The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-02-23

and on this day, = tho young French
man stood in the dingy street waiting
for his cab, tho gloomy faded neighbor.
hood struck him with . full sense Of in.
congruity, IL seemed TO accord 20 i'll with
the grace and elegance that still Inn
pressed his mind How much moro at
home, hO thought, she would look in
Eaton Square or IN tho spacious rooms
at the Embassy And unconsciously he
breathed hope that Mademoiselle de
10 Penthiere might be like her. Three
more lessons the calculation came nat.
urally 70 him-three moro lessons, she
had said, would make him perfect.
Wherever he went during the next
three days, 70 park, dinner or ball, the
Vicomts could not avoid comparing Ill
the ladies' whom he met with his dane
ing mistress and, when the last occasion
actually came ON which he was TO see
her, his ceys were open to the fact that
he was in love-he, Frenchman, man
Of the world, 30 years old, and ready to
range himself, was positively in love |
SO 81 tho lest lesson this little scene
brought itself 10 pass. The pupil had
taken his Anal turn with his teacher,
and she had pronounced that only prac-
tico was needed TO give him the smooth
ness Of the perfect Walter.
II must bid you adieu, then :" said
he softly, taking her hand instead Of
making the low bow that, q teacher Of
department, she could have exacted.
Yes, monsieur I Ann certain that
you will not forget the STEP"
ever forget It r. And the vicomte caught
her in his arms and kissed her.
The result was quite contrary to his
expectations. First, she boxed his ears
seundly, or rather one Of them, and then
burst into tears, which, whether caused
by rage or confusion, were certainly sim
cere and more effective.
The Vicomte flung himself on his
knees and set himself fervently to pac-
ify her and put things on proper foot
ing. But mademoiselle was MORALLY
offended. Never had he known such m
ofIense regarded 20 severely. She was
inconsolable and she was silent save
for sobs.
At last she suddenly made for the
door, and Monsieur le Vicomte, his
future bride, the event Of the coming
Wednesday, and the wrath Of the fami-
lies forgotten, in an ecstasy Of repent
ance implored her to marry him, to DO
his wife.
Monsieur" replied she with dignity,
stopping >hort, "you forget that you
are to marry another!"
But, Adnenne, my darling, listen |
/ love only you |"
"And what Of your mother and the
Marquis de ID Penthiere?"
= / am thinking only Of you!' cried
he in tone Of despair, q the irdigna-
tion Of these persons occurred to him.
"Nay, Monsieur, will not suffer this
madness. You have insulted me, but I
will not exact such punishment. Hear
me. On one condition will forgive
You.
Whatever it be, will win your par
dom"
II take you At your word. You will,
before you marry-nay, at your first
with Mile. de 10 Penthiere-
tell her Of your recent misconduct. You
have wronged her IS much as myself"
II have promised, Mile. Adrienne,"
he cried, with groan. /" But what Of
aOf me :" said she proudly, bowing
low. II pardon you. Adieu. Monsieur"
Aud, before the young man could again
ipterpose, she disappeared, the door
cloaed behind her, and he was left alone
in the unfinished salon.
well, I nm foil" he soliloquized,
. he picked his way through Golden
Square and Beak street. "Id have
married her, though what madame my
mother would have said don't know,
and, q TO Mademoiselle dc 10 Penthiere,
how shall tell her don't know. But
I've promised, and the Carmignols keep
their word, he added with q groan, Is
he remembered how few minutes ear
lier he had offered to break his most
solemn engagement.
Even at the French Embassy, that
stately building which. thanking the
Albert Gate, induces country cousins to
ask what it is, great ball Is heralded
by some slight but perceptiblo prepare
tions but these were little apparent -
the Vicomte was ushered up the spacious
staircase to the smallest drawing-room.
Here the Marquis de II Penthiere re-
ceived him very cordially; for they were
old friends, as far as men Of different
ages can be, and the Marquis had i'm
bibed sufficient English piejudices not
to have handed over his daughter to the
most unexceptionable parti had not he
felt sure that the man himself was ono
likely to make her happy.
He was An indulgent sather. and she
had been allowed much more liberty
than French glrls generally enjoy be-
fore marriage. Possibly. therefore, abe
was not quite % resigned to her fate -
those around her supposed; but abe
gave no sign Of discomfort, and perhaps
WAS waiting 10 sec her future husband
before she decided TO oppose her fathers
wishes. More probably she looked on
the union g Q matter Of course.
Mademoiselle de Il Penthiere bowed
low in answer to the Vicomte's reveren.
tial salutation but, with the modesty
Of > young French girl, she shaded her
Il fan, % that in the gathering dusk hs
could not at once determine what she
was like, save that she WAS elegant,
graceful and very beautifully dressed.
After few phrases Of cordial court
esy. tho Marquis glided from the room
"a proceeding not at all in accordance
with strict French etiquette and the
two were left together.
Then the Vicomte knew that his time
was come It might be that he would
not see her alone again until their mar
riage; and he had promised cher" that
she should DO told Of his recent strange
forgetfulness. He drew . deep sigh
this Vas worse than . cutting-out ex-
petition then he braced himself up,
and. after requesting permission TO tell
her something that was . little disa-
greeable, but which be would make n
short as possible. he received gracious
acquiescence. and, piung,ng In xaedtas
res, he told her al in as shamefaced .
way - Frenchman could.
But Monsieur le Vicomte, do you
love-this-woman9" said the aristocrat-
&c beauty, in cold tones. from behind her
l. ~ n 4 8