The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-01-12
{ ESTABLISHED IN
Z MARCH, lS17.


4nd henceforth the three Miss Taf
ferels took the baron under their es
pecial charge. Other young ladie.
staying at the hotel could hardly get
near him. They sat by him at dinner
Dolly being displaced-Lydia to-day
Rosa tomorrow, Julia the next day
They surrounded him in the daytime
they talked to him under the light OF
the moon. Twice over they got him
to take them for sail. One thing
they did not yet succeed in-getting
him to dance. When the quadrilles
and waltzes were going on at night
the baron would be out of doors with
that Objectionable tutor, who was over
middle age and wore spectacles. The
Miss Talerels did not like the learned
man at all. What right had musty old
scholars to be at a gay watering-place
Another who did not much fire.
quent the dancirg-room was Dolly;
but this was no fault Of hers. Miss
Hamlet disapproved of indlscriminate
dancing, as she did of indiscriminate
flirting; and Dolly was only allowed
to sit by and look on. Your papa
would not approve Of it, any more
than do, my DEAR" said Miss Ham
let, evening by evening, to Dolly.
The baron accepted the patronage
of the Miss Tafferels calmly, giving as
much attention to one sister as to an
other Being the Baron de Fierre-
vile (unless Miss Hamlet's doubts
We're true), and very good-looking
and agreeable man, the chances We're
that he was no stranger to the hon.
age of young ladies.
Thus week wore on. Miss Ham
let, finding her niece did not keep the
baron at a respectful'distance, in spite
of her advice, washed her hands Of
them for giddy, silly girls, and rather
hoped that some fine morning, upon
getting up, it would be found that the
baron had disappeared during the
night, as well as the hotel forks and
spoons. 1t would teach them what
foreigners were worth.
you, Dolly, will at any rate obey
me-" Miss Hamlet said, land keep
yourself out of the way of that
Frenchman" But Dolly had no need
Of the injunction. She felt so ashamed
Of the way her relatives set upon him,
that she never willingly went within
range of his sight, putting aside the
fact that the Miss Tafferels took care
she should not go.
Some days went OH. One morning,
when the sun was pouring down on
the beach, the three girls stood there,
hoping for the presence of the baron.
Presently he loomed into view, side by
side with that silent, uninteresting,
spectacled tutor.
rs it not hot, baron?". exclaimed
Lydia.
very" replied the baron. ut will
be broiling by-and-by."
but you say you don't care for the
heat, you know" put in Rosa. ''You
say you like it"
Il like hot weather; it is nearly
sure to be sunny weather. Sometimes
it is too hot for me. We now and
then get quite tropical heat here, just
a few days of it; not every summer,
though"
"We had some of it last year, re-
member said Julia. ''It was in
June"
81 remember it, too he slowly re-
piled, his eyes taking a thoughtful
look over the sea. I'VE were in Swift
zerland. 1t was hot; we could hardly
bear it. ;"
"You say 'we,' baron," commented
Miss Lydia. Are you speaking Of
your mother?"
"Oh, no. OF my wife"
"Your-wife?" repeated Lydia, in q
kind of choking tone. did you say
your ao1e?"
Yes" he answered, turning to her.
my poor mother died long before
that"
Now will leave the intelligent
reader to Judge Of the effect this avow-
al had on the baron's fair hearers. He
went strolling farther down the beach
with the tutor, and the three young
ladies made their comments.
What shameful thing!'
"To be staying here under false pre-
tencesm
Aunt Charlotte is right. These
foreigners are nearly all of them pre-
teRders."
He has come cruising off in that
yacht from Dieppe to amuse himself,
leaving his poor wife to the solitude
Of the chateau! And he firts here
and firts there, never giving the small
est hint that he is married man
suppressing it, in fact. Oh, it is in
famousI
''Stay a moment, Lydia. Don't you
remember he said one day he was
alone at home; that the chateau con-
tanned only two or three old servants?"
1T is all Of a piece, retorted Lydia.
He is starring it here under false col
ors. And if his wife is not left to the
home solitude, she is starring it some
where upon her own account, take my
word for that. Small blame to her,
as Mrs O'Malley says. Serves him
right! Well, | do hate and despise
deliberate deceit! A special pillory
ought to be inveneed for it"
The young ladies went indoors In
ii tacit sort of way they united to hide
their modification, and to say moth
ing Of the discovery. Let some OF the
other girls get taken in! As if to re-
ward their magnanimity, troop of
fresh male guests arrived that day at
the hotel, two of them looking partic-
ularly eligible; so the baron was left
in peace by the Miss Tafferels.
The following morning, when they
had gone for drive with their aunt,
Dolly took her knitting and sat down
under the awning on the beach. 1t
was a lovely day, not quite so hot as
Yesterday: the sun shone on the sands,