New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-26
III

ing but at all IlShB L must oe iiCC'
III.
Horace was Shaving at Oman. The Baroness de
Pontiac and her daughter had arrived, and called on
Nine d. liarcOurt. OF course, on Horaces return he
would be dancing at tendance upon his hancee .
Robert had written. was too depressed 10 ieel
wounded at the tone of his reply, or might nave
resented his agreeing with me Cd the deslraDilty ol
breaking of the engagement. In postscript he
added that he had the promise OF the vlcarage oil
Capel-e- Ferne, and its t 800 a year; ana came
to the conclusion that his JOY at his worldly a;i
yancement had taken away the sling 1Iom MS
hearts adversely. | was thankful that IL was So
The morning was clear and bright, ana SWIM III
the sea was tempting remedy TO drown Gull Gato'
so strollcd down leisurely TO the beach was ate,
aud when emerged fl omlmy cabane iound CROWD
of gosspng idlers in possession OF every chalr ana
available seat Not nook or corner out was IIieu
with gay couples, working, chattcrihS' smohihe
and 'tTivollmg' =
Classcally draped in NY white wrapper my hair
piled I'D on high, undshgured with the ollskln cap
the French ladies affected, l Eurriedly walked
through the critIcisng audience, and leaving my
mantle PeIrnes care, was soon dlsportlhg ihysen
in the crisp sunny waves. Alter longer swim than
usual | waded out dripping Nobe. looked lot
Perrnc and my wIapper-in vain; she vas no.
W here to be seen. After momentary hesltatlon
prepared to run the gauntlet of the assembled nui-
titude and make a quick rush at my sheItering
cahane ,,, .., i
hair aud let its shining golden glory fall around my
costume, thereby trying to feel niue less aOJe,t'
and so made my way through the mop as SPIT
fully called the oungcrs surrounding the capah"S'
With ludicrOus sense OF humiliation ana naming
cheeks saw Horace in lively conV ersatlon with
Partisan elegantc. exactly IN front OF my maven OF
refuge. | made frantic dart at the canvas door'
to be greeted with the sight OF an unmlStakaDle
pair of manly boots. | TUNED and ned-0h
miscrie! in my confusion | had forgotten the
number. | must pass them, vaguely wondering II
beach etiquette expected me TO acknowIeHgc
Horace. | prepared for another ddSl-Wheh Il Iady
oblgIngy pointed out canvas tent with poilte
'cest la, mademOiselic, and rushed III to hde my
bushes under the friendly canvas On my return
BOnne-maman told me she expected the baroness ne
Pontiac and her daughter and Horace.
Although | was bIOkeu-hearted, vanity was not
dead | determined 10 look my best. gathered my
hair in a knot and placed among the WaVy fringe
OF curls some gorgeous crimson tmnlaS. ! hall
feared Iebuke from BOnne-inaln1n as 10 Ieng over
drcssed-So shipped on black SILK gown wherein
had artfuy inserted white lace fucker ana SHINY
jet-cmbIOdcrcd RULES; another cluster OF scaIIet
tnnias ana black mtteus finished OF the severe ana
becoming costume, III when entered Tue lool,i Pl1
pared to make the acquaintance OF the haiciui tic
Mdie Berthe only was there, arrayed in fashion
able attire and | was scarcely surprised 10 rccog-
nze in her Horace's lively companion OF the morn
ing Horace behaved beautifully IN Bonne-
mamans eyes. After greeting me coiGiy' he over
looked my insignificant presence, lost III the over
towering brilliancy OF the sparkling ana amusing
Berthe. She absorbed hun entirety. hoy were
making arrangements for trip to Mont ST. Michel,
where he and had talked OF gong. How Wretched
telt, how wild with the scraps heard; ram
from ST. MalO-carrIage at Dol, on to iAe hoSplcc.
| must make diversion, and somewhat Abruptly
asked Mhlle de Pontiac to play or sing. In vain
Bonne-maman objected that it was getting dusk and
she did not want lights. as 1t rested her eyes;
Mdle' Berthe gracefully shaking out her puts aud
laceS, sweetly observed that she would play Tor
Nine dHarcourt, and sing for MadcmOlsolie
She ratified through noisy and brilliant piece,
and then her voice. sharp and metallic, hlled the
air: Isl v0us naveZ rien me dire" she vas sing
ing it at Horace, who, apparently buried III
Thought was sitting near her. wondered II ne re-
mem bere1 It as one Of the songs had often sung 10
him. Bonne-maman cOughed and hdgeted and
shivcrcd Mdlle Berthe bravely sang on. some
times hat. sometimes sharp, finishing at last on n
note that Jared every nerve and fibre.
Horace was proinse in thanks, and !, too, thanked
her and added Immediately: Snail | sing you
little EnAli balladP Bonne- maman interrupted
me to order the lamp. but maiclously remarked
that would sing n twilight song first could not
resist nv anticipated triumph. Straight from my
heart tho words rang oui, In the Cleaning ard
vibrating strangely through the dusk came the fare.
well to my love, mine no longer: Best Tor you ana
best for me-
must have sung better than usual, from the deep
silence paid as tribute to my talent. and under
cover of the darkness rose. and stcalrS silently 10
the door ght the friendly night wherein tn hide
nv sorrow. Perrlnc met me with the lamp, and
leaving the hateful light and the happy circle, l
turned away to the garden.
".
Hurriedly | went, past the clipped yew hedge, to
the stone seat on which | sank, and burylng my