The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-06-29

whether / deserve the name of poet, but
1 plead guilty to publishing a volume of
verse year ago, which brought me but
little fame and less money"
"Your beautiful book should have Sc
cured you both"
"Am i to understand that Made
moiselle Lamont has read my little
book ?"
81 have read and admired it over and
over again, and if all the world were like
me your book would have made you ia
NOUS"
If all the world were like you this
world would be paradise" cried Victor,
overjoyed to hear his neglected book
praised.
Look at me, Monsieur st. Aubyn !;
is paradise composed of such p
Victor raised his eyes to her face.
Those lips were indeed hideous, but
from them came words of praise and en-
couragement to cheer HIM onward in his
efforts to reach Fame's proud temple.
Those cheeks were pale and yellow, but
perhaps they had glowed with enthusiasm
over his poetry.
" If you will excuse me, Mademoiselle,
I will say that the hours are not quite
SO plain"
Don't mince matters, Monsieur st.
Aubyn-my glass tells the truth, and I
want you to do the same.
"But, Mademoiselle, it is not custom
airy for gentlemen to speak so plainly to
ladies about their personal appearance.
Monsieur Victor st. Aubyn, want
you to understand, once for all, that
Emile Lamont is not like other
women. Therefore, do not hesitate to
say what you think of me-.
"Well, then, if you insist on it, 1 can
only say you are bitter ugly"
"Bitter ugly like that; that is re-
freshing-bitter ugly-very good I" cried
Emile, with laugh as sweet and mu-
steal as q silver bell.
a" am glad my plain language has not
offended you. 1t is certainly venturing
upon dangerous ground to tell lady
that she is ugly"
"You must remember that / am not
like other women"
Emile rang the bell and ordered the
servant to have everything arranged in
the blue room.
" You have harp, Mademoiselle; do
you play and sing ?" asked Victor, draw
ing her attention to superb instrument
in one corner of the room.
Sometimes to while away weary
hour"
evil you favor me with some music ?"
he asked, handing her the harp.
"With pleasure" lightly touching the
strings, and eiclting strains that might
have come from the inspired fingers of
st. Cecilia.
Victor was deeply affected, and, when
the last sad notes had died away, he said:
Mademoiselle, thank you on my knees
for your sweet kindness in singing that
and calling it your favorite"
AS he spoke door in the lower end of
the room glided back, displaying an inner
apartment arranged for n repast.
Monsieur, will you partake of some
fruit which is served in the next room?"
"Thank you" said Victor, rising and
offering Emile his arm to escort her to
the the next apartment.
Monsieur said Mademoiselle La
mont, as they sat down to tempting ar
ray of delicacies, Monsieur, 1 wish you
to see what can produce. All the fruit
of the table came from my garden"
"They are like everything else here
delightful" said Victor, tasting lus-
cious peach. "Indeed, can hardly be-
lieve that all have seen to-day is real
and substantial. Walking through your
splendid grounds could have imagined
myself in the garden of Hesperides.
Seated in yon gorgeous saloon, could
hardly help fancying that / saw an en-
chanting vision which would soon dis
solve, leaving me nothing but the dull
realities of lfe."
You poets are like that ethereal bird,
the huma, which never touches the
ground you are always flying in the
air, and dislike touching this poor earth
of ours.
"Had 1 the wings of an angel could
not fly to more delightful abode than l
have found to-day, nor receive more
gratifying welcome than that which you
have 80 kindly given me.
Victor returned to his books and
studies from his visit to Larose with a
feeling of satisfaction to which he had
long been stranger. His prospects
looked brighter. He had secured
powerful friend in the Lady of Larose.
Her kindness to Him had touched his
tender heart, and it seemed as natural
for her to be agreeable as it is for the
flowers to bloom and the birds to sing.
Emile had invited Victor to visit Lat
rose by moonlight. He did so one beau
tiful evening. They strolled about the
lovely grounds. He told her of his
struggles, of his golden aspirations, and
of his disappointments. She consoled
him with sweet and gentle words, and
she pointed to the future and assured him
that his hopes would be realized. Vic
tor felt the influence of that delicious
voice, and in that soft hour he knelt at
her feet and told her that he loved her
To shorten the story. the day appoint
ed for the wedding arrived. Everything
was ready. Victor, handsome and ex-
pectant, advanced to meet the bride,
when lovely girl of 10, with a face and
form that might have served as model
for Apedes when he painted his exquis-
tie picture of Venus, came forward and |
took the hand of the future husband.
This beautiful being was none other
than the Lady of Larose, who had so
long excited the curiosity of Paris, her
ravishing beauty being concealed by a
frightful and ingeniously-constructed |
mask.