River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-11-01

second story, lett door, and the little
window was shut again. A pretty servant
maid, wearing a snow-white coquettish
little morning-cap opened the door, and
| looked at me inquiringly.
II wish to speak to Nine. de Villers,
said /. The servant maid inspected me
for amoment, then courtesied and ushered
me in. | followed her in some embar-
rassment. | had pictured quite other
wise my entrance into the house of poor
Jacques beloved. The parlor into which
the maid had led me was of striking ele-
gance.
"Whom have / the honor OF announc-
ingl" asked my conductress.
handed her my card. mime. de
Villers does not know me- ] added.
'sTell her, please, that / am here on an
Grand from friend of the family"
The card was taken from ne, and the
bearer disappeared behind TIE heavy silk
hangings which covered the door. was
kept waiting long time. l examined
the room in which found myself. Never
had l seen such extravaganza and lux
ury. A costly Ambusson carpet covered
the floor; curtains of heavy antique stuffs
concealed doors and windows, and yelled
| the room in a mysterious twilight A
ELECTROMAGNETIC rosewood piano, such
as is generally seen at oxpositions, at
tracted my eyes. The comfortable seats
and touches were covered with silk
damask. The clock and candeiabra on
the mantel were perfect works ofart. On
the tables, thechimney- piece, the piano,
wherever one looked, lay, or stood art
treasures of every description-Chirese
vases, antique Sevres cups, japan csc
caskets and chests, ivory cases and cary
ings, curious weapons (among them a
dagger whose hilt and sheath were adorn-
ed with precious stonesl, and a hundred
other similar objects. / noticed, with
some surprise, that an onyx box stood on
the mantel, in which were Russian papyri
of different sizes. A single picture orna-
mented the parlor, and at once arrested
the gaze. 1t was the portrait of a lady,
and was painted by one of the most IA
nous and exorbitant artists of France.
The original must have been of consplcu-
Gus beauty, unless the picture had been
inordinately fiattered. 1t represented a
woman in the fairest bloom of her years.
''Probably the mother of Jeanne" | said
to myself. jacques Fromentin was APP
parently on the lookout for rich relatives
and handsome mother-in-law. 1t is
only pity that people make so much
display of their wealth and their beauty.
Modesty and simplicity are not seldom
trodden out by the reigning generation
What wonderful glance the picture
bends ON mel 1t must have required a
certain courage to marry the original, and
if Monsieur de Villers succeeded in bind
ing his wife to him, he must have been
no ordinary man. She scarcely looks
like a Frenchwoman. The auburn hair
the dark eyes, recall the portraits of the
"old Italian masters" | started suddenly,
and rose up from the seat ] had taken
opposite the picture. Near me stood a
tall, beautiful woman with auburn hair
and dark eyes, who had evidently entered
the room through one of the tapestried
doors. She was no older than the pic
ture before me represented, and the re-
semblance to this was perfect. "She can
not possibly be the mother" said / to
myself. "This lady is at most 30 years
old" She was holding my card still in
her hand but she now laid it on little
table that stood near her, seated herself
on a couch, and motioned to me at the
same time to be seated. / felt without
seeing it, that she measured me from
head to foot.
"May ask what has given me the
honor of this visit?" she began.
Her voice was the deep, full, mellow
voice of the southern races.
81 came in fulfillment of a melancholy
IL 81 Il
man to perform an errand for him to
Mademoiselle Jeanne de Villers. May
request of you the honor of an introduce
ton to the young lady3"
THE young lady Mademoiselle Jeanne
de Villers, is myself" replied she, en-
phaslzing the words "young lady" and
mademoiselle with smile.
/ sat speechless for some seconds.
Then l experienced a feeling of repug-
nance, almost of anger, and, without TAX
ing pains to conceal it, said harshly:
:" Then my errand is easily accom-
plished. On the 18th of October there
was skirmish at Montagory, and the
French were repulsed, and were obliged
to leave their dead and wounded in our
hands. Among the first of those was a
young officer who had fought calamity,
and who had been carried dying into the
field hospital of Ecouen, with bullet in
his breast.
There, in the course of the day, he
breathed his young life away. l sat by
his death bed, and saw that only one
thought lived within him the thought
of her he loved. / received his last
words: Give her this ring and this
KEY said he; "tell her that have died in
in the performance of duty, faithful unto
death. I bless the hour when saw her;
bless the hour when | was loved by
her, and loving her l die The young
officer was called Jacques Fromentin, and
/ solemnly prom ised him to convey the
news of his death to Mile Jeanne de Vii
lers. He lies buried in the park of
Ecouen, behind the castle of the Con-
stable Anne de Montmorency. | am
charged with the duty of conducting you
thither if you desire it."
While l had been speaking, she had
sat quietly listening without taking her
eyes off me. As / mentioned her name,
and the name of the dead, she had made
slight, scarcely percephble movement.
That had been all. When | ceased, a
long paused ensued.
"Poor Jacques y she broke the silence,
and her voice was sonorous and calm as
before. Z" He had a loyal, noble soul, and
was very fond of him. | had long been
expecting the news of his death, for
knew he had fallen wounded into the
hands of the enemy, and that he would
have,written to me if he had not been
dead. The communication you make is
very valuable to me, and thank you for
it. This is indeed his ring; l remember
well having seen it on his finger. 1t be-
longed originally to me, but twas little
too large for me; he took it one day from
my hand, and placed it on his finger, say
ing the ring would only leave him with
his life; the scene is still before my eyes.
| laughed at his enthusiasm. lie was
easily moved and took q great many