Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-03-11
You must remember that I am not


like other women"
Eugene then rang the bell, and Or
dered the servant who answered it to ar
range the blue room. The man bowed
and withdrew.
"You have a harp, mademoiselle-do
you play and sing ?" asked Camille, draw
ing her attention to superb instrument
in one corner of the room.
"Sometimes, to while away weary
hour"
"Won't you favor me with some mu-
sic ?" asked Camille, handing her the
harp.
"With pleasure, said Eugene, lightly
drawing her hand over the strings, and
elciting strains 80 heavenly sweet that
they might have come from the inspired
fingers of st. Cecilia. "What shall I
sing 2"
"Your favorite. I am sure what
pleases you will,please me-"
Thank you. Listen i"
Eugene sang one of his own sad little
songs, with voice of melting pathos
Camille was deeply affected, and, when
the last soft notes died away, he said:
"Mademoiselle, I could thank you on
my knees for your sweet kindness in
singing that and calling it your favorite. "
As he spoke, a door at the lower end
of the room glided back, displaying IN
inner apartment arranged for repast.
"Monsieur d Arcy, I want you to par
take of some fruit which I have had
served in the next ROOM"
"With pleasure" said Camille, rising
and offering his arm to escort her to the
s0ile-a-manger."
Monsieur" said Eugene, as they sat
down to a tempting array of delicacies,
II wish you to see what Bagatclle can
produce. All the fruit before you was
raised in my garden.
" They are, like everything else here,
delightful" said Camille, tasting lus-
cious peach. "Indeed, 1 can hardly be-
ieye that all 7 have seen to-day is real
and substantial. Walking through your
splendid grounds, Icould have imagined
myself in the garden of Hesperides;
seated III your gorgeous saloon, I could
hardly help fancying that I saw au en-
chanting vision which would soon dis
solve, leaving me nothing but the dull
realities of LIE.
"You poets are like that ethereal bird,
the huma, which never touches the
ground; you are always flying in the air,
and dislike to touch this poor earth OF
ours"
"Had the wings of an eagle, I could
not fly to a more delightful retreat than
I have found to-day, nor receive a more
gratifying welcome than that which you
have so kindly given me-"
Camille returned to his books and
studies, from his visit to Bagatelle, with
a feeling of satisfaction to which he had
long been stranger; his prospects
looked brighter; he had secured a kind
friend in the Lady of Bagatelle; it
seemed as natural for her to be agreeable
rs it is for the flowers to bloom and the
birds to sing.
Eugene had invited Camille to visit
Bagatelle by moonlight. He did so, one
beautiful evening. They strol1ed about
the lovely grounds; he told her of his
golden aspirations his struggles-of
his failures. She consoled him with
sweet and gentle words; she pointed to
the great future, and assured him that
his hopes would be realized. Camille
felt the influence of that delicious voice,
and, in that soft hour he knelt at Eu-
genie's feet and told his love.
To shorten the story, the day was ap-
pointed for the wedding. Everything
was ready. Camille, handsome and ex-
pectant, advanced to meet the bride,
when a lovely creature of seventeen,
with face and form which might have
served as model for Apelles when he
painted his exquisite picture of Venus,
came forward, and took the hand of her
future husband. This beautiful being
was no other than the Lady of Bagatelle,
who had so long excited the curiosity Of
the Parisians, her ravishing face being
concealed by frightful and ingeniously-
fashioned mask. Her object in yelling
those charming features from the gaze
of the world was, to secure a partner who
would not seek to marry her on account
of the accidental advantages of wealth
and beauty alone, but for her own in
trinsic worth; and in the accomplished
Camille darcy she obtained such part
ner.