The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-10-13

van of civilization. Everything was
again in exemplary order. | availed
myself of this favorable moment of rare
tranquility to execute at last the COM
mission intrusted to me so many months
before. | had no difficulty in finding the
house that had been indicated. 1t was
beautiful, spacious edifce. The porter
who stuck his head from out the con-
cieree-box had a dignitied, sedate APP
pearance.
"Does Mademoiselle de Villers live
here?" | asked.
Mademoiselle? answered he. "No
doubt you mean Nine. de Villars%'
| suddenly remembered that it did, in
deed, sound unbecoming to ask for a
young lady, and replied:
"Of course, mean Nine. de Villers."
"Second story, left door," and the
little window was shut again. A pretty
seryant-maid, wearing a snow-white
coquettish little morning cap, opened the
door and looked at me inquiringly.
Il wish to speak to Nine. de Villers,"
said |. The servant-maid inspected me
for moment, then courtesied and ush-
cred me in. | followed in some embar-
rassment. | had pictured quite other
wise my entrance into the house of poor
Jacques beloved. The parlor into which
the maid had led me was of striking ele-
gance.
"Whom have I the honor of announc-
ingW asked my conductress
/ handed her my card. "Mme. de
Villers 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
bearer disappeared behind the heavy silk
hangings which covered the door, | was
kept waiting long time. examined
the room in which / found myself.
Never had / seen such extravaganza and
luxury. A costly Aubusson carpet COW
cred the floor; curtains of heavy antique
stuffs concealed doors and windows, and
yelled the room in a mysterious twilight
A richly-ornamented rosewood piano,
such as is generally seen at expositions,
attracted my eyes. The comfortable
seats and touches were covered with silk
damask. The clock and the candelabra
on the mantel were perfect works of art.
On the tables, the chimney-piece, the
piano, wherever one looked, lay, or stood
art-treasures Of every description
Chinese vases, antique Severes cups, Jap
anese caskets and chests, ivory cases and
carvings, curious weapons (among them
a dagger whose hilt and sheath were
adorned with precious stones), and a
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
picture ornamented the parlor, and at
once arrested the gaze 1t was the por-
trait of a lady, and was painted by
one of the most famous and ex-
orbitant artists of France. The original
must have been of conspicuous beauty,
unless the picture had been inordinately
battered. 1t represented a woman in
the fairest bloom of her years. "Prob-
ably the mother of jeanne" | said to
myself. Jacques Frometin was appar-
entity on the lookout for rich relatives
and a handsome mother-in-law. 1t is
only pity that people make such dis
play of their wealth and beauty. Mod
esty and simplicity are not seldom trod-
den out by the reigning generation.
What a wonderful glance the picture
bends on me. 1t must have required a
certain courage TO marry the original.
and, if Monsieur de VilIers 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 portraits
of the old Italian masters" [ started
suddenly and rose from the seat which |
hsd taken opposite the picture. Near
me stood tall, beautiful woman with
auburn hair and dark eyes, who had evil
IDENTIFY 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 mother"
said | to myself. "This lady is at the
most 80 years Old" She was holding nv
card still in her hand, but she now laid it
on little table that stood near her,
seated heated herself on a couch, and
motioned to me at the same time to be
seated. | felt, without seeing it, that
her glance measured me from head to
foot.
May I ask what has given me the
honor of this visit" she began.
Her voice was the deep, full, mellow
voice of the southern races.
" L came in fulfillment of melan-
choly duty" answered /. 81 promised
dying man to perform and errand for
him to Mademoiselle Jeanne de Villers
May | request of you the honor of an
introduction to the young lady?'
"The young lady, Mademoiselle
Jeanne de Villers, is myself" she said,
emphasizing the words young lady"
and :" Mademoiselle" with smile.
| sat speeches. for some seconds
Then | experienced a feeling of repug-
nance, almost of anger, and, without
taking pains to conceal it, said harshly:
&" Then my errand Is easily accomplish
ed. On the 18th of October there was a
sklrmlsh at Montmagny, and the French
were repulsed, and were obliged to leave
their dead and wounded in our hands
Among the first of these was a young
officer who had fought CALAMITY, and
who had been carried dying to the field
hospital OF Ecouen, with a 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
he said; tell her that | have died in the
performance of my duty, faithful unto
death. | bless the hour when | saw her;
| bless the hour when / was loved by her
and loving her | die. The young officer
was called Jacques Fromentin, and /
solemnly promised him to convey the
news of his death to Mile. Jeanne de
Villers. He lies buried in the park of
Ecouen, behind the castle of the Con-
stable Anne de Montmorency. | am
charged with the duty of conducting you
thither if you desire it,