The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-03-31

you expect to 60, madame"
al don't know. Let us make a pedes-
trian tour somewhere, you and together,
will you p
81 should like nothing better. When
shall we start?'
Et cetera. / shall not tire you, my
friend, with the particulars Of some doz-
en- similar conversations. every occasion
of which for four DAYS Madame de Paine
evidently sought. There was on her part
a constantly growing effort TO leave aside
all commonplace topics, and impart to
our interviews a character OF greater IN
timacy; there was on mine an equal
amount of obstinacy 10 combining them
within the strictesL limits ofsocial jargon,
and remaining resolutely on the ground of
worldly futiiity.
] now come to the scene that was TO
bring this painful struggle to close. and
unfortunately prove ell its vanity to me.
Monsieur. and Madame de Malouet
were giving last night grand farewell
ball totheir daughter, whose husband has
been recalled to his post of duty, and the
whole neighborhood within circuit Of
ten leagues had been summoned to the
feast. Toward ten o'clock an immense
crowd was overlooking the vast ground
floor of the chateau, in which the elegant
dresses, the lights. and the flowers were
mingled in dazzling confusion. AS was
trying to make my way into the main
drawing-room, found myself face to face
with Madame de Malouet, who drew me
slightly aside.
"WeIl my dear sir" she said, al do
| ,o. lie the looks of thinCs ~
"Mon Dieul what is there new? ?"
81 don't know exactly, but be on your
guard. Ali Mon Dieul have remark
able confidence in you, sir; you will not
take advantage of her, will you?
Her voice was tender and her eyes
moist
"You may rely upon me, madame
but sincerely wish / had gone week
ago"
"Eh mon Dieu! who could have fore-
seen such a thing2 y Hush
there she comesT
turned round and saw Madame de
Paine coming out Of the parlor; before
her the throng opened with that timor-
GUS eagerness and that species Of terror
which the supreme elegance of one of So
clety's queens generally inspire in our sex.
For the first time, Madame de Paine app
peared handsome to me- the expression OF
her countenance was wholly novel to me,
and a weird animation cleaned in her
eyes and TRANSPORTED her features.
"Am / to your taste2" she said.
, | manifested by know not what move
ment an assent, which was moreover but
: too evident to the keen eve Of a woman
81 was looking for you" she added, "tc
] show you the conservatory: it's fairy
! like. Gomez
{ She took my arm, and we started il
+. the direction of the conservatory door
! which opened at the other end ofthe par
lor, extending as far as the park, through
: the vines and the perfumes of hundreds o
D exotic plants, all the splendors of thu
s feast, While we were admiring the effec
i Of the drandoles that sparkled amid tn
4 luxuriant tropical fora like the brigh
= consultations of another hemisphere, sew
: eral gentlemen came to claim Madam
t de PaImes hand fo- a waltz; she refused
r them all, though | was sufficiently dis
e INTERESTED to join my entreaties to theirs
i "Our respective roles seem to ME some
what inverted" she said: 'it is ] VIII
e am OBTAINING you, and you wish to get ri
It of mep'
l. Heaven preserve me from such a.
r idea but am afraid lest you depriv
: yourself, out of kindness to me, OF
!, pleasure YOU are so fond of"
e "Nol / know very well that seek you
d and YOU avoid me. 1t is rather absur
o in the eyes OF the world, but care moth
e ing for that. For this one evening a
IS least, intend to amuse myself as l like
d | forbid YOU to disturb my happiness.
i am really very happy. have everythin
,f require-beautiiul flowers, excellen
v music around me, and a friend at my sid,
N 0nly-and that's a dark spot on my blu
" -sky-I am much more certain of tn
IT music and the flowers than | am of tn
II friend"
lie "You are entirely wrong"
n Explain your conduct, then. once fC
RS all. Why will you never talk seriousl
d: with me Why do you obstinately II
sr fuse to tell me one single word that savol
lie of confidence, of intimacy-of friendship
er in wordG'
to please reflect for a minute, madam
re where would that lead us TOT"
p "What is chat to you? That woul
e, lead us where it would. 1t is singuli
m that YOU should be more anxious abol
s. it than am"
Come, what would you think of n
ng if ventured to speak of love to you?
y, al don't ask you to make love to me
r. she said sharply.
al know it, ma lame; and yet it is Il
it inevitable turn my language would tai
if it ceased for a moment to be frivolo
u and commonplace. Now, admit tn
there is one man in the world who cou
not speak of love 10 you without incu
d. ring your contempt, and that / am tn
very man. / can not say that am We
y. much pleased with having placed mys,
an in such a position; but after all, it is {
and / cannot forget it."
e's THAT is showing a great deal of jud
ment."
-er "That is showing a great deal of cou
We age"
he She shook her head with an air
is. doubt, and resumed after a moment
silence"
it'll "Do you know that you have spok
er- to me as if were what is called #;
ch woman'2'
"Ol Madamep
"0fcourse, you think that | can nev
tT attribute to man who pays his address
to me any but improper intentions. i
am were 20, would deserve being callet
fast woman, and | do not / know y
ne, don't believe it, but it is the pure truth,
there is a God God knows me, an,
for pray to Him much ofteher than
lily thought He has kept me from do