Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-10-13

ne nad tnougnE Was buried IN ms SISTERS
grave
He put his hand gently under the girlf
chin, and for moment regarded her in
silence.
astsy, then, child, il you will, - he said
abruptly, and turned from her without an.
other word.
Edmee sang softly 10 herself as she sat Al
her easel. Her brush vas seldom idle. and
she was delighted 10 md that her painting
met with ready sale II happened so for.
tunaiely that UnclsJule's employer was
q picture-dealerl
Five months had passed since she came
10 the Rue 81 Jacques; ii was now the first
week in April. A golden spring evening
was drawing 10 a close, the street below
was in shadow, but one slanting ray of sun.
light fingered in the room, fickering round
the girls head as If 10th 10 leave her.
She wore knot of violets at her breast
and there were more on the chimney-piece
filling the room with the breath of spring.
Pictures and sketches frightened the pan.
elled walls, books and work made pretty
feminine litter on side table The place
had acquired that look of home which only
a woman's presence can give.
NJ. Renault sat at his escritoire, writing
letters with rapid pen; not so absorbed
in his correspondence, however, that he
could not glance now and then at his com.
panion.
Looking up presently from his task,
Edmee met his eyes and smiled, with that
bright fearless look of confidence and sym
pathy which never greeted him on any face
but hers.
"Uncle, l wish you would put awav
those tiresome papers. You ought not to
bring the office home with YOU"
"They are letters which must be an.
swered tonight You don't want me to get
into trouble with my chef ="
"He works you to hard; he is tyrant
that Monsieur Vautreau. Ciel-what a
name" she exclaimed, with little shrug:
" it reminds one of vulture."
He looked up quickly.
who told you my-my employers
name?"
She pointed to an envelope, bearing his
business address in full
Somehow, though don't know him,
nave prejudice against him." she added.
He glanced at her under his spectacles.
mot few persons who do know him,
share it I believe" he remarked drily.
"But he has not been bad friend to me,
on the whole. In fact, may say that every.
thing | possess I owe to Monsieur Vau-
treau'"
Indeed? Then will try to like him.
"'Veux-tu mon ceur ? ii est toll"
"That song is favorite of yours" he
said, after pause, writing on.
She blushed, tor no apparent reason,
and was suddenly mute.
II have heard some one else sing it." he
continued, as he folded his letter. "Who
was it, now? Ah-I recollect"
She looked up inquiringly.
"No one you know. A client of mine
of ours, mean. By-the-by, that reminds
me, must look him up tomorrow"
"1s he painters" Edmee asked quickly.
"I wonder"
She checked herself, and left the sentence
unfinished,
"Yes, he is an artist" her uncle returned,
"he paints for-Monseur Vautreau, as you
do. Apropos, Mademoiselle, you ought to
speak more respectfully of your patron"
Especially as he pays SO literally" she
returned, smiling. "Why, we shall be
quite rich soon"
M. Renault took snuff demurely.
at is his interest to encourage rising
talent"
Edmee looked at her work critically with
her head on one side, then lifted her pretty
shoulders and eyebrows.
Mine will never rise much above medi-
ocrity, I'm afraid"
"You have decided gift, and you have
been we'll taught"
"Yes, by my father, and afterwards by
an artist who was our drawing-master at
school. Thai is one of his sketches" she
added, pointing to water-color drawing
on the wall, glade in the forest of Fon-
tainebleau.
"a clever study of foliage" he said,
glancing at it. II should say he had tai
ent."
"Genius," she corrected softly, with
proud light in her eyes which her uncle
did not see; "he is poor and obscure now,
but the world will hear of him some day."
"Well, it may, if he makes noise enoug gh;
but if he is timid or modest he may posi-
bly, end as many genius has before him,
by dying in garrett"
To that she made no reply, and there was
silence till FRANCHISE entered to lay the
cloth. NJ Renault had taken to dining at
home of late, having the dinner sent in
from neighboring restaurant.
"Have you been down stairs to inquire
for letters, FRANCHISE ?" Edmee asked, as
she began to collect her painting materials.
"I went this morning"
"But something may have come SINCE"
"Well, mam'zelle, your legs are younger
than mine," the old housekeeper answered
bluntly, giving the cloth flap before she
spread it. Edmee laughed.
Every true; will 60 myself" she said
and left the room.
"Always asking for letters-nonsense,"
grumbled FRANCHISE, under her breath;
" and who does she expect to hear from,
want to know ?"
"From some of her school friends, prob
ably Who else should it be?"
"Humph!" grunted the old woman,
with so much significance that her master
looked up.
"The last letter she had was directed in
a mans handwriting, m'sieu, and the post
mark was Paris, not Fontainebleau. It's
my belief the girl has got lover, and if
you-"
Silence!" he interrupted sharply, as
Edmee's footstep was heard outside.
The next moment she entered, disap-
pointed.
"You did not find letter, them" her
uncle inquired, looking at her curiously.
She shook her head. "Who is the friend
you are so anxious to hear from s' he asked;
some one you knew at Madame Yer
nier's?"
She blushed and hesitated, glancing at
FRANCHISE, who was listening with undis-
guised curiosity for her reply.
"No-yes, some one knew at school,"
FRANCHISE gave an incredulous sniff, and
put down the plates with clatter.
NJ Renault's face darkened; he turned
from the rirl abr11 ntlv and huSiad himself