Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-08-13

of the beautiful has nothing more to
desire. The sweet and subtle perfume
that the very hangngs gave forth
charmed without intoxicating; the
lamps were so cleverly placed as to
leave nothing in shadow, and at the
same time not to hurt the eyes; light
and shade were here in irreproachable
contrast from the esthetic point of
view; and what beautiful things! De-
cidedly, Count Alexis was a great ma
gician!
When had touched every box, opened
every drawer, tried on every Jewel, l
looked at door with superb hangings,
which apparently led into the inner
rooms examined the keyhole-it was
locked on the outside. put my ear to
it without shame or confusion, and [
heard these words, spoken by servant,
probably:
"Do come down; the Count will be
here before ten minutes"
Some one passed by on tiptoe, and
silence was re-establshed. L retired
safely to low divan, placed at the
other end of the room, and sat down to
reflect. AS the Count is coming, why
don't you 60 away? demanded the rea-
sonable part of my intelligence.
Why? The other part would have
been much embarrassed to answered.
least to give any fitting answer Why,
indeed, if not because [ loved Count
Alexis, and that [ had come to see him.
evidently? But this is what it was i'm
possible for me to acknowledge.
What was this palace without its lord?
What did / care for caskets or scent.
boxes, without the dark eyes and white
teeth of Count Alexis 1t was his voice
his glance, that gave me those delicious
sensations to which | surrendered my
self while shutting my eyes to their
danger. That was what had come in
search of; and not the vulgar curiosity
that could be as well gratified in mu-
scum or in a brica-brac shop. Eyes,
decidedly" said to myself finally, after
having vacillated a little, 81 will re-
main. After all, / am young and free.
[ shall only wrong myself; and if it
pleases me for once to live for myself
instead Of living for the world, 1 am my
own mistress to act as | choose.
| rose with decided air, and walked
quickly round the room two or three
times. The carpet came from Persia,
but mine was much handsomer and
much softer. The motley design, which
at first seemed SO piquant and original,
now only struck me as fantastic and
irregular. Decidedly / preferred the
Aubusson fowers-beautiful full-blown
roses, symmetrical lilies and proud
peonies. The remembrance of civilized
Europe brought me back to less poetical
thoughts. My home seemed to me
charming just then; but the recollection
of my mother-in-law, the Princess D.,
the most disagreeabie of Princesses and
mother s-in-law, threw me back again
into the realms of fancy. At home |
often saw the Princess.
What does it matter? thought |. L
want to make the most Of life At this
hour women are dressing to go to balls,
to listen to platitudes and to dance
quadrille's; here at least
A small clock struck half-past s.
Its sound was exactly the same as that
of a travelling clock that had received
as present three years previously. 1t
was at the time of my sons birth. Ny
husband, not knowing what to invent to
give me pleasure-for he spoilt me
dreadfully, my poor husband-had Or
dered to be sent to me from Paris this
small clock, that was as high as my
finger, ard was placed in velvet case.
1t was rare gem, and since that time
it had counted the hours by my sons
cradle. At half-past eight o'clock I
always went to kiss him in his bed for
the night. He knew this so we'll that
he always waited for the clock to call
out: Mamma !" At this cry the nurse
came to call me, if was not there, and
my baby received his evening kiss;
after which he went to sleep immedi-
ately, as if touched by magic wand.
[ had not seen my son that night before
setting out. When | went to the thea
ter, or when dined out, L was careful
to kiss him before going, and to account
to him for my absence. By the help of
this precaution, and of a bon-bon placed
in reserve for the moment of the clocks
striking, my little boy generally went
to sleep without any difficulty.
But that day 1 had not kissed baby;
what could have said to him? I had
told my servants that [ was going on
foot to vespers at the neighboring church
servants are Of no importance; and,
besides, if we render them an explana-
ton of all our actions! But my SON
that was another matter. Without ex-
planning to myself why I felt that it
would be painful for me to lie to the
child, and to hear him repeat the phrase
that he generally said to nae when I
went to church: "Greet the good God
for mel" This. which he nnimicked
from some grown-up person, was the
delight Of all the nursery, and baby re-
peated it to make the others laugh.
felt remorseful at the thought of
my son, doubtless calling me at that
moment-no bon-bon placed in reserve,
no caress for the nights repose. Was
it possible that this Count Alexis, with
his black eyes, had made me forget my
little boy? [ recalled with horror that
in fact lad not troubled myself about
the child since the night before. Still
worse, after his walk, when he had
coma in had naolectad tn have him