The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-17

ewes was at once accounted for. would 'ha
it had been my happy lot TO com'orthe''
There wa, camp stool near by. Presently
7 venturo IN draw il Il little nearer ana 10 81
down on II, Ilushing at my temeri'y Us u'o
90 She did no: seem At I'LL offended, ana We
were nresentIy in the midst OF an animated
and INTERESTING conversation There was NJ
haute1tr about madam. ON the contrary, sh'
was capdor itself She had only been thre'
DAYS in London, she told me. She had been
STAYING with Sir Henry Flz Evans, who mao
charge of her late husbands interests in Eng
land. She was now going back into secusion
going back to the little cottage IN which she
had dwelt ever since her dear husbands death
She would not be able to 60 forward by the
tidal train, she told me- having business
call to make in CALAIS. She would go Tor
ward by the evening train.
All thus was told me with charming frank
pess. There was no reason why should ho'
wait and 20 forward with her by the evening
train-if she woHld only allow me to a. So
When 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-well, | could almost nave
sworn that she blushed. ! had already told
her that was bound for Paris on special
GRAND for my father; but had not saia a
woId about the ring, nor had she even seen IT,
had put on my gloves before leaving the
train at Dover, and still wore them. Int
ltle while longer and we found ourselves at
calais. When we landed madame admitted
that she was hungry, and that luncheon
would be desirable feature Of the pro
gramme. Accordingly, while she went about
her business, | took u couture and drove to The
Hotel Dessn. There, in the course OF halt
an hour, madame joined me.
Now one can't very well partake OF lunch,
con in kid gloves. The question was wheth.
er should partake of mine with the ling on
my finger, or whether shonld put it care
fully away IN the box and hide it out OF sight
If you have any knowledge Of what human
nature is at 81, especially when theresa pref
ty woman in the case, you will know the de-
cisiOn | arrived at
Madam pecked little at this aud that, but
hardly ate more than sparrow might have
done. Hov swiftly the minutes seemed to
| fly! / Cuud have fingered on in that coy
little room iur year. When the cloth was
drawn and we were left to ourselves, with a
bottle of hook on the table between us, some
how our chairs seemed to gravitate toward
each other. Or perhaps 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
eyes, considerably more than Is good for
me, I'm afraid"
"Then smoke now. ObIige me. I like to
see 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 u charm
ing hand it was. "7enez. am going to
make confession" said she. 81 smoke, too,
moi. Cigarettes lived for several years
| in Spain, where nearly all the ladies smoke.
You are not shocked, hope, at the idea OF q
lady smoking a cigarette"
SHOCKED, madame"
"No Of course not. You are too much
man OF the world. You are above such insu'
lar prejudiccs. Eli 6ien, you shall smoke one
of my CT garettes." From the satchel at her side
she took an embroidered case, which she OPP
cned and babe me choose a cigarette. did
so, and she took another. Then with her own
far fingers she took an allumete, and held it
while lighted the weed. Then she lighted
her own She could not fail to see my ring
as she lighted the mach.
81 dare say you find the flavor little pecu-
liar" said madame, minute or two later.
"These cigarettes are made of periumed to-
hac; 20. | never smoke any others. / hope
you don't find yours very disagreeable."
"On the contrary, madame, am quite in
love with ii. AS you say the flavor is slight
ly peculiar, but aromatic and Personal---very.
pleasant To tell the truth, didn't like 1t
at all, but then | wouldn't have SAID so tor
worlds.
We smoked on in silence What would
this superb creature say to me, wondered, if
were 10 tell her how madly had fallen in
love with her? Would she reject me with
scorn, or would She gave start, and
was shocked to find that had been falling
asleep. Fortunately madame had not no.
ticed me. Her large melancholy eyes were
1ent upon the stove There was certainly
something very soothing, something that in,
ciined to slumber and happy dreams about
madame's peculiar cigarettes. If had but
two thousand year now, and this sweet crea-
ture to share II with me, how happy l could
| be! Certainly she must have been some six
or seven years older than myself, but | never
was one to care tor your chits OF schoolgirls,
who set up for beng women before they are
out of their teens. Here was al angel who
had been left desolatc, who had been cast on
bleak and unfctling world, who had pinned
for a heart and home--tor heart that brlm-
med over with love. Gracious goodness! |
had n heart that yearned toward her-that-
that Why-eh-how was this? And where
was /?
L uNDkc VIII IL SllNtI. Dul Ibl
in the courtyard the room would have been
quite dark My head was aching trightfully.
got up and staggered to the window. When
| looked out and saw the familiar courtyard,
everything came back to me like flash OF
| light. Where was madame? Why had
slept so long? What a boor she must take
me TO be? CROPPED for the bell and rang it
violently. Up came the waiter with a candle.
"Where is madame | demanded.
MADAME" he answered, event out nearly
three hours ago, saying that she wanted 10
make a few purchases, and would be back
in little while. On no account she said,
was her brother, who had suffered terribly
| from anal do aer IN crossing, to be disturbed.
Madame he added, has not yet returned"
Gone three hours ago, Her brother, Nal
dc mcr! What could it all mean? As | sat
down, utterly hcwildcrcd, my arm pressed
against the little box in my pocket Mechan-
| ically 7 glanced at my finger. The ring was