Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

convince myself that it differed in
nothing from others; but only think
during my life bad never been under
q porte-cochere on foot; | only knew it
as place through which the carriage
and horses passed when coming to take
me up at the street door, This particu-
lar will give you an idea OF what sort of
woman | was then; a widow and
mother, but more ignorant Of life than
a child Of three.
| perceived the door in question; l
assembled three steps--no one saw me-
tie courtyard was deserted, by order,
doubtless | have since thought.
pushed the key into the keyhole, not
without trembling a little, and l entered.
tiny ante-chamber lit by lantern
of colored glass and filled with mirrors
in somber frames, offered me warm
hospitality; there were flowers every
where, but little light, not a breath of
air. l llstened-not sound. The still
ne-s treasured me. | threw off nv
cloak and opened the door.
Count Alexis had said truly; his cab
met was marvel. The first glance
gave NE an impression of entire salts
faction, such as we feel when our sense
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 50 ceverly 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 esthetlc point of
view; and what beautiful thingsl De-
cidedly, Count Alexis was a great ma
gician!
When had touched every box, opened
every drawer, tried on every Jewel,
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-estabished. | 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 go away? demanded the rea-
sonable part of my intelligence.
Why? The other part would have
been much embarrassed TO answer-at
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 l care for caskets or scent
boxes, without the dark eyes and white
teeth of Coun. Alexis 1t was his voice
his glance, that gave me those delicious
sensations to which l 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 gratied in mu-
scum or in a bric-a-brac shop. eyes,
decidedly" l said to myself finally, after
having vacillated little, 81 will re-
main. After all, l 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, | am my
own mistress to act as | choose.
l 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 flowers-beautiful full-blown
roses, symmetrical lilies and proud
peonles. 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 Processes and
mother's-in-aw, threw me back again
into the realms of fancy. At home |
often saw the Princess.
What does 1t 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 rs that
of a travelling clock that | had received
as present three years previously. 1t
was at the time Of NY sons birth. My
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
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