Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-03-15

But, now, what was he to do? Brough
face to face with Kate's net unfOundeC
suspicion and not unrighteous wrath, ht
felt that he must take step as decided al
it would be final. He must choose which
to do; abandon Madame Dufour, or breal
with his betrothed; cease to visit the one
he loved better than his life-and if so
what reason to give her, she who was sc
far above him he dared not even hint al
his love ?-or he must disappoint his pa
rents, break his plighted word, and dis
tress one whose only fault was her love fol
him and her claim to be loved in. return
At luncheon-time he rushed off to Elm
Cottage, thinking only that, come what
would, he should see her once again.
Was he expected? Half lying, half sit
ting on the sofa, was Madame Dufour
dressed, as she always did dress, in the
most exquisite, the most seductive man.
ner: indeed, she did not dress, she draped
On a small table, covered with ruby-col-
ored velvet, stood wine, fruit, and flowers,
and large bowl of old Venetian glass,
| full of ice. It was ethereal food for lun-
cheon; but Madame DufOur was ethereal
| in her food, and often spote with laugh
ing scorn of the materialistic English miss
who ate and drank like man. Kate
Hyslop had what is called a wholesome
appetite, and liked cheese and beer.
"Ab, my boy!" she said with her ca
ressing accent and young-motherly man.
ner, and holding out both her hands to
him as he came in, but not rising to re-
ceive him. "Toujours lie bienvenu!'
How kind you are to let me come"
stammered Walter, flinging himself on a
footstool by her side. He was pale and
agitated, but his eyes told the old story
as eloquently as they had always told it.
show can l ever thank you for all your
kindness to me?"
"By not assuming that 1 have been
kind at ALL" she said; ''or," lightly
touching his shoulder with her fan, "by
putting it the other way, Mr.. Walter, and
counting me grateful to you"
The oung man flung back his head !;
Madame Dufour's fair face flushed, and
her eyes dropped at the love that was in
his.
He took her hand and carried it to his
lips. "Better than the wealth of the
world!" he murmured in a low voice :;
but she, playfully pulling one of his
brown curls, said in a pretended anger
that was more bewitching than even her
kindness, "That is what you deserve,
naughty boy! You presume too much,
Just then a ring came to the from. door.
"Tiens who can that be?" she cried,
with surprised eyebrows.
Walter first crimsoned like a schoolboy
caught, and then turned pale like a man
before whom is struggle unto death.
He knew who it was, clearly enough /;
and Madame DufOur read his knowledge
in his face.
So, the battle had come, had it? Bien !!
She was ready.
She never raised herself from her loung-
ing attitude, but even curled hers If
round into softer lines. The tender man.
ner grew more tender, the sweet, low
voice more caressing, the creeping touch
of her long white hand more velvety, as
it firstpushed back the golden fringe that
shadowed her forhead, then rested on Wal
ter's chestnut head the tremulOus face
no longer dimpled with smiles or quiver-
ed with sympathy, but took on itself a
mask half mo ,king, half impassive, and
wholly irritating 10 an antagonist; and
then Miss Hyslop was ushered into the
room, to find the siren in her most dam
gerous mood, surrounded by her most
bewitching accessories, with her own
lover, who was also her rivals, sit ing at
her feet, worshipping.
"Miss Hyslop! how very kind J" said
Madame Dufour, in a pretty, languid
voice. "a rare pleasure, but none the
less welcome" she aided, offering her
hand.
"I came for Mr.. Drummond, Madame
DufOur; not to pay you a visit" said
Kate, in her stoniest manner. "Walter.
you are wanted at home"
"Poor Walter! hope he is not to be
scolded very severely at home," said
Madame Dufour, with mocking accent.
"Who wants mer asked Walter indif-
ferently.
"I," said Kate.
"Your pleasure?" was Walters reply,
not looking up.
"Iprefer not to discuss my affairs in
public" said Kate. ~ want you; tha'
is enough; so, if you please, Waller,
come; and at once"
81 am engaged" said Walter; 81 can
not"
Madame Dufour, must ask your as
sistance," then said Kate, turning to her
rival. "Will you kindly command Mr..
Drummond to obey me?'
"What an extraordinary proposition ~
| laughed the siren. "What do you take
me for, Miss HyslopY'
"What do I take you for ?" repea ed
Kate, very slowly, and eyeing her keenly.
"Well, might take you for many things
for an actress, say; or an adventures ;
for a arunaway; perhaps for woman who
ought to be-where shall say Pm Mill
bank for forgery, like that Clara Bell the
papers were so full of just before you
came here; or l might take you for an
honest woman, intending no evil to any
one, and careful to avoid scandal. You
see, Madame Dufour, a stranger as you
are may be anything. Who knows ?'
During Kate's speech Madame Du-
four's face had not changed q
muscle, save the faintest quivering Of her
upper lip, and the sudden starting of big
drops both on it and on her brow.
"You have a fertile fancy, Miss
Hyslop," she drawled out with little
laugh. {" Really your roll-call Of possibil-
ities is so crowded, cannot remember
half my probable characters"
"Have you taken leave of your senses,
Kate g' demanded Walter sternly.
"No; but you have" she replied, as
sternly. "Again ask, Walter, will you
leave Madame Dufour and come with
me?'
"And again answer, / viii not" said