Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-02-22

SofIOn IA uoI eyes HdS aS OacC TX
counted for. Would that it hao
been my happy lot to comfort her!
There was a camp-stool close by
Presently I ventured to draw a LITTLE
nearer and to sit down on it, BLUSH
ing at my temerity as | did SO. She
did not seem at all offended, and We
were presently in the midst of an
animated and interesting CONVERSE
ton. There was no hauteur about
Madame. On the contrary, she was
candor itself. She had only been
three days in London, she told me.
She had been staying with Sir Henry
Fitz Evans, who had charge of her
late husbands interests in England.
She was now going back into seclu-
sion,-going back. to the little cot
tage in which she had dwelt ever since
her husbands death. She would not be
able to go forward by the tidal train,
she told me, having a business call to
make in Calais. She would go for
ward by the evening train.
All this was told me with charming
trankness. There was no reason why
| should not wait and go forward
with her by the evening train-if she
would only allow me to do so. When
| threw out a hint to that effect she
offered no objection. She admitted
at once that she was found of society,
and then she looked at me, and
we'll, | could almost have sworn that
she bIushal |. lad already told her
that [ was bound for Paris on a spe-
cial GRAND for my father; but | had
not said a word about the ring, nor
had she even seen it. | had put on
my gloves before leaving the train at
Dover, and | still wore them. A lit
tie while longer and we found our
s~selves Mt Calais. When we landed,
Madame admitted that she was hum
grv, and that luncheon would be a
desirable feature Of the programme.
Accordingly, while she went about
her business, | took a voiture and
drove to the hotel dessin. There. in
the course of half an hour, Madame
joined me.
Now one can't very well partake of
luncheon in kid gloves. The ques-
ton was whether | should partake of
mine wiki the ring on my finger, or
whether [ should put it carefully
away in the box and hide it out Of
sight. If you have any knowledge
of what human nature is at 81, es-
pecially when there's a pretty woman
in the case, you will know the decis-
Oh l. dIIittu at. .
Madame pecked q little at this and
that, but hardly ate more than a SPAR
row might have done. How swiftly
the minutes seemed to fly. | could
have fingered on in that coy little
room for a year. When the cloth
was drawn and We were left to our
selves, with a bottle of hook on the
table between us, somehow our chairs
seemed to grayitate towards each
other. Or perhaps it was the stove
that attracted us, for the afternoon
was chilly. In any case, We found
ourselves in closer proximity. Then
said Madame, "Do you not smoke,
Monsieur z" eyes, considerably
more than is good for me, I'm afraid
Then smoke now. Oblige me, |
like to e Il gentleman smoke" |
rose in order to get my cigar case out
of the pocket Of my overcoat. Mad
anne laid her hand lightly on my arm
and what a charming hand it was!
''Tenez, l am going to make a con-
said she, / smoke, too
moi. Cigarettes. 1 lived for several
years in Spain, where nearly all the
smoke. You are not shocked,
l hope, at the idea, of a lady smok-
ing a cigarette?
Shocked, Madam-"
"No, of course not. You are
too much a man of the world. You
are above such insular prejudices.
Ehbion, you shall smoke one of my
cigarettes" From the sachel by her
side she drew an embroidered case.
che cyonoI orJ I.I o.o