The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-10-11
lFrom Macmillan's Magazine.1
FLEURETTE.
CHAPTER |.

| had spent some years In the colo
nies, doctoring diggers and the like
rough-and-ready folks. The novelty
of the strange scenes and free-and-
easy life had at last worn off, and |
found myself signing for the respect
ability of broadcloth and settled po-
sition in my profession. Aided some
what by thrift, and more by fortu-
nate land speculation, had money
enough to supply my wants for a few
years to come; so | returned to En-
gland, resolved to beat out a practice
somewhere.
Of course, the first person | went to
see was John. He was my brother
my only brother-indeed, the one tie
| Lad to England We were couple
of orphans, but pretty sturdy ones
withal, and well able to wrestle with
the world Fortunately, our father
lived until his eldest son was of an age
to carry on his snug country practice;
so John still occupied the old red
brick house in the main street of the
little town Of Dalebury, the same
brass plate on the door doing duty for
him as for his father before him.
I found old John-so his closest
friends ever called him-little chang
ed: rather graver in mien, perhaps,
but with the same honest eyes and
kindly smile winning at once the con-
fidence, and soon the love, of men and
women. AS we clasped hands and
looked in each others faces, we knew
that the years which had made men
of us had only deepened our boyish
love.
1t was pleasant, very pleasant, for a
wanderer like myself to find such a
welcome awaiting him. It was good
to sit once more in that cosy old room
and talk with John late into the
night, discussing all that had happen
ed since last we sat there. | had many
questions to ask. Dalebury is only a
little town. Having been born and
bred there, knew all the inhabitants
I had not been abroad long enough to
forget old friends, so | piled John
with many inquiries as to the fate of
one or another. After a while I
asked
"Who lives now in the old house at
the corner-where the Tanners lived
once?"
"a widow lady and her daughter,
named Dorvaux"
French, I suppose, from the
name?"
mo, believe not. Her late hus-
band was French; but as far as | have
learned, Mrs. Dorvaux is an English
woman"
"New-comers! They must be quite
an acquisition to Dalebury. Are they
pleasant people?"
II don't know-at least, [ only know
the daughter. She is very beautiful"
added John, with something like a
sigh.
My quick ears caught the suspicious
sound. Could | be on the eve Of an
interesting discovery?
Every beautiful, is she9 And what
may her Christian name be?"
"Fleurette-Fleurette, replied John
repeating the soft French name, and
lingering upon it as though it were
sweet to his lips, like wine.
Then he changed the CONVEX
sation, and far away we drifted
from beautiful maidens and musical
names as | recounted some Of my col
onial exploits-how | had treated
strange accidents, out-of-the-way dis
eases, CHASTITY gunshot-wounds; till
our talk became purely professional,
and without cheerfulness or interest
for the laity.
| spent the next day in looking up
old friends and neighbors. I had
brought money back with me-not
very much, it is true, but rumor had
been kind enough to magnify the
amount, so every one was glad to see
me- Mind, I don't say this eynically;
| only mean that, leaving the nui-
sance Of appeals to the pocket, for old
sake's sake, out of the question, all
must feel greater pleasure at seeing a
rolling-stone come back fairly coated
with moss than scraped bare. So ali
my old friends made much of me, and
I wondered why the world in general
should be accused of forgetfulness.
While | was at one house, another
visitor entered, and | was introduced
to Miss Dorvaux. As | heard her
name, the recollection Of my grave
brothers midnight sigh made me look
at her intently and curious ignore
so, | fear, than politeness allowed.
Now you must decide for yourself
as to whether Fleurette Dorvaux was
beautiful. When [ say, candidly,
only one person in the world admires
her more than | do, only one person
is her more devoted slave than [ am,
l confess myself a partial witness,
whose testimony carries little weight.
But to my eyes that day, Fleurette
appeared this. About twenty years
Of age; scarcely middle height, but
with dainty, rounded figure; bru-
nette, with dark-brown eyes, long
black lashes, making those eyes look
darker-such black eyebrows and
such black hair! nose, mouth, and
chin as perfect as could be; such a
bright, bonny, lively little woman!
Not, decided at first, the wife for a
hard-working, sober doctor like John
Penn.
Stays the girl so bright, so live
ly, after all? On her entry she had
greeted my friends with a gay laugh
and merry words, emphasized with vi
vacious little French gestures, and
for few minutes she was all life and
sunshine. She seemeA interested
when she heard my name, and with
easy grace began talking to me
thoughtfully and sensibly. As she
talked, something in her manner told
me that life was not all sweetness to
} her. At times her bright brown eyes
; looked even grave and serious, and the
s,nila over ON her Inns as she smoke