The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-01-25

OrS. Only TWO laetleS "eio fioioio'
WAS a stout, middle~ageds person, wh'
was eating and drinking nearly th'
whole way across- evidently an old salt
The other was-well, simply the mos
charming creature that.I tad ever Sc
eyes on. In point of fact, could no
keep my eyes off her. Ipassed her ant
repassed her as | paced the deck iron
end to end, and every time that passeC
her looked at her, Wha. lovely gray
eyes! What:snperb yellow hair! But rs
for her complexion, it would ueed apoet
to describe its wild-rose tints. Once OF
twice her eyes met mine just for mo
ment, and it struck me that they were
'uil Of . wistin! sauness. y. So tar aE !
could judge. she was entirely alone. We
were about half way across when, y, ]
passed her for the fftieth time, she
spoke. "Woltld monsieur hays the
goodness to ask the steward to bring me
little cognac?" She spoke in French.
As the song says, "IIer voice was low
and sweet" | was too Suffered t. ar
swcr her. I could only bow and grin,
and make bolt for the stewards den.
OF course took the cOgnac to her my
self. You should have seen how pret-
tily she thanked me- She slipped at il
rs canary might do Il that bird were
in the habit Of diinAing brandy. 81
hope that mademoiselle is somewhat re-
yived," [ ventured to observe presently.
] "Yes, very much revived, thanks 70
monsieur. But I an not mademoiselle.
[ am madame. | am a widow She
pressed ne, handkerchief to her eyes as
she spoke. How interesting, nay, how
touching, was this simple confessionl
The wistful sorrow in her eyes was at
once accounted for Would that IT hatl
been my happy lot to comfort her.
There was camp stool close by.
Presently l ventured to draw it little
nearer and sit down on it, blushing at
my temerity as [ did SO. Che did not
seem q: all offended, and we were pres
entity in the midst of an animated and
interesting conversation. There was no
ih0utcai nbout madame. On the con-
trary. she was cundor itself. She had
been staying with Sir Henry Fitz Evans,
WHO had charge Of her late husband S
interests in England She was now go
ing back into seclnsion-going back in
to the little Cottage III which she had
dwclt ever since her husbands death.
She would not be able to go forward by
the tidal train, size told me, having e
business call to make in Calais. She
wonld go forward byEtha evening train.
All this she told me with charming
tE.--.s.--, -i'I-a-,, -a,,r, -s---'-ossl
should not wait and 90 with her by tli
evening train--if she wonid oa}y alloS
me. When I threw ont hint to tina
effect she made no objection. She ad
mitteG II oI2e tbs. she was ionC o. SO
cicty, and then she looked at me and
we'll, could almost haYl sworn that sh
blushed had already told her that
Was bound for Paris on q special errals
for nv father; but had rot said wort
abont the ring, ito' lad she even seen
it. had put on my gloves before leay-
ING the train at Dover. and | still wore
them. A little while longer and we
found ourselves Mt Calais. When We
landed, madame admitted that she was
hungry, and that luncheon would be q
desirable fAHtn.e Of the programme.
Accordingly, while she went about her
business, took voiture aad drove to
the hotel Dasin. There, in the course
OF half an hour madame joined me.
Now one cant very veil rattafc Of
luncheon in kid gloves. The question
was whether I should partake of mine
with the ring on my finger, or whether
shou!d put it carefully away in the box
and hide it ont of sight. II you have
any knowledge of what human nature
is ct twenty one, especially when there 5
a pretty woman in the, case, you will
know the decision arrived at.
Madame pecked q little at this and
that, but hardly ate more than spa'-
row might have done. How swiftly the
moments seemed to fly! I could have
7 fingered on in that cozy little room for
more than year. Wut'h the cloth wae
drawn and VIC were left to ourselves,
with q bottle of hook on the table be-
tween rs, somehow our chairs seemed
to gravitate toward each other. Oh
perhaps it WAS the stove that attracted
us, for the afternoon was chilly. In any
case, we found ourselves in closer pro1-
unity. Tben said madame: "Do You
not smoke, monsiear?' eyes, consid-
trat1y more than is good f5t me, I'm
afraid" "Then smoke low. Obligf
me. 7 like 10 see gentleman smoke.
/ rose in order to get my cigar case out
of my overcoat. Madsne land her hanC
Lightly on my armand what charm
, ing hanG it was! "1tnez. I am going
to make confession" she said 81
smoke too-moi. Cigarettes. IliveG
for several years in Spain where neariJ
all the ladies smoke. You are no
shocked at the idea of a lady smoking
eigarette?' =
= :, Shocked, madame"
"No, Of course not. You are to,
much man of the world. You ar,
7 above such insular preiudices. En- biea
;. you Shall smoke one Of my cigarettes.
! From the sachel by her side she drew
n an embroidered case, which she opene,
: and bid me choose a cigarette. I die
" 50, she took another. Then with he
=, - own fair fingers she struck an oUumette
At and held it while I lighted the weed
10 linen she lighted her own. She couI,
n not fail to see my ring. as she lighte,
- the match.
(tL