The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-07-04
MISS MONTMORENCI.
BY MATTE WINFIELD roRnKY.


The Montmorenei place was perfect
wilderness of beauty run TO waste. The
house had not been lived in for years; the
vines and strawberries had grown into
tangle and snarl of greenery; the once or
derry gardens were given over TO weeds,
and disorder and confusion reigned where
once all had been trim and well kept.
Built long before the days of ''shoddy,'
the house was a substantial structure, and
seemed capable of defying the storms of
coming centuries. The broad expanse of
lawn in front sloped down TO the waters of
the Hudson, and here and there, through
the mazes of intricate foliage, might be
canght heavenly views. of that much
praised yet surprisingly beautiful river.
So there the old place lay, perfect In
dian jungle of profuse vegetation, with
no eye 70 admire. or hand 70 subject into
anything like order the wilderness which
reigned around; indeed, the family had
nearly died out; its male members were
all gone; there was only daughter left,
and she was said to be eccentric, and little
fast-whatever horribly indefinite thing
that may mean.
Miss Montmorenci had lived good
many years abroad, and, from having no
will but her own to consult, had come 10
be quite independent, and fully compe-
tent TO take care Of herself. Her fortune
being immense, she was abundantly able
to indulge herself in any little expensive
whims in which people of elegant tastes
are permitted to luxuriate.
She was tall and stately, with such pride
IS became the last lineal representative OF
a noble house, in whose veins eliminated
the pure sangre angle of generations of
aristocratic lineage. A fair blonde, with
Ion mr. af ~ har
sun or wind could in the least impair;
masses of silky blonde hair, clear gray
eyes, and a mouth whose fullness many a
man would have periled his souls saliva
ton to have kissed.
She had had lovers in plenty all her life,
from the time she was q wee little sprite
in short clothes. but at thirty Miss Mont
morenci was still unwedded, and there
was nothing for 1t except to conclude
that she was hard Of heart, and toe much
enamored Of her own easy independence
to be willing to run the risk of becoming
entangled In matrimonial harness.
There had been story years ago, cur
rent enough at the time, of lover whose
pride, at least. had equaled her own,
though his worldly possessions were any.
thing but large but they had separated,
AMI each had gone through the world
tact. and events had drifted on. and the
years between had come and gone, and
the romance of long ago was as If 1t had
never been.
Miss Montmorenci had an old duenna Of
Q housekeeper, who matr0niZed her al
times, and, by way Of making amends fol
the derelictions of her charge, was as Sc
we're In the dignity and unapproachable
ness OF her virtue as her long years Of
spinsterhood might warrant.
1t was early spring, and Miss Montmo
renci's house on the Avenue was still the
central point of attraction for n gay train
of fashion worshipers. The lady her
self was as cool aud graciously unap
proachable as ever. the gayeties of winter
not having, TO outward appearances, al
all affected either her spirits or her TEN
per. both Of which were seemingly un
ruffled and placid.
Ii Is morning; at least as near that sea
son a. people on the Avenue can be ex
pected to arrive, and breakfast Is upor
the table. The duenna Is seated on ont
side, severe I'm her usual toilet Of blacl
silk, with Miss Montmorenci, in lovely
white cashmere with blue facings, placed
opposite, The room Is furnished In blue
MORE, and there Is hint Of the extrava
giant wealth of its misurces w ell It's ap
pointments. The table service Is OF solo
silver and the mot delicate of china, anC
the light streams through damask, and
nlters through lace window draps ries
ere II falls upon a single object within
the room.
A pile Of letters beside her plate at