Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-08

o'e" Chateau mrs. LancoTer's Rloal," DC
Frank Morley, a young man OF s,x-and
twenty, was one OF the heads OF a great old
nTm OF claret merchants for more than nun
dred years established in London and Bordaanx
ms lather had sent him to France to learn his
business when he was quite lad, In conss-
queIce or which his manners were excellent.
ano ne spoke like Frenchman with a slight
accent or the south, hardly strong enough to
marx Bio as provincial For the last three
years. since his fathers death, he had Iiyed at
Bordeaux and managed that end or the b,s al.
ness entirely. his partners who were oldigb
men. living In London.
.. Frank was clever, steady, hard-working and
thoroughly awake TO his own Interests He
meant 10 DE very rich man. to retire at forty
ana lot to marry till then. In spite OF living
abroad SO much he was Enthusiastically English.
ooth lh LOOKS and ways; but this did not prove
hindrance to his popularity ano2g the
french. He was well known at Bordeaux, aud
a great favorite there, admired for his In ,raI.
NY, his physical strength his fearless open
ness OF speech and manner. He never sus.
pecten, probably, that some OF his yoanu
tTench friends laughed at him, and called him
JseI1ng names behind his back the Only real
s,tt,siactlon they could have, poor fellows. In
'neiI intercourse with such provoking mass
cf advantages.
But Frank had one friend who really cared for
nm though ne borrowed money from him IKE
Tue Others. IL Was true muIu Il liking fh AZ
had drawn item tOgather-the Jolly, aipurn-
haired Frank Morley. and the black. 'saIloW.
ileiancnoly Albert de Saint Flor Abort vas
Is 10, al 10 his friend Frank as TO Henri ClGq
himself: He knew all Franks plans. and al,
Inlre1 them. The idea OF putting OFF ones mar.
rage t!li one was forty met with his special
approval after he had sounded Frank GA the
possibility or marriage with his own only SIS
Ter. This, 1t seemed, was far too h1gh an honor
for Frank TO aspire TO. It was necessary that he
should marry an English woman-of his own
rank In life, he mOdestly added be;n0 nu,te
fldt
upon him as mere bourgeois. Also ne KIN W
III his Own mind that Mademoiselie de Saint
FLOR was no longer yOung-how old he did not
Know; but older than Eer brother who was five
and tWenfy-and Albert had several times
assured him, thinking it probably recommen-
aatloh, mat they We're the image OF each other.
humofed compliments, that Albert saw the idea
was hopeless one But he did not swerye from
Ills friendship with the obstinate Morley
. Ia the month OF December, 1919, early In that
long, painful winter. Frank chose to go to Paris
on business and Albert eagerly consented to 90
Win MIN. They started on a snowy day: and
ME shey were yet some way south OF Tours,
at about in the afternoon, the earth being
wrapped In snow and the SKY black and heavy
with more their train ran iuto deep DRIFT on
me Ire, and 1t was soon too clear to the pas
sengeTs that many hours OF the night, at least.
would be spent where they were. After The.
HIst shock, most OF them bore this prospect
WIN the resignation OF French people But
, n1, ore Englishman In the train, hanging him
nearest Official who answered by begging mon
sieur 10 SIT down and be patient.
Patient be hangeo." said Frank, or some
thing equivalent in French. IT am not going to
SIT here and be frozen or stified. which ls more
iikeiy. Look here what do you Call the nearest
station?" WV Wv
..Maupas!" shouted the official from the dis
lance as ne plunged through che snow.
Maupas, Why, Sain-Flor, that's your
place. said Frank quite angrily to his friend
VINO Jumped up In state of tremendous ex-
He had thought they must be at least eight
!eagues short OF Maupas. But even now they
were some distance from the chateau, which
lay mile beyond the station. Nothing would
give him greater delight than to introduce his
dear friend there, but It seemed to him a simple
1mpossibility.
"A simple necessity" said Frank laughing
look at IL In that light, and come along"
Albert shrugged his shoulders, but MIS- ewes
shone with proud pleasure at the daring OF his
MY dear he said: 81 an ready to follow
las the door won't open. we will begin by
getting out OF the window" said Frank The
best way at first Will be along the roofs of the
carriages"
go, go on. follow you. mon brayer'
AN hour or two later these weary travellers
stumbled up to the great IRON studded door OF
tne chateau de Maupas. Albert had lost his
way once or twice, but at last the glimmer from
The snow showed him the dark liaes OF 1irs
through which rough narrow road approached
The house. He was melancholy: this unexl
pected comm home did not seem to give him
any Pleasure. Frank, who knew that the
Salnt-floTs were poor and old fashIoned. did
hot himself expect very hearty welcome
seile. About that, however, he cared very little
All ne wanted was supper and bed flattering
himself that he would get On to Paris the mex.
Gay.
A shabby man-servant received their wet
great-coatS In the hall, which was high ana
LARGE, ana dimly lighted by hanging lantern
Iney were certainly pair OF d!sreputable
objects, covered With snow, which W IS melting
Slowly on their hair, their mustacheS, In fact
all over them. There were pools OF water
where they stood On the stone floor Of the hall
suddenly bell rang sharply in some discang
ut Is Monsieur lie Baron for the boull.i," nut.
tered Francois, and he shuffied Off.
Let US make haste" said Albert; and he was
leading the way upstairs. having Just re lche1
the first step. when lady 3 voice made Frank
start violently. 1t sounded so sweet and strange
In the desolaIe gloomy old house, where there
seemed TO be no welcome and no warmth.
''D0 hear Albert'S voice." said the lad
Sue had suddenly appeared in a low-arched
doorway, which framed her In like picture
bow. She curtsied with extreme politeness;
bur Frank was sure that there was the falntest
culver OF amusement about her mouth. and felt
miserably conscious of being an ABSURD OBJECT.
Il was new thing for him not to be quite sat.
l51ed with his own appearance.
"Ah there you are, ma belief" exclaimed AL
oeTt, and ne marched up to the lady. II dare
not even allow myself TO kiss your hand. May
I present my friend. Monsieur Morley, to my
sister, MademO1Selle de SnntFlOr?"
II am charmed to see you monsieur" said
the lady, smiling on Frank with grave sweet
hess Which treasured him. But how did you
bring yourself and your friend into this sad
plight. my poor brother? Tell me, then-you
have walked in this dreadful weather all the
way from Bordeaux"
mo, indeed; only from the railway. But l
viii explain presently" said Albert. Excuse
US moment, dearest. Beg my father and mo-
tier to pardon this sudden intrusion, and to
give US something to eat"
. But certainly, poor travellers! Make haste,
then. All, let me see-I will send old Marie to
you With dry Clothes"
whose brain was In strange c0mmot1On.
Twenty railway accidents would have been less
exciting than this encounter with Madenoiselle
de Saint Flor, whose plying glance and smile,
half penslve, half amused, seemed revelation
Of something so completely new and charming.
He thought he had never seen so picturesque q
figure. She was rather tall, and very thin;
pale, In fact completely colorless; but there was
nothing painful or unhealthy In the look OF her
creamy skin. 1t was simply beautiful, her face
was delicate. full Of expression, and very
French. Epr hair was almost black. She was
dressed In thick, soft, white stuff, with black
which were those truly violet eyes possessed
by one woman In q million.
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.
81 thought you told me that you and made
mCiSeile. your sister, were like each Other?'