The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-02-01

HlCIeLn Time, she spoke. Would mon
sieur have the goodness to ask the stew
ard to bring me little cognac?" She
spoke in French. IA the song says,
Her voice was low and sweet" was
too huttered to answer her. could
only bow and grin, and make a bolt for
the stewards den. OF course I took the
cOgnac to her myself You should have
seen how prettily she thanked me. She
slipped at it as a canary might do if that
bird were in the habit of drinking
brandy. II hope that mademoiselle is
somewhat revived" | ventured to OBJ
serve presently.
Yes, very much revived, thanks to
monsieur. But am not mademoiselle.
[ am madame. I am a widow" She
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes as
she spoke. How interesting, nay, how
touching, was this simple confession!
The wistful sorrow in her eyes was at
once accounted for. Would that it had
been my happy lot to comfort her.
There was a camp-stool close by.
Presently I ventured to draw it a little
nearer and to sit down on it, blushing at
my temerity as did so. She did not
seem at all offended, and we were pres
emily in the midst of an animated and
interesting conversation. There was no
haute'T about madame. On the con-
trary, she was candor itself. She had
been staying with Sir Henry Fitz Evans,
who had charge Of her late husbands in.
terets in England. She was now going
back into seclusiOn-going back into the
little cottage in which she had dwelt
ever since her dear husbands death.
She would not be able to go forward by
the tidal train, she told me, having a
business call to make in Calias. She
would 90 forward by the evening train.
All this was told me with charming
frankness. There was no reason why l
should not wait and go with her by the
evening train-if she would only allow
me to do so. When l threw out hint
to that effect, she offered no objection.
She'admitted at once that she was fond
of society, and then she looked at me
and-welI, ! could almost have sworn
that she blushed. had already told her
that I was bound for Paris on a special
errand for my father; but had not said
a word about the ring, nor had she even
seen it. I had put on my gloves before
leaving the train at Dover, and still
wore them. A little while longer and we
found ourselves at Calais. When we
landed, madame admitted that she was
he ngry, and that luncheon would be a
desirable feature of the programme.
Accordingly, while she went about her
business, | took a r0it'rs and drove to
the hotel Desin. There, in the course of
half an hour, madame joined me.
Now one cant very we'll partake of
luncheon in kid gloves. The question
was whether I should partake of mine
with the ring on my finger, or whether
I should put it carefully away in the
box and hide it out ofsight. Ifyou have
any knowledge of what human nature is
at twenty,one, especially when there's
pretty women in the case, you will know
the decision | arrived ut.
Madame pecked little at this and
that, but hardly ate more than a sparrow
might have done. How swiftly the
moments seemed to fly! l could have
fingered on in that cozy little
room year. When the cloth
was drawn and we were left to our
selves, with bottle of hook on the table
between us, somehow our chairs seemed
to gravitate toward each other. Or per
haps it was the stove that attracted us,
for the afternoon was chilly. In any
case, we found ourselves in closer prOx-
unity. Then said madame, Do you
not smoke, monsieur % Yes, consider
ably more than is good for me, I'm
afraid" Then smoke now. Obige
me. | like to see a gentleman smoke
| rose in order to get my cigar case out
of the pocket of my Overcoat. Madame
laid her hand lightly on my ARMAND
what a charming hand it was! - T'"es.
l am going to make confession she
said. II smoke toO-m0i. Cigarettes.
Ii e. ....,r.,l LOO ~. in Snnin whore