New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-02

snS him sna BS into hey aid sS bring ing
poor brotherf Tell me, then--you have walked In
this dreadful weather all the way from Bordeaux ?
.rn shS s Easusa But us o
ment, dearest. Beg my father and mother to par
don this sudden intrusion, and to give us something
to eat.'
But certainly, poor trayellersl Make haste,
then. Ain, let me see-l will send old Marie to you
with dry clothes.
Albert tore upstairs followed by his friend, whose
brain was in o strange commotioh. Twenty rail-
way accidents would have been less exciting than
this encounter with Mademoiselle de Saint-flor.
whose plying glance and smile. half peusve, half
amused, seemed O revelation OF something 30 COM
pletely new and charming. He thought he had
seen 50 a sSs wSs oaos
less; but there was nothing painful OF unhealthy
in the look of her creamy skin. 1t was simply
beautiful. Her face was delicate. tull OF express
sion, and very French. Her hair was almost black.
She was dressed in thick, soft, white stun, With
black ribbons; the only color che had WAS in her
eyes, which those truly violet eyes possessed
As he hastily prepared himself to appear before
this angel at dinner. Frank shouted to Albert who
was in an adjoining room with the door open.
i thought you told me that yOu and made
moiselle your sister were like each otherP
My dear friend, our features are precisely the
same
Then YOU are much handsomer follow than
took you for said Frank, half to himself, but
Albert was listening.
AHA, you are always so droll! You lind hcr
handsome then, my sisterP
'She is perfectly beautiful, said Frank in lower
voice still.
OF these remarks which gave Albert certain
malicious pleasure. He laughed to himself as he
stood before the chimney-glass brushing up MS
black hair.
Monsieur le Baron and Madame la Baronne de
Saint-Flor we're by no means such agreeable people
as their son and daughter. They were stiff with an
Old-fashioned provincial stiffness The baron had
been in the navy, had gray whiskers, ana req
grave little woman With an important manner.
They were both inclined to look on an Englishman
as their natural enemy, and On this special one as
In the army or navy. merchant actually-Dut that
must be some mistake, the baronne was sure. Her
brought as guest to Chateau Maupas person who
made his living BY buying and selling. Monsieur
and Madame de Saint Flor made these remarks to
each other privately. II they had known the length
to which Alberto ideas lad gone, led by COM
mon sense and affection for his friend, perhaps
they would hardly have behaved 70 Frank with
faultless: they both treated him with ceremonlous
polteness
he found himself staying on day after day, at the
chateau. He had his excuses. The roads were
blocked with snow the 6sSu9ns ,er
go that all work was stopped, aud the poor were
starving. Madame de Saint-Flor insisted that her
son should not risk his life on the railway IN such
weather, and was obliged to express polite anxiety
about her guest zoo. frank knew 1t was all nom
sense; that under ordinary circumstances noun,
old p Ia ike this With nothing to do but smoke
and stare at the ancient tones in the library, APP
pear 1t meals when the bell changed listen to the
eternal prosngs of Monsieur 10 Baron, read the
Onion with its One-sided politics, hand madame her
coffee after dinner.
After ell he did not really want any amusement
ptavao cd "a Mt w
nut it to himseif-in Mademoiselle de Saint Flor
and was wondering how he could hint to Albert
that it was all hnmbug about waiting u, ne was
forty, and marrying country woman OF his own;
Vi course, he had very little talk with her. ana
their Acquaintance did not seem tc advance much.
smiles Of the first evening seemed to be her highest
mark In her mothers presence she scarcely ever
went 80 fal and she and Frank were never alone
together Now and then their eyes met, and though
Il was only for an Instant Frank felt strong deep
excitement, q longing 10 make ner look NJ h'm
again.
BY and by. when he was satisfied that she in her
strange way was the must beautiful woman he had
ever SEEN it dawned on him that her usual
was intensely sad that when her mouth and eyes
quiet and her face bent OVER fne
could never smile again. Frank thought about her
day and night. He treInbled at every sign OF O
tbaw and the white fakes as they steadily de-
scended were moro precious to him than showers OF
gold. Madame de Saint-Flo came into the dining
room one morning and found him standing al the
sYon are most unfortunate, monsieur she said
Instead of improving. the weather seems to grow
worse I sympathize most truly with both you
You are very good madame said Frank smil
and contented. lit had NOT been for this obliging
snow might never have known Alberts relations
make the bad weather pass very aSa a1s
glad to know our sons best friend.'
She could not resist the conviction that this mer-
S.1 tbn se ssoad taRs hor hospitality
granted in thjs sort OF way;
at breakfast that day the talk happened TO turn
Frank that the house which sheltered him Of that
instant was pure specimen OF Francois fiemleI.
The outer walls ana inc toe 9Sa b St Sab
corner towers OF which only one remained, the old
eoiember the three paviions Of the
Ss% stood precisely as the Sixteenth century had
ieTt them. Monsieur de SsintFlor told bis COM
panions that he was proud OF their very dliapida-
stored. He remarked that restoration was the
Albert speak Of the old chateau in very different
strain, was irreverent enough to wonder whether
good balance Mt his bankers would not alter Oh 10
Baron's opinion. He discovered. however, tnat
was her Lovely maS' b Hy IN his
dreams-had very afecti0nate admiration ior tne
old place she looked up and smiled and joined In
'ns ftep SresHfast Albeit walked down with mis-
father to the village half mile of to settle come
round the chateau, even under the rugged walls OF
the south front where there was patch OF grouhha
rallied of and planted with shrubs, ana where ne
his way back to the salon windows where ho
looked in and saw Marguerite sitting oyer I.I her
ire owners with their stif Old-fashoned ways. the
stern winter that blocked it in, the dead silence.
only broken by the fall of a mass OF snow from
account, as it were. for all this suggestvcness-
these were certainly strange sIrroundnes far o 9
was like an enchanted lady, 80 silent and lovely,
and always dressed In white and black, like nun,
or a creature with some sad history. IT was O
nrvileoe To find her alone and he hurried into the