Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-08-14


ruptly he began speaking of the Caucas-
US. Nowadays the shopkeepers in the
Prospectif Newsky sell materials, nick
nacks, authentic collections of weapons
of that country, and by means ofmoney
one can create for ones self an emir's
paradise. But then the Caucasus was
In the full bloom of novelty, a few of
ficers had brought wonders thence, and
it was the dream of all bellies to possess
some stuff, some trlnket coming from
this Eden, SO full OF the smoke of fire.
| arms and the essence of roses.
1T is IN the Caucasus" said Alexis,
chat [ have wished to live with you
you, SO beautiful, so noble, so cour-
ageous." [ was not at all courageous,
but then he did not know that SIN
the midst of those mountains, in the
recesses of some valley shaded by great
oaks we could have lived happy, for
getting and forgotten. / would have
spread the softest carpets beneath your
feet, he trampled with disdain upon
a superb velvety Aubusson that had
cost me 60 francs per yard, but ] thought
much more of Persian carpets, natu-
rally-"I would have unfurled the en-
broidered silks of the east before you;
your queenly hands would have toyed
with necklaces of amber and pearl.
AproDos," he said, interrupting him
self, and turning toward me, edo
know that what [ have brought from
the Caucasus would furnish palace ~
had heard of Count Alexis Circas-
sian boudoir, but the owner of the bou-
doir interested me sufficiently to have
prevented my curiosity from attaching
itself to what belonged to him.
Il have heard of it." [ said, absently
He then began to enumerate his
riches to me; to dazzle my imagination
by description of the strange and
charming objects that filled his apart
ment; and when he saw how fascinated
| was by his account, he said, with a
sigh:
"What is the use of speaking of it I?
1t ought to be SEEN"
[ sighed instinctly, as an echo to
him, doubtless.
"But, Princess" cried my hero, sud-
denly, as if waking from dream,
'why should you not 60 to see it ?"
''Count!" replied /, Indignantly, with
a secret pleasure, however, at being in
vited.
Il meant no HARM" he answered
with the most jesuitical air. 81 am
away from home all day. If you will
honor my trifes by deigning to look at
them, you may be quite sure that the
master of the house will not offend
your eyes by his presence"
~.
demon of curiosity and also, it must
be said, consumed with an ardent de-
sire to see the place Inhabited by so
fascinating a mortal, "such a step
would compromise me-"
"You need not come by daylight"
said my tempter. SAT night, toward
o'clock, when it is dark, staircase
leading into the porte-cochere, will take
you directly to my cabinet without
passing under the eyes of the Suisse
who guards the staircase. My servants,
even, will hear nothing about it this
little key opens the door"
He handed me key-such a key
The size Of a watch-key, in chased gold
and ornamented with rubies. That key
would have been the perdition OF a
saint, such wonders did it promise. He
placed it before me kept silence.
"What day" said he in low voice.
pushed away the key.
"No, Count, shall not CO."
II ask you on what day, so as not to
run the risk of meeting you-as 1 have
promised you that you should not see
me-"
In short, what is positive is that in
five minutes afterward | was alone, the
key in my hand, and having promised
to go the next evening.
pass over in silence the history OF
my remorse, of my agitation, of my
resolutions taken and then forsaken.
Thirty-two times | swore to myself that
| would not go, but thirty-three times I
represented to myself that I ran no
risk, that the word of gentleman
ought to suffice me, and curiosity car
ried the day by majority of one voice.
For that matter, think it would have
carried the day under any circum-
stances.
The next evening, having found an
excellent pretext-excellent, because it
mad taken me fourteen hours to find it
I left my home furtively on foot.
Count Alexis lived in the neighboring
street, and | soon arrived under the
porte cochere of his house. This porte
cochere seemed to me extraordinary.
Since that time | have been able to
convince myself that it differed in
nothing from others; but only think
during my life | had never been under
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
a woman [ was then; a widow and
mother, but more ignorant of life than
a child of three.
perceived the door in question; |
assembled three steps-no one saw me
the courtyard was deserted, by order,
doubtless have since thought. ]
pushed the key into the keyhole, not
without trembling d little, and | entered
A 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 breath OF
air. | listened-not a sound. The still
ness treasured me. 1 threw off my
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
ofthe beautiful has nothing more to
desire. The sweet and subtle perfume
that the very hangings gave forth