St. Landry democrat., 1881-11-26

ODuSeu TO Qecune, With so poor s ward
robe as Mrs. Galson possessed; an En-
glish lady would have thought of intro
auctions for Mrs: Gafson was lady,
as Lizzy had discovered-but the
French heart is warmer. softer, the
French woman less conventlonal; and,
besides. she can do wonders with a lit-
tie old black lace. and geranium or
two, and Mrs. Galson had both Of these.
1t was not an addressed party that en-
tered Madame's parlor on Thanksgiv-
ing Day, just in time for the early din
ner.
1t is, of course, Madame Galson?'
asked Madame, with her hand ex-
tended. ~
And have the pleasure of meeting
Madame Noir." replied the other; and
then the little chat began in pure
Partisan French and Madame would
not have blushed had her most dis
tinguished friends been aware of her
dinner party.
After dinner a grand inspiration
seized Madame.
"We will go to the pantomime this
afternoon she said. "There is O.
pantomime for children at the. I
love to see children laugh. Come. let
us 90. Lizzy, order the carriage.
MADAME the children's bonnets are
so shabby you will be ashamed" cried
Mrs. Galson, land even mime"
ave will have a private box. They
will need no bonnets," said Madame.
''Their beautiful hair is perfect, and
we are in black-biack is ALWAYS the
same"
And so the happy carriageful rolled
away-a little to the horror of Lizzy,
who watched them with solemn
shake of the head from the window,
and said softly, '.French will be
French Etsr[
The curtain rose on all the freaks of
Columbine and Harlequin, and. of the
clown, of wonderful fairies, gnomes and
elves in sparkling raiment; on gardens
where the flowers and vegetables had
feet and skipped about; and on
donkeys who could sing. The children
were in glee. The two ladies sat in
the back of the box and talked together.
sis it many years since you left
France. Madame Galsono asked Ma
dame Noir. II II
"Many-many." said Mrs, Gabon.
81 left i when / was a girl of sixteen.
/ have neIer seen it since.'' {!
Nor since Ileft it," said Madame
Noir. 81 came with my husband. He
died very soon. l have no relative
left.'
And lido not know whether I
have or not sighed Madame Galson;
g but was very, very wicked when |
was a girl. Married against my par
ents' will, and | left home secretly.
My husband brought me to America.
and I wrote to- my mother, but she
never answered me. They would not
forgive me- Afterward, when trouble
came, was too proud to write.'' i.
Madame Noir looked at her guest,
and her heart began to beat violently.
Had you no sister to intercede for
you?" she asked. t.'~f
81 had dear sister," said Madame
Galson. "She was young, but 1 know
she would have endeavored to soften
my parents. 1t is strange that she
never wrote to me. But in France
girls have not the freedom they have
here, and my father was very stern.
All, YES, Gabrielle loved me-"
Gabrielle!'' cried Madame. "Was
your sisters name Gabrielle?''
'.Ah! yes," said Madame Galson. 81
saw by your note that it was also
yours, Madame-pardon me, but be-
lieve that at the same age yon must
have resembled Gabrielle in the eyes.
The expression of the mouth-it affect
ed me greatly"
asked Madame Noir.
'Elise.'A replied Madame Galson.
"Our father was Monsieur August Dis
saux. He had chateau near Paris.
His father had made a large fortune as
a manufacturer of silks. He himself
lived on his property. My husband was
not of his country, his religion, or his
sentiments. Therefore he hated him;
yet / had thought he would forgive US,
when we were really married. and that
INV mother would at least write" q
"Oh, Madame, what is it that troubles
youp Are you illa'' And Madame Gal
son, interrupting her speech, bent
toward Madame Noir, who was weep
ing.
.Ill?' replied Mada1 ~ oir.
no; am OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Efise,
have changed so much thatyou do not
know me? have kpowpJyou ten nlip7a
utes-at least ten minpteh VI am Gabs
rielle, from whose side you crept more
than twenty-five years ago. / have,
also married. as you know by my change
Of name. I have never heard a word
from you since you. left, hs. Mamma
never received your letter. We never
knew that you were married. We suf-
fered suspense and anguish. oh, Elise,
Elise, to think that, after all we meet
again!''
The Younger sisters hand stole into
that of the elder. 1t was no place for
demonstration of any sort; but, in her
boor+ Madame Noi,- was uivino thanks