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

that, when L think OF 1t, i cannot help
smiling, just as if my adventure con-
cerned some one else. Yet the portrait
that | see before me, hung facing my
sofa, with fair curls and dreamy eyes, is
my own-that is, as [ was thirty-five
years ago, when we wore tight sleeves
and English curls.
| was a widow, and had been a suffi-
cient length of time to find great enjoy
ment in returning to society. / had
worn mourning for two years-crape
throughout the first year-so that re
turning to the world was quite proper.
By clever transition | had passed
from black to gray, from gray to lilac,
from lilac to pale pink, SO adroitly and
so quietly that no one had perceived it,
excepting my dressmaker, whose &C
count charged me with three gray
dressess-three, where the good natured
public thought it had seen only one.
An affair of shades
| had reached soft blue, with roses in
my hair. when / met at a friends house
Count Alexis B. He was one of the
most charming takers at that time,
when every one prided himself on his
wit; he wore his hair like Lord Byron,
had been friend of our ever-regretted
Lermontof and moreover when out
walking, had a way of draping himself
in his military cloak that turned all
heads. Mine was no stronger than that
of others, and did not hold out any
longer; it is true that Count Alexis did
his best, for he offered me homage in
the most equivOcal fashion. At balls he
was my partner for the mazurka; at
concerts he was always behind my
chair, and when out driving his open
carriage, in which with the aid of the
famous cloak he was superbly dressed,
passed and repassed before me ten
times or more. What resistance could
| offer to so much fascination?
Nevertheless there could be no Ques-
ton of my marrying the Count Alexis.
My dearest enemies took too much
pains to induce me to accept him, and
my real friends, those who had passed
the age of harming, were too urgent in
their persuasions. Count Alexis was
an incompatible cavaliere servate, but
he was over head and ears in debt, and
moreover, q great rake it is said. He
would haye been it seems, one of those
husbands who turn their backs on their
wives ut the end of week of married
life. mad son. and [ owed it to him
to keep his fathers fortune intact. If |
remarked it should be to a steady and
prudent man, who should make good
use of our money-in short, | could not
marry Count Alexis. Every one was
agreed on that point, [ among the very
first
eyes; but he was charming. His
black eyes, his stories of the Caucasus
at that time only spoken of with
poeticaI enthusiasm-his very follies
had an irresistible charm for me.
Every evening met him somewhere,
and if in a sensible moment | staid at
home, at about 10 o'clock he would be
announced, and beg for the favor of a
cup of tea-could refuse it to him? /
granted it, and then talks by the soft
ened light of the lamp, in the solitude
of my little drawing-rOOm, seemed to be
more dangerous than all the rest. l
felt the danger SO much that one night
| forbade him to return. He protested
with his usual eloquence.
"No," said | to him, sit is useless;
all this leads to nothing; we are losing
our tlme,you in asking me, in defend
ing myself. My dear count, you are ir-
resistible, but will never marry you.
Alexis assumed a tragic air that be-
came him admirably:
Accused fortune" murmured he,
"that places a gull between you and
me! Why are you not poor? With
whatjoy would | not have hailed you
as my wifel"
/ shook my head.
1T is not my furtune," l answered;
1T is the little trust that can be placed
IN YOU"
''In me? What calamity" cried
my lover, bounding.
He leaned against the mantlepiece
and acclaimed some verses that de,
scribed the state of his soul. He was
superb thus, and his eyes magnetized
me.
"You are n1auUais Sujd," I said
smiling, but with downcast eyes, for ]
felt myself giving way; ''you are
adored by all women, and it is toe
much to be loved by one"
He smiled in his turn. A rose was
blooming in glass of water on the
table beside me. He took it and scat
tered the petals at my feet.
''All before one," said he, pointing tC
the perfumed rose leaves strewn on the
carpet.
1t was in very bad taste, perhaps;
cannot tell; it was puerile, declamatory
and meant nothing into the bargain;
but thanks to the black eyes and to the
poetry, felt deeply moved.
go awayp' | SAID in low voice.
This was acknowledging myself un,
able to continue the struggle. The
Count understood it, and threw himself
at my feet.
''What are you doing? l cried: 'you
are mad! Some one will come in
you will compromise me-"
Alexis Was 81 great good-for-nothing
but he was not stupid. He got up inn
mediately, sat down at a semi-respectful
distance and began to deliver me lit
tie speech. He recited it very well
thanks, | suppose to long habit Of
drawing it from his memory at a given
moment. He spoke of the fatal chains
of society, Of the slavery of its servants
of the small thanks one got from the
world for submitting to its fantastic
laws-here ne paused of the ineffable
JOY of talking open-hearted together, o.
dreaming together, of losing ones sell
In the azure. Here another and longer
pause.
/ listened, lulled by his words.
thought Ii grand. 1t seemed to me as i
the muse of poetry herself was towering
over us and protecting us with her spot
less wings. Who would have dared tc