Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-20
CHAPTER VIII.
THE WHITE COTTAGE.

THE WHITE COTTAGE.
On the second day after Florimond's arri-
val at the White Cottage, she wrote note to
her grandmother, knowing the anxiety the
old lady would suffer on her account. The
note was without date or any indication OF
her abode, and was worded as follows:
"Do not worry about me, my darling mother!
I am in most pleasant, comfortable quarters, and
am perfectly satisfied, except on account of my
separation from you. I hope we shall not be
parted long. Itdepends, of course entirely ON
A. d. AS soon as he takes his departure, will
return homc
Berta is we'll and as merry as possible, and she
sends YOU hundred, hundred kisses, and says
she wants very much to see her beloved grand
mother. Sucha little pratlcr as she is-and such
a little cherub! I protest, the people here 40
nothing but pet and spoil her. Adleu, dearest
mother, and make your mind perfectly easy about
me. have the kndest of friends, and plenty OF
money to supply every want-what more would
one need? Your devoted,
Florimond spoke truly, when she said she
was comfortably and pleasantly situated. In
her affectionate zeal, the hostess of the "White
Cottage" could not do enough for her guest.
Madame Ignatius was, indeed, lady of the
most graceful manners, elegant refinement and
varied accomplishments, who had travelled al
most over the entire civilized world, and
possessed fund of information and store of
pleasant "reminiscences, which alone rendered
her companionship rich treat without the
accessories of her beautiful surroundings.
There was a mystery about her, too, which
pieued curiosity and added another attraction
to this remarkable woman.
Though she lived perfectly secluded life,
rarely walking beyond the confines of the
high convent walls, and spent most of her
time ministering to the wants Of the poor and
the aleviation of the sick, yet she dressed
handsomely, and Florimond could not discov-
er that she belonged to any of those religious
societies existing in the Roman Catholic
church. She seemed, too, possessed of sufi-
cient wealth, for she lived in style of ele-
gance, and her cottage was furnished in the
most complete, luxurious manner. The rich
est carpets, the heaviest curtains beautiful
paintings, handsome furniture, and indeed,
everything to crafty the eye and cultivated
taste, we're to be found in this diminutive es-
tablishment To Florimond, the little parlor
was place of endless variety and unceasing
amusement Itwas filled with pictures, shells,
a variety of musical instruments, objects of
art, and curiosities gathered from all parts of
the world. In this cozy apartment-p perfect
in its way-Forimon passed some Of the
most interesting moments of her life, listen
ing to Madame's beautiful performance on the
harp, looking at books of rare engravings,
and hearing from Madame's eloquentlip the
(: incident or story connected with every tiny
shell or tiniest rock. Through Madame's in.
fluence, Florimond was invited to visit the
Convent, where she met the Mother Superior
and some of the Sisters, and passed some
charming hours in conversation with them.
Yes, Flormond was almost happy! Madame
Ignatius watched her moods, and exerted all
of her various gifts to draw her out and to
keep her thoughts from dwelling on sorrowtul
things. All of her varied powers were brought
in requistion to prevent their quiet life from
becoming monotonous to her guest. But with
Madame's affectonate solicitude and the claims
of Madames society, this danger did not seem
to be imminent. Soon there was new ex-
citcment and interest added to their pursuits.
Madame was very fond of hearing Florimond
read aloud for as we have mentioned before,
our heroine inherited her grandmother's re-
markable voice, and read with taste and ex-
preston. One day they were sitting under
the trees, and Florimond was reading immor-
tai words from the "Bard of Avon." The