Louisiana capitolian., 1879-08-09

/
verging, in spite Of her, on the for
bidden subject.
| There was only one thing to do
change the conversation, which she
did, abruptly.
care you fond of flowers, Monsieur
Rendeau Hillaire ?"
"ExtravaSantly. My smoking-room
is a perfect conservatory"
"Are not these camellias beautiful ?
They are of very rare colors."
The charming widow handed him a
large bouquet of camellias, which had
ornamented the mantel, in u delicate
vase of Sevres ware.
"They are indeed, lovely. What
garden are they from9 have seen
none like them i'll Paris"
~ do not know where they were
procured. They were given me this
morning, by connoisseur in such
things-a Monsieur Delavignes.'
Rendoau Hillaire started.
81 have heard Of tho gentleman"
he said. o
After this his visit was tame. He
was almost frightened by tho persist
ency with which fate threw that mys-
terious parsonage across his path, and
left the presence of the fair widow
much earlier than he had intended,
although not until ne had gained her
promise to accompany him to grand
masque ball, to be given at the house
of mutual friend.
The night Of this ball arrived, with
out any further contretemps between
Rendeau Hillaire and his unknown
rival, and the former found Madame
Fleurdoree quite charming in her
pink domino. The salon of Count
Vendiron, where the ball was given,
was crowded, and everybody agreed
that there had not been q more bril-
liant fete in all for year.
AT four o'clock in the morning Rem
deau Hillaire and his fair partner pre-
pared to depart, after having greatly
enjoyed the occasion, but rs they
passed down the great stairway, q
somewhat unpleasant occurrence took
place, which rather marr9d their
pleasure.
A tall man in Spanish majo's
costume, closely masked, opposed
himself before them, and n a voice
more or less affected byo wine, de-
mandcd why they were SO early.
~ do not know you, sir 1said Rem
dcau Hillaire, stcrnly, ''let mo pass,
if you please"
~ an appointed" said the majo,
with an unsteady gesture, "by my
friend, Count Vendiron, to see that
no one leaves ut IN unreasonable
hour. He las commissioned me to
stop all who try to pass, and if they
refuse, to exact n kiss from each lady.
Madame Fleurdoree trembled, and
drew close to her cavaliers side.
"This pleasantly is sadly out Of
place here" said Rendeau Hillaire !;
"if you are a friend of Count Vendi-
ron will let your impcrtinence pass
unpunished, but warn you not to
continue in it," ... a,a .
"Come, come," cried the stranger,
balancing himself wi b difficulty, "you
are too hasty. ! have nothing to do
with you, but mus: claim my due
a kiss from your fair dominow
"Stand aside, felloww
ado you call me |fellow7"
"Stand aside, Or l will throw you
over the balustradcw
The majo sprang upon Rendeau
Hillaire, and seizlng both his arms,
would have hurled him down the
stairs, had not young man, who was
descending just behind, come to the
rescue. I
This latter laid| hold of tho short
jacket and ample scarf Of the majo,
whirlcd himself round like a feather,
and raising him clear of the low bal
ustradc, dropped him easily to the
floor some ten feet below.
A tremendous excitement now arose
in consequence of the scream of Mad
ame Fleudoree and the crash of the
fall. The staircase was instantly
crowded, and the, ball broken up in
confusion.
The impudent stranger was taken
up and found to be only bruised a lit
tie. He walked to Rendeau Hillaire
demanded his card, handed him oni
in return, and disappeared before
anybody could speak to him, or make
more than a conjecture as to who he
was.
| Rendeau Hillaire now endeavoreC
to meet his bencfactor--the young
man who had thrown the ruftian Ovel
the balustrade-but he was also miss
ing. In the struggle his mask hat
slipped down, and exposed a pale