dent, relating pretty anec.
idote or recalling pleasant reminiscence.
Upon such occasions, nj Brlllan often hap
pened to sit near the wall, and even to lean
his head against it in close proximity to the
IT, 10 20
be said that such accidents had never occur
red to him before. He was not naturally
curious, nor did his time hang so heavily on
his hands as to drive him to ungenerous
modes of disposing of it but he had never
until now come unto real companionship
with true woman. His mother was hand
some and gay-the veriest trife that eve,
was tossed on the surface of French society.
Her husband was gay, also but where she
foated like thistle down, he plunged deeply
in. Vicious himself, and acquainted with
vice, he was jealous of her every glance
Hot words, fierce contentious, angry recrim
nations followed and the little BriIlan form
ed hard, contemptuous views of his race
which had thus far robbed h,m Of sweetness
and beauty. He had seen, indeed, shining
examples of every virtue, both separate and
in combination but he had growc up in
such isolation and misanthropy that none of
them.had come directly home to him and
besides, their effect had been lessened. if not
destroyed, by lurking doubt of the purity
of the motives which had dictated acts 90 ut
terly at variance with his preconceived opin.
ion possibilities. But here was genuine
revelation. There was no chance for mistake
or misconcepiion, for he could himself read
all its marvellous pages. Here was strength
with gentleness, youth with patience, beauty
with purity and courage with tenderness
The lovely picture stole into the. heart of the
gray-hared Gym and hunted bis memory
At first he imagined that he felt merely the
surprise and delight which would have been
occasloned by discovery in science or art
but when he found that Rosine illuminated
the whole building by her presence when
the touch of her garments as she passed HIM
on the landing it thrilled him with intense
pleasure-he could not but acknowledge to
himsel that bis intellect had very little to
do with the joy he experienced.
One twilight there was knock at M.
Chstelle's door, and for the first time M.
Brilllan apdeared upon the threshold.
Had Pompine strayed into Madames
room2 Pompine sometimes wandered, but
still she had her good points. She was
handsome-that nobody could dispute-if
Madame had ever observed her, she must
have perceived that the gray Of her coat was
of q perfect shade"
Madame had never seen the animal which
was not to wondered at, as she had been
smuggled into the house twenty-four hours !
uro ar that mn ornant sorurol~, fnstor.l