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

possible Tor 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 Count Alexis TWAS his voice
his glance, that gave me those delicious
sensations to which / surrendered N.Y.
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 we'll gratifed in mu-
scum or in a bric-a-brac shop. Eyes,
decidedly" said to myself finally, after
having vacillated 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, am my
own mistress to act as I choose.
L rose with a 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 l preferred the
Aubusson flowers-beautifu 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 Princesses and
mother's-in-law, threw me back again
into the realms of fancy. At home I
often saw the Princess.
What does it matter? thought I. 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.
Ii was rare gem, and since that time
it had counted the hours by my sons
cradle. At half-past eight o'clock /
always went to kiss him in his bed for
the plight. He knew this 50 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, [ 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 [ had not kissed baby;
what could l have said to him? | 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 actionsl But my SON
that was another matter. Without ex-
planning to myself why | 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
went to church: "Greet the good God
for mel" This, which he mimicked
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 had not troubled myself about
the child since the night before. Still
worse, after his walk, when he had
come in, had neglected to have him
brought to me. Was [ going to forget
to be a mother? And for whom? For
a pair of black eyes and little bonn
bast.
A carriage stopped before the flight
of steps in front of the house, deposited
some one, and dashed noisily under the
porte cochere, making all the nick
nacks around me tremble. 1t was the
Count coming in.
But he promised me that I should be
alone, cried I, mentally. It is abomina
BILE; he is breaking his word! And
what would he think of me if he found
me here?
l heard step approaching the door
of the apartment, the clinking of spurs
and the grating of key in the lock. /
hurried into the little ante-chamber;
| flung on my cloak without taking
time to put my arms in my sleeves; l
slipped on to the staircase, taking care
to dcuble-lock the door behind me by
the means of the precious GOLD key
which [ carefully carried away.
Five minutes later | was at home,
rather breathless. ran first of ali to
baby's bedside. who, very solmn, was
seated upright, declaring to his nurse
that in the first place he would not go
TO sleep until he had seen mamma, and
that there was no use in teasing him
When he saw me, baby held out his
arms and said to the frightened nurse:
81 told you she would GOMEZ" After
which, having kissed me, he lay down
on his pillow, shut his eyes and his fists
and went to sleep.
/ had hardly bad time to change my
dress when [ heard horses stop beneath
my window. seated myself verv COM
fortably in my usual place, and ordered
tea to be served.
Count Alexis entered, with his hair
tossed about, looking very tragic, and
with eyes filled with passion.
THANK God," cried he, [ find you
alivew
His voice, his manner, all seemed to
me as false as possible.
'And why, dear Count, should I not
L r IL