The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-10-05
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toned to see in her, and which is so differ
ent from the joyous smiles of the Jeanne
de Beaujen whom he loved so long ago.
He is watching her from the opposite
side of the salon as he stands beside his
hostess, and he tells himself that it is for
the last time. He is going to her pres
emily, and he knows just how coldly she
will raise the dark eyes that once never
met his without confessing that she
loved him. He knows just what he will
say and what she will answer and there
is no need for haste in this last scene of
his tragedy.
GA man should know when he is
beaten" he is thinking, while he smiles
vaguely in reply to Nine. de Soue's com
monplaces. "There is more stupidity
than courage in not accepting defeat
while there is yet time to retreat with
some dignity. For six weeks I have
shown her, with directncss that has,
dare say been amusing to our mutual
friends, that after ten years absence my
only object in returning to Paris is her
society. She cannot avoid meeting me
in public, but she has steadily refused to
receive me when | call upon her. or to
permit me a word with her alone
have been a fool to forget that all these
years in which l regretted her she has
naturally despised me, but at least it is
not just of her to refuse me hearing
The moment he has been waiting for is
come. The little court about her dis
perses, until there is but one man beside
her, and she chances around with a look
of mild appeal against the continuance of
his society
De Palissier has escaped from his
hostess in an instant, and the next he is
murmuring, with the faintcst suspicion
of a tremor in his voice, Will Nine.
de Miramon permit me a dance ~
"Thanks, NJ. de Palissier, but I am
not dancing this evening" she replies,
with exactly the glance and tone he ex-
poets.
"Will madame give me few mo-
ments' serious conversation y and this
time the tremor is distinct, for even the
nineteenth-century horror of melodrama
cannot keep mans nerves quite steady
when he is asking question on which
his whole future depends.
Zone does not come to balls for
serious conversation" she begins,
lightly.
"Where may come, then 2" he inter-
rupts, eagerly.
"Nowhcre. There is no need for
serious conversation between us, NJ. de
Palissier," she replies, haughtily, and
rising she takes the arm of the much
edited gentleman beside her, and moves
away.
1t is all he has prophesied to himself,
and yet for a moment the lights swim
dizzily before him, and the passionate
sweetness of that Strauss waltz the band
is playing stabs his heart like knife.
For moment he does not realize that he
is standing quite motionless, gazing, with
despair in his eyes, after Nine. de Mi
ramOn's slender, Whitehead figure, and
that two or three people, who have seen
and heard, are looking at him with that
amused pity which sentimental catastro-
pho always inspires in the spectators.
Some one touches his arm presently
with her fan, and with a start he comes
to himself and recognizes Lucille de Beau
jen, the young sister of Nine. de Mi
ramon, whom he remembers years ago as
child, and with whom he has danced
several times this winter.
And our waltz, monsieur?" she asks,
gayly. "Do not tell me you have for
gotten it. That is evident enough, but
you should not admit it."
'Mille pardons, mademoiselle, " he nut
ters hurriedly.
81 am very good tonight" she says,
putting her hand on his mechanically ex-
tended arm. Though the waltz is half
over, there is still time for you to get me
an ice"
So they make their way through the
salon, she talking lightly and without
pausing for reply, while he, vaguely
grateful to her for extracting him from
an awkward position, wonders also that
she should care to be so kind to a man
whom her sister has treated with such
marked dislike.
The rcfreshment room is almost empty,
and she seats herself and motions him tc
a chair beside her when he has brought
her an ice.
"Do you think, NJ. lie Marquis, that il
was only to eat ices with you that have
forced my society so resolutely upor
your she asks, with a look of earnest
ness very rare on her bright coquettisl
face.
81 think you an angel of compassion
to an old Trend oil your childhood, Mile
L lcille-"
A" 1t was compassion, but more for m,
sister than for you" she says, gravely.
"Your sister!" he echoes, bitterly
cit has not occurred to me that Mime
de Miramon is in need of compassion, anC
yours is too sweet to be wasted"
"Chut, monsieur" she interrupted
'Forget that | am as fond of prett
speeches as most young women, ant
think of me only as Jeanne de Miramon'
sister, who believes that, much as sh
loves her, you love her even more"
For the second time this evening ID
Palissier forgets possible observers, an
clasps both the girls slender hands in hi
as he murmurs, unsteadily: "God bles
your
"You forget thatwe have an audience