The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-12


 to come out with me he looked so shab- by, and his hands are ink-siained writing his big drama, etc.,
 farm, a pleasant, fesh-looking, middle aged peasant woman, with scarlet handkerchief round her head, wearing a white cotton camisole, short blue skirt and wooden sabots on her feet, which clattered down the yard as she pre- ceded us into our rooms. She opened the door of the house and showed me my room.
 "Ce nest pas beau, mais, mademoi- selle, y sera bean, j'espere," she said with a courteous smile.
 1 It was a large room with red tiled floor, and big snowy bed, three oak chests, several chairs, and a round ma hogany table. There were two windows, one opening out on the farm, the other on delightful old-fashioned garden, ex- actly like what Ninette had described. There was charming look of peace about it; an enormous yellow Cat was fast asleep on the gray wall, and some garden bees were humming over the heavily scented flowers.
 i A tap at the door, and enters Mir. Talbot.
 A tail. gaunt ngure, attired in an ex- tremely shabby brown coat ou, of side pocke, peeped a long clay pipe; his waisicoat was stained, and his face woui have been much improved by good sctubbing, still it was handsome, with deep-se, eyes and a good broad forehead. Mir. Talbot looked like an unprosper- ous poet the dirty tone gave a kind of mellowness to his appearance and though so shabby, he looked every inch a gentleman.
 Welcome, Susan, to Treuil" he ex- claimed. taking both my hands affection ately in his. "Ii is now more than three years since we have met; you are look ing little pale, but this air will bring back the damask roses, and the sparkle in your gray eyes
 "l must show you how to wear your hair differently, exclaimed Ninet,e :. it IS no. la mode. Now look a, my head. All the hair ought to be worn a. the top to show the nuque. Come into my room :; l shall fix you up for dinner, as the Amer jeans say"
 l entered her room, which was next to mine, and which presented a sight not easily to be forgotten. Dresses every where, on the right, on the left, behind and Tn front of me in picturesque dis ! order, AS well as laces, fans, gloves, hats, bonnets, flowers. parasols. shoes, knick- knacks, and looking glasses of every kind, size, and dimension. from the long cheval to the tiny hand-glass.
 What quantity of clothing, Ossa upon Pelion of garments :" l exclaimed in o!smay. Why, have only brought one trunk: from your letter l thought that Il was no ase bringing fashionable clothing"
 :. My dear. Susan. don, you know that l have a passion for dress: l love my little person, dress to please myself-i, IS almost the greatest pleasure have in life to see myself equisi,ely dressed of course l cannot afford buying pretty things, but my wealthy marraine, Madame Souiikoff, sends me four times year trunks full of lovely toilettes she knows that papa is poor, impractical, always in the clouds, either writing poems that don't bring him in a penny, or plays that no manager will accept: he is too old now to change, so it is fortunate that have this fairy godmother. Look here, these three dresses come from Worth's {: are they no. chefs-d .euvre of artistic taste" and Ninette displayed to me toilettes ht for princess.
 Thou shalt not coves thy neighbours goods exclaimed, but. NiEette, the sigh, of those lovely dresses makes me uncomfortable when think over the con- tents of my trunk
 "lou are abou, my size" she answered. standing on tip :oe in iron, of the glass you are a wee bit taller, but these dresses could nj you. Now let me think which will bes, suit your style" looking thoughtfully a, me from head to foot. = You are plump, rosy, Hebe: am fair. dreamy, with wicked dark eyes: good se;-ofi we are 10 each other. You must wear this gown now there are sev- ersi nice men coming to tea. and wan, you to make some conquests." though: of the handsome Mir. Lumley, so con sen,ed. and passively resigned myself into Nine:te's clever hands. Firs, she pulled down my heavy dark hair, brushed and twisted l, up a, the top of my head then was powdered all over, then de licious scent of poudrc d'lris was sprink- led over me. You require strong, deep colors: now this black silk, with amber stripes, and those deep yellow roses, jus, suit your style
 She made me turn round and round in front of the oheval-glass.
 "You are fairy. Ninet.e could not have known myself again :" exclaimed, laughing, blushing, and lowing to the handsome image reflected iii the glass.
 = Now Ii IS my turn to dress. You see. 1t IS not an easy matter to decide when there is such an embarras de richesses MT. Dyce. one of the young men who es- cor,ed me when l met you-a poe,-is coming this evening unfortunately, he has only brains and empty pockets. Indeed, may as well warn you, before you lose your heart, that there is not man here who has fortune. We'll, Mir. Dyce pre- fers me in this pink silk with the white lace: he calls me Aurora and has written me charming poem which will show VOt anofhey time A Mv uC-,r1