The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-02-06
RIDGwAY, Pa THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1873.

N stlfshseresNv alter, flinging himself on a
: agitsted 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 | 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 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,
mon ami.'
just then ring came to the front door.
"Tiens! who can that be?" she cried,
with surprised eyebrows.
Walter first crimsoned like schoolboy
caught, and then turned pale like a man
before whom is a 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 herself
round into softer lines. The tender mau-
ner grew more tender, the sweet, low
y voice more caressing, the creeping touch
of her long white hand More vel7ety; as
it first pushed back the golden fringe that
! ct aIlxA har fn ta1 m Vol-
ter's chestnut head; the tremulous face
no longer dimpled with smiles or quiver-
ed with sympathy, but took on itself a
mask half mocking, half impassive, and
wholly irritating TO an antagonist; and
then Miss Hyslop was ushered into the
room, to find the siren in her most dan
gerOus mood, surrounded by her most
bewitching accessories, with her own
lover, who was also her rivals, sitting at
her feet, worshipping.
"Miss Hyslop! how very kind" said
, Madame Dufour, in a pretty, languid
voice. "a rare pleasure, but none the
less welcome" she aided, offering her
hand.
81 came for MIR. Drummond, Madame
Dufour; not to pay you 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 me?" asked Walter indif.
ferently.
, "I," said Kate.
"Your pleasure?" was Walters reply
not looking up.
{" prefer not to discuss my affairs ir
public" said Kate. 81 want you; tina
is enough; so, il. you please, Walter
come: and at once"
l az am engaged" said Walter; 81 can
not.n
Madame Dufour, must ask your as
l sistance," then said Kate, turning to her
, rival. "Will you kindly command Mr.
f Drummond to obey me?"
l "What an extraordinary proposition =
laughed the siren. "What do you TAKE
e me for, Miss HyslopY'
d. "What do [ take you for 2" frepea &c
. Kate, very slowly, and eyeing her keenly
{ Well, | might take you for many thing
: for an actress, say; or an adventures
for runaway; perhaps for woman wht
t ought to .be-where shall | say Pm Mill
: bank for forgery, like that Clara Bell tn,
papers were so full of just before yol
: came here; or L. might take you for Al
honest woman, intending no evil to an,
s one, and careful TO avoid scandal. Yoi
L see, Madame Dufour, stranger as yol
:, are may be anything. Who knows"
e During Kate's speech Madame Du
four's face had not changed
= muscle, save the faintest quivering of he
I upper lip, and the sudden starting of bi!
l drops both on it and on her brow.
!, "YOu have fertile fancy, Mis-
5 Hyslop," she drawled out with lttl
:, laugh. Really your roll-call of possibil
r tiles is so crowded, | cannot remembe
half my probable characters"
d Have you taken leave of your senses
Kate?" demanded Walter sternly.
l. "No; but you have" she replied, a
sternly. "Again'I ask, Walter, will yo
y leave Madame DufOur and come wit
: me?"
t "And again answer, 1 will not" sal
Walter, taking the long white hand in hi;
: "You have made 1t necessary, Kate, tha
: some one should protect Madame from il
/, suit; and | will be the one to do So"
e Poor simpleton !" said Kate with di!
o dain. You are greater fool, Walter
g than took you for; and l never though
n you very wise. However, your wisdoI
# or your folly is no business of mine.
3 have done my duty; and you must act 8
II you choose"
!. Without another word she turne
y y round, and went out I; and as she shut tn
u street-door after her Madame Dufour san
into Walters arms in violent fit of sol
. bing and weeping; and Walter, holdin
> her to his heart, kissed away her tear
J and told her that he loved her better tina
/ life itself, and that he would devote h
u life to her service, now and for ever.
e "Dear boy!" she said, at length, smi
= ing through the disorder of her passion
!. "It was worth the anguish of endurin
II ~ her insolence to know that have such
II II preux chevalier-that have such a ga
u i liant soul from so ungenial fate!"
Il And while this scene was takin
y place Kate was walking homewa1
y through the lane, muttering, half alou,
% 4" wonder if that shaft struck true!
,S could not read her face. | wonder if it
- she, after all That foolish fellow! Bl
. l will not let him go, all the same. h
# suits me; and he will soon forget tn
\ wicked woman when he finds out what 81
q is, if she is as | believe her to be. If 81
~ is not"
Il But this thought displeased her, ar
L she put it from her to indulge the drea
N that she was what certain letter.
" ceived that morning from London in a
:, swer to one of inquiry from her touchin
# suspicion she had enterttined from IL
~ first-gave great cause to suppose.
J. Kate was SO far wise in her generate
n that she could hold her peace. Havir
i. shot her bolt, she could afford to wait IL
n result Accordingly, when Walter r.
1t turned home late in the evening, she I
ceived him with the quiet stolidity cor
t. mon to her and neither by word or loo
r, made the faintest reference to the storm
Ie scene that had taken place at Elm Gotta,
i that morning. She prevented, too, the