The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-07-13

ana II you Ike we Will go to the Cafe Chap
ins and lave glass OF punch.7
In faith, no. replied: II prefer to &C
and see Julie, q need not tell you that il
my friend's name.) viii you come with
me?''
Yes, indeed" answered Dulaurier
An hour spent with pretty woman IS al
ways agreeable.
We proceeded to the Faubourg Hurte-
bize, where my friend lives. The dis
tance was quite lorg, but the expectation
Of warming ourselves at the blaze Of a
comfortable hearth was enough to abridge
it. Unfortunately we We're mistaken in
our calculations. Julie was out The SER
vart told lis, very indefinitely, that madam
would probably dine out, and that she in
tended to spend theevening at the theatre.
''By my faith," exclaimed Dulaurier at
this bad news, owe are in luck, and I am
going straight to the Cafe Chapins.''
"Let's 60 by the avenues. it's as short
as the Rue de Pierrefonds."
That is what we did. Scarcely had we
advanced fifteen steps in the cursed ave-
nues, black as coal, thanks to the fog, which
was thicker than ever: when lost sight
and sound of my fliend DuIaurier, don't
know whether he turned to the right and
to the left, or the reverse, but it is certain
| that we were separated as if by the wall
Of China. | called him. No reply. With
out thinking anything more about him,
and knowing that | would find him again
at the Cafe Chapins, | continued my dan
against something strange, which had no
apparent form, and [ stopped down to look
ut it closer. Was it a dog, a stone, Or
human being? 1t moved. Iexamined it,
opening my eyes wide. It was woman.
She was seated at the root Of tree, cow
ing like a beggar, seeming not to feel the
cold nor to fear the solitude, nor to notice
nay presence and scrutiny.
"What are you doing there, madame?'
/ SAID. 'Are you ill?''
''No,'' she replied in faint voice.
''This is not the weather for sleeping in
the open air.
''Here or anywhere else, what does it
matter?'
cat night, woman all alone is exposed
TO disagreeable adventures, - continued,
moved, | don't know why, by this strange
eccentricity, and at such IL time---''
''Any time is good for me, " she said,
"Nevertheless, if you will permit me,
madame, " [ replied with a certain warmth,
E'to accompany you home, [ will offer You
my arm"
"Wilingly," she said.
She rose Immediately. 7 offered her my
arm, but she did not accept it, and walked
by my side. admit that this part Of the
adventure already puzzled me somewhat,
and instead Of suffering from the cold,
which feared for her, felt, not without
astonishment, several drops Of perspira-
ton forming on my forehead. Impressed
with the strange encounter, my mind was
confused and unsettled. My ideas were
foggy as well as the air. What was this
woman? Was she really a woman? If so,
would / enjoy an agreeable surprise when
/ should see her face? Would it not prob
ably be as sweet as her voice?
At the end Of five minutes she stopped.
[ could not tell anything about what street
we were in, but without being uneasy for
a minute, approached her.
''Ihis is my house." she said. "Will it |
please you to enter?" /
Although was far from expecting such |
4 proposition, made in the calmest tone, |
nevertheless accepted with alacritv, anx-
ious to carry the affair to the end, no mat
ter what should happen, and, moreover,
determined not to leave her before having
seen her face.
The stranger advanced toward her house.
The shrill ringing Of bell resounded with
in, and the doors flew open. On each side
Of the door stood a servant in mourning
livery, holding a torch of lighted wax.
as a queen she entered before
me and beckoned me to follow her. BY the
light of the torches observed that she was
clothed in black, and that
thick veil covered her face.
You know me, my dear friend, and yen
know that the devil himself could not
frlghten me. Well, confess to yon, with
all due humility, that I felt slight shud-
ler run through me. But took courage,
and entered. The apartment into which
was introduced was magnificently furnish
ID. Rugs covered the inlaid floor and pre-
vented the souna of footsteps from being
heard. Casting my eyes on the clock,
ooticed that it was about to strike twelve.
At sign from their mistress the servants
went out as quiet as ghosts, after having
lighted several wax candles as large as
hose of churches, the Pickering and Gull
dame OF which, however, sent forth only
faint light around us.
/ was alone with her. That was what
was waiting for, and really she did not
make me wait long. After motioning me
o sit down beside her on the sofa, she
raised her veil. [ was dazzled at the sight
IF her face, and all my uneasiness and tears
to me imaginary, before that bril-
liant appariton scattered in an instant.
An angel, demon, if you viii, but SUI.
oerb woman. lost my senses. Now GO |