The Worthington advance., 1877-11-01


moaned themselves in the first issue OF
their journals, had not failed in the Sec
ond issue to call the worlds attention to
the fact that the French army, in conse-
quence Of the victory it had achieved, had
once more reinstated France in her proper
seat of power in the van of civilization.
Everything was again in exemplary order.
I availed myself Of this favorable moment
Of rare tranquility to execute at last the
commission entrusted to me so many
months before. I had no difficulty in
finding the house that had been indicated.
1t was beautiful spacious edi6ce. The
porter who stuck his head from the con-
cierge box, had a digni6ed, sedate ap-
pearance.
''Does Mademoiselle deVillers live here?'
I asked.
"Mademoisclle2 answered he.
mo doubt you mean Nine. de Villers?''
l suddenly remembered that it did, in
deed sound unbecoming to ask for young
ady, and replied:
"Ofcourse; I mean Nine. de Vii
lers"
Second story, left door," and the little
window was shut again. A pretty servant
maid, wearing a snow-white coQuettish
little morning-cap, opened the door, and
looked at me inquiringly.
II wish to speak to Nine. de Villers,"
said I. The servant maid inspected me
for moment, then courtesied and ushered
me in. I followed her in some embar-
rassmcnt. I 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-
ing?" asked my conductress.
1 handed her my card. 'Mme. de
Villers does not know me-" 1 added.
"Tell her, please, that I 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. I was
kept waiting long time. I examined
the room in which l found myself. Never
had I seen such extravaganza and lux
ury. A costly Ambusson carpet covered
the floor; curtains of heavy antique stuffs
concealed doors and windows, and yelled
the room in mysterious twilight. A
richly-ornamented rosewood piano, such
as is generally seen at cxpositions, at
tracted my eyes. The comfortable seats
and couches were covered with silk
damask. The clock and candeiabra on
the mantel were perfect works ofart. On
the tables, the chimney-piece, the piano,
wherever one looked, lay, or stood art
treasures of every Chinese
vases, antique Sevres cups, japanese
caskets and chests, ivory cases and carv-
ings, curious weapons (among them a
dagger whose hilt and sheath were adorn.
ed with precious stones), and hundred
other similar objects. I noticed, with
some surprise, that an onyx box stood on
the mantel, in which were Russian papyri
of different sizes. A single picture orna-
mented the parlor, and at once arrested
the gaze. It was the portrait of lady,
and was painted by one Of the most "a
nous and exOrbitant artists of France
The original must have been of consplcu-
oQs beauty, unless the picture had been
inordinately fattered. 1t represented a
woman in the 1airest bloom Of her years
"Probal,ly the mother of Jeanne" / said
to myself. "Jacques Fromentin was ap.
parently on the lookout for rich relatives
and handsome mother-in-law. It is
only pity that people make so much
display Of their wealth and their beauty
Modesty and simplicity are not seldom
trodden out by the reigning generation
What wonderful glance the picture
bends on ME! It must have required 8
certain courage to marry the original, and
IT Monsieur de Villers succeeded in bind.
ing his wife to him, he must have been
no ordinary man. She scarcely looks
like Frenchwoman. The auburn hail
the dark eyes, recall the portraits Of the
''Old Italian masters" l started suddenly
and rose up from the seat l had taker
opposite the picture. Near me stood q
tall, beautiful woman with auburn hail
and dark eyes, who had evidently entered
the room through one of the tapestrieC
doors. She was no older than the pic.
ture before me represented, and the re-
semblance to this was perfect "She can
not possibly be the mother" said I tt
myself. "This lady is at most 80 year:
old" She was holding my card still ir
her hand, but she now laid it on a little
table that stood near her, seated hcrsel
On couch, and motioned to me at thu
same time to be seated. I felt withou
seeing it, that she measured me from
head to foot.
"May ask what has given me til,
honor of this visit2" she began.
Her voice was the deep, full, mellow
voice OF the southern races.
II came in fultillment of melanchol,
duty" answered I. II promised dyinf
man to perform an errand for him t,
Mademoiselle Jeanne de Villers. Nav
request of you the honor OF an introduc
ton to the young lady2"
"The young lady Mademoiselle Jcann,
de Villers, is myself" replied she, EN-
phaslzing the words "young lady," an,
mademoiselle with smile.
sat speeches. for some seconds
Then 1 experienced feeling of repug
nance, almost Of anger, and, without tax
ing pains to conceal it, said harshly:
"Then my erraud is easily accom-
plished. On the 18th of October Their
was skirmish at Montagory, and tn
French were repulsed, and were oblige,
to leave their dead and wounded in ou
hands. Among the first of those was
young officer who had fought gallantly
and who had been carried dying into tn
field hospital of Ecouen, with bullet j,
his breast.
There, in the course of the day, h
breathed his young life away. sat b,
his death-bed, and saw that only on,
thought lived within him the though
OF her he loved. I received his las
words: sGive her this ring and thi
Key, said he; "tell her that have died i,
In the performance of duty, faithful unit,