Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-05


the house that had been indicated. 1t was a
beautiful, spacious edifce The porter who
stuck his head from out the concierge-box
had dignifed, sedate appearance.
Does Mademoiselle de Villers live here Z"
l asked
'Mademoiselle :" answered he. mo doubt
you mean Madame de Nillers :"
I suddenly remembered that it did indeed
sound unbecoming to ask for a young lady,
and replied.
'Of course mean Madame de Villers."
Second story, left door" and the little
window was shut again. A pretty servant
maid, wearing n snow-white, coquettish little
morning-cap opened the door and looked at
me inquiringly.
II wish to speak to Madame de Villers,"
said |. The sorvant-maid inspected me for
moment, then courtesed and ushered me in.
| followed in some embarrassment l had
pictured quite otherwise my entrance into the
home of poor Jacques's beloved The parlor
into which the maid had led me was of strik-
ing elegance.
Whom have ! the honor of announcingY -
asked my conductress.
l handed her my card. Madame de Vii
lers does not know me-" / added. Tell her,
please, that / am here ON an errand from
friend Of the family"
The card was taken from me, and the bear
er disappeared behind the heavy silk hang
ings which covered the door / was kept
waiting a long time. ] examined the room in
which found myself Never had seen such
eAtrayaga.le and luxury costly Aubusson
carpet covered the floor: curtains of heavy
antique stuffs concealed doors and windows,
and veiled the room in a mysterious twilight
A richly ly-omamented rosewood piano, such as
is generally seen at exhibitions, attracted my
eyes The comfortable seats and couches
were covered with silk damask. The clock
and candelabra on the mantel were perfect
works of urt On the tables, the chimney
piece, the piano, wherever one looked lay or
stood art treasures of every description-Chi-
nese vases, antique Seyres cups, Japanese
caskets and chests ivory cases and carvings,
curious weapons (among them n dagger whose
hilt and sheath were adorned with precious
stones), and hundred other similar objects.
| noticed with some surprise, that an onyx
bowl stood on the mantel, in which were Rus
sian papyri of different sizes. A single pic
ture ornamented the parlor, and at once ar
rested the gaze. 1t was n portrait of a lady,
and was painted by one of the most famous
and exorbitant artists of France. The orig
inal must have been of conspicuous beauty,
unless the picture had been inordinately fiat
tered 1t represented n woman in the fairest
bloom of her years Probably the mother
Vi Jthlnc, l idlll 10 uNScu. daCtutS
Fromentin was apparently on the lookout for
rich relatives and handsome mother-n-law.
1t is only pity that people make so much
display of their wealth and their beauty.
Modesty and simplicity are not seldom trod-
den out by the reigning generation. What
wonderful glance the picture bends on me II
must have required certain degree of cour-
age to marry the original, and, if Monsieur
de Nillers succeeded in binding his wife to
him, he must have been no ordinary man
She scarcely looks like Frenchwoman. The
auburn hair, the dark eyes, recall the por-
traits of the old Italian masters. | started
suddenly and rose from the seat which | 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 picture before me
represented, and the resemblance to this was
perfect. She cannot possibly be the moth
er, said l to myself. This lady is at most
thirty years old She was holding my card
still in her hand. but she now laid it on lit
tie table that stood near her, seated herself on
n couch, and motioned me at the SAME time to
be seated. l felt, without seeing it, that her
glance measured me from head to foot
May ask what has given me the honor
of this visit z" she began
Her voice was the deep, full, mellow voice.
of the southern races.
Il came in fulfllment of melancholy du-
ty," answered /. Il promised dying man
to perform an errand for him, to NIademoi-
selle Jeanne de Villers. May l request of
you the honor of an introduction to that
young LADY,"
The young lady. Mademoselle Jeanne de
Villers, is myself replied She emphasizing
the words young lady" and ''mademoiselle"
with smile
| sat speechless for some seconds. Then /
experienced feeling of repugnance, almost
of anger, and, without taking pains to con-
ceal it, l said harshly:
Then my errand is easily accomplished.
On the 18th of October there was a skirmish
Mt Montmagny and the French were repulsed,
and were obliged to leave the dead and
wounded in our hands. Among the first of
these was young officer who had fought gal
lantly, and who had been carried dying into
the field-hospital of Ecouen, with n bullet in
his breast. There, in the course of the day
he breathed his young life away. / 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 the performance of my duty.
faithful unto death. bless the hour when l
saw her; bless the hour when | was loved
by her, and loving her die The young of
fcer was called jacques Fromentin, and sol
emnly promised him to convey the news of
his death to Madame Jeanne de Villers. He
lies buried in the park of Ecouen, behind the
castle of the Constable Anne de Montmorency.
am charged with the duty of conducting
you thither if you desire it."
While had been speaking. she had sat qui-
etly listening without taking her eyes off ma.
As l mentioned her name and the name of the
dead, she had made slight, scarcely percep-
tible movement. That had been all. When
l ceased long pause ensued.
Poor Jacques" :" she broke the silence, and
her voice was calm and sonorous rs before.
He had a loyal, noble soul, and was very
fond of him. l had long been expecting
the news of his death, for knew that 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; / remember
well having seen it, on his finger 1t belonged
originally to me, but il was a little too large
for me; he took it one day from my hand,
and placed it on his finger, saying the ring
would only leave him with his life the scene
is still before my eyes. l laughed at his en-
thusiasm. He was easily moved, and took
great many things in the most tragic way
which did not touch me at all. We even often
quarreled over this, for he could not pardon me
my frghtful calmness as he called it. But
he was good, true man, poor jacques, and
have often thought of him since his death.
II found it difficult not to give expression
to my repulsion; but she did not seem to no.
tice at all the impression she made upon me,
and continued unconsciously;
80 you had him buried in Ecouen. have
a little villa in st. -Gratien, and learn through
my servants that the whole district is full of
soldiers therefore would rather avoid the
pilgrimage During the past two months
have had great many emotions, and need
rest At the corner of the street, not hun
dred steps from here, the communists built a
barricade. Fortunately, no fighting took
place. l should have died of terror if had
heard cannonadinp near nv house"