Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-21
JEAN D'0RSAY.


with her CLEAN Of outside light, aud
the scent of violets.
II have come for long talk, Octa-
via" she said. 81 have much to say,
and you have much to listen to. Where
is my old friend, the home made
couch? Oh, there it is, pushed away
back in that dark corner. 0ctavia,
how could you treat my Iand-work
with 80 little dignity?' Then she pull
ed away with her pretty hands until
the couch with its worn chintz covering
and cushions was placed to her liking
in the broad window and che comfor
tsbly established therein. The warm,
golden beams of the setting sun rested
lovingly on her sweet face.
"And 80, my dear" | said, with q
sigh Of content, for | was very glad to
have my Jean home once more, after
an absence of many weeks, "you are
really engaged to be married? | only
heard the rumor, as true, the other day
and have waited for your own lips to
tell me all about it, and as many OF the
secrets of love-mAking rs you will con-
fide to an old maids keeping"
Goa, yes, ! am engaged" she ans
wered oarelessly; "but, Octavia, if you
are pining for love secrets, have none
to tell. Surely you know as we'll as |
do that it was all arranged long ago,
before papa died. 1t was his dearest
wish that ! should n AIRY the Baron
Won Stock, and abroad we are taught
TO obey our fathers, even though they
die and leave us; and even without
that we DOrsays never break our
word"
She said this simply and rs a matter
of cCurse, taking of her rings one by
one and making little row OF the m on
the top of the couch. She was very
young, only just II, but there was a
ring OF proud truth in her voice that
showed that che had learned her lesson
well.
Yes, know, child" | answered
with another sigh, not 80 tranquil as
my former one; "0nly, you see, | can
neither understand nor believe in such
keeping of ones word. Here, in
America, generally, girl marries for
one OF two reasons-either because she
loves or because she is poor and needs
a home. The latter can never be 20lir
case; then, Jean, do you lore the Baron
Won Stock
Jean shrugged her shoulders "He
is fifty" she said, "and mas gray hairs,
and / am just seventeen, and, you
know, summer and winter never can
agree. But am DOrsay."
"D'Orsay or not DOrsay,' / replied
saortly, / do not believe in any such
nonsense. Jean, do you realize what
you are giving up in marrying u man
you do not lover
II thinl; | do, Octayia."
"ls there, then, someone you do love,
Jeau?'
A long pause followed my question,
during which Jean put on slowly the
shining little circlets that belonged TO
her slim fingers Then she said, in a
troubled voice, "Octavia, that is Just
what | have come to tell you."
A peremptory knock at the door fol-
lowed by the immediate entrance and
familiar voice of my favorite, Denis
Durant, interrupted jeans little confes.
sion.
"Are you here, Madam Octavia, nj
alone IN the cleaning And may
come IMP
"Come in, and welcome, Denis, but
when did you arrive2 Your last letter
said nothing of yoW intention to return
so soon. You were on your way tC
Florida then. Did You weary of the
Sunny South or were the Florida pirl
less winning and beautiful than y8u ex
pected Z"
mo and yes, Madam Octavia. As tC
the Florida girls, fortunately for m,
they lid not make up my entire com
munity, for | had other things to thiul
about"
Denis crossed the long studio, an,
nov stood beside us where we sat il
the quiokcoming shadows. I turned t,
Jean to make them know To one an
other.
Jean said "this is your one riya
in my affection; Denis, this is your onl
compeer in my heart"
| proceeded thus far, when | wa
shaken out of nay usual calm by ljttl
gasping noise from among the cush
ions. Denis started forward, and to m
utter dismay and establishment, sa,
him seize Jeans hands and cover then
with eager kisses, while he said in brok
en- voice:
"You have, my darling why,
thought never knew you and MADAM
Octavia were friends
Then Jeans frightened little voice.
500, please, you must not. Oh
Octayla, tell Mr.. Durant all about il ?
Tell Mr., Durant all about it,"
echoed; indeed, think it is you tw
should make explanation to me.
And so 10y degrees they told me.
was the same old story that is foreve
and forever repeating itself They ha
met in Florida, gone sightseeing an
pleasureseeking together until, MS
foregono conclusion, they bad come t
love one another; and then why, the