The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-12-07

taiy STEP and You are so tall that have
To bend back my neck to look in yyour
face. But indeed, we are the same Adii-
enne and Raoul, in spite Of our tineries.,
Raoll smiled as Alreune glanced over
his tall figure. He wore the blue Coat
faced with white. the uniform Of the
Kings Guai,l. blue velvet brooches. white
silk stockings. anil shoes with diamond
buckles, and carried Ills hat under his
arm. t
All at once Adrienncs eyes changed. a
startled expression replaced the bright
smile.
They all noticed it; no one understood IT,.
Adrienne put her hand To her head. ''sss
at seems so strange. That coat is like
something have seen in dream.
cannot remember"
"My darling, you are thinking of
ORourke's old uniform. He wore blue
coat when you were little creature. and
you recollect his appearance in it. Come,
Raoul, you and the duke must need re
freshments after your dusty ride. 1t. is
very warm, / think
The duchess put her arm in her hus-
bands, and walked toward the house,
leaving the young people to follow.
''How tall you are, Raoul! How you
have grown! You could carry me easily
still, as you did when was u little girl.
Would you have known me. Raoul2'
known you. Adrienne." He took n
locket from his whitc-sati waistcoat,
and, opening it. showed her little minia-
ture of herself, painted by II fine artist.
who had gone into raptures over the
beauty of Mademoiselle d'Aubretot in her
twelfth year
II could carry You now, Adrienne. as
easily as ever, if that hoop and that long
train were ont of the way. Are there any
woods here to counting INF Any streams
t. fish in? i wish we could sometimes
forget our height and our new dignity.
and play together as we did in our old
garden in Paris"
Every one in the neighborhood would
be very much shocked. But at school we
had lovely times Valentine and wore
short skirts and went fishing and took
long rambles around dIIyercs with the
chanionessc. She is coming, and she viii
bring Valentine"
valentine! Who is she?'
MY dearest friend. Raoul"
"Your very dearest. Adrienne7
piayel with you before you met Valentine.
If she is your dearest friend. she is not
your Oldest
"Oh, Raoul, you are just the same dear,
old. jealous boy you always were" She
put her hand on his. Can / not have
two dearest friepls!" Her eyes met his
in soft pleading. Raoul relentcd Il little.
and took her hand in his.
"How can two be dearest, Adriennel
Which Go you love and trust most!'
Il cannot answer; it is a different feel
ing. can trust Valentines for four years
have told her all my thoughts; she
would do anything for me-"
"And would not i. Adrienne2 1t is
true that for five years we have been
separated. but before that l knew all
your thoughts. You trusted me. Surely
you cannot have changed that your
thoughts and confidence are no longer for
me-"
"Oh, do not know. Perhaps it is you
who have changed, Raoul. Hive years,
you know, is a long time. Tell me. where
have you benin Paris, or with fatherp
Most of my time has been spent in
Paris. The duke preferred me to remain
there with my regiment. AS you are
home again. However he has had me ex-
changed into the detachment now sta.
toned at Toulon.'
"Are the Partisan ladies very hand-
some2'
Eyes, under their paint l suppose they
are. am glad that you do moi use it.
Adriennc. You have not gained any color
in your cheeks; just the same faii 1855
always associate with my mental pictures
of YOU"
"But want to hear of the court beau
ties that mother tells me of-those she
used to visit"
IL am ashamed TO confess That know
but little about them. should have
paid my respects to them frequently had
it not been for Henri"
"Wlo is Hcnii?"
my favoritc school-companion. and
now my dearest friend, Henri de Calonnc.'
''Oh. so you, too. have n dearest friend"
She turned away and gazed at the dis
tant clouds flying over the sea. Raoul
watched her in silence for some seconds,
then he said, gently:
"Cannot one have two dearest friendsw
Adrienne did not answer, but leaning
forward, Raoul saw tears glistening on
hei. long dark lashes.
"Adrienne!" He took her hands in his,
and bending quickly, kissed her eyes.
''rhere, let me kiss away your tears, as /
did long ago. when we were children, and
had no dearest friends, only each other.
Shall it not be so STILL. Adriennc2 Why
should strangers come between us2 We
can love and trust them, but we are still
true to one another"
Adrienne smiled at his earnest words.
and drawing her arm in his they went
slowly toward the chateau.
~ will tell you, Adrienne, we must man
age to have our dearest friends meet. I
was about ia ex t,laiu IN Won That Henri lie