The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-04-18

dress barely revealed the Wilderness Of her
neck:
The musiciSa consented to close her pi-
ano when dinner was announced.
She turned round. Madame d'Alerions
introduced mo: The Princess vaninka de
Zent.n
The princess took my hand. Il am very
glad to see you, she said; II have often
heard about you"
"We are alone resumed Nadine dale
RON; my other guests have not yet come.
excused them with all my heart. This
dinner Of three was fatally mute duet and
q brilliant monologue.
While my lovely friend was bewitching
me with her eyes, the Princess vaninka
continued talking necessarily.
listened to her In spite Of myself, and I
looked at Ter Involuntary. Her CONVEX
sation was like her face. Il was strange,
disagreeable, end delicious small face
absolutely foreign; the nose too large; brown
eyes with gold reflections. an Austrian
mouth, with purple lips and little teeth Of
mouse; an audacious gracefulness; a mo-
sPmng from contrasts: voluptuousness In
her glare and sarcasm in her smile; a mix
ture Of fairy and German student. A
strange little women!
do not know il she had wit, but she
started of at headlong pace. Her CONVEX
sation was piquant, sparkling, and envel-
oped in foreign accent like jewels in lace.
Often the countess smiled, and several
times she blushcd. The little princess did
not mince matters In her stories of scandal
a la mode.
When the time for separation had come,
the princess said to me:
You ride, do you not?"
Certainly, madame"
''Then we will ride together in the morn
ing; but. warn you, get up early; al
eight o'clock, en- route! Goodnight, Jac.
queline! Sleep we'll, ma belle cherie.
She disappeared. remained alone with
Madame d'Alerions.
It was late. We had long chat. good
deal of music, and exchanged few furtive
presses Of hands. Through the open door
Of the grand SALON the light of the stars en-.
tered with the perfume Of the park, and
mingled with the dying lights. I imprint
ed burning kisses upon her hands.
II love you, Jacqueline," I whispered in
her ear.
Nay" she answered, 81 fear that YOU
are ackie.n And she rose. 80
Not SO, replied, endeavoring to de.
preserve it forever-some souvenir Of this,
my avowal."
She took full blown rose from her
corsage. and as I pressed it to my lips, she
fled from the room.
Ipassed greater part Of the night at my
window kissing that precious flower, which
contained little Of the heart Of Jacque-
line. 1t was hardly eight O'Clock when I
saw in tie courtyard horse already sad
died and held by groom. II was the
Princess Vaninkn,s horse. had complete.
" forgotten the princess.
hurried down. The princess did not
seem TO see me. She placed her little foot
on the grooms large hand. and sprang into
the saddle. She wore bandits felt hat
with long green feathers, that produced the
strongest effect on her blonde head.
"Ah! there you are!" she said to me. II
am going to start without you.
Madame, that would be too cruel.:.
Bah! you will catch me!''
In the twinkling Of an eye she was out Of
sight, followed by her little groom. /
jumped on the back Of my mare, and five
minutes Inter I caught up with the green
cockade in an overarched avenue. The
woods around Chevreuse are delicious. You
might believe yourselves hundreds of miles
away from Paris. Under the thick foliage
OF the trees babble brooks thatsspring from
moss covered rocks, and flow singing be-
tween fowery banks.
As she was riding along the princess
gathered armfuls Of wild plants, and plucked
the flowers that hung within her reach. Az
she was trying to pluck branch Of eglan-
tine, she gave little scream, and threw
back angrily the thorny branch. A shower
Of rosy petals fell upon her head and upon
her dress.
as you, said, o. I tried in my turn to sat.
Jew scratches, al the fowery branches that
ve passed.
'Indeed!" she replied. ''But You car
not think me pretty. am ugly"
Nonsense! can you say that without
A rapid burst Of laughter escaped from
her lips.
.'Yoa see." said to her, .every woman
is internally conscious Of her grace
II am thirstyl" said Vaninkka. s'Stop q
little, and help me to dismount."
I made . sign to the groom, threw the
reins to him, and jumped from my horse
l fastened to her side. She slid into mn
arms witha joyous abandonment. She
was always the same mixture Of femi-
nine charm and girlish carelessness.
Let NJ go and drink, she said, lftine
up her long robe. up there is q little
NEUROLOGICAL spring on which you shall
Pive me your opinion"
And as she followed the woodland path,
beating the plants with her riding-whip
she sang the cir Of Zerline: La CT darem
la na0s0.
Then breaking of, and turning round
suddenly, she said:
Have You ever been in love2"
"Why not2"
Yes; you are In love with Jacaueline,
She is beautiful, Jacqueline! and romantic,
too, eh?"
Madame d,Alerioas isithe most beauli-
full person in the world, accept"
Except whom?"
Yourself"
She threw her gloves up in the air ani
caught them like q ball.
THAT for your fiattery!" she said.
The movement was so vivacious and &
droll that could NOT help laughing.
will wager that she gave you her rose
You have il there, next your heart. Do no
reply, am sure Of i'll" Then, as IL tn,
question interested her as little as my reply
she began to sing. Then she went on
An, men are stupid! All! II were man
and In love, should know how to manag,
things, I promise you!"
How would you act?'' / asked, lookin,
her full in the eyes.
She cast upon me glance which daz
zled me by its magic brllliancy, and draw.
ing back with her pretty laugh:
IT is not worth while explaining; you
would not understand" And she began {,
sing again.
We had arrived ct the top Of the hill.
aIs not the view delightful she said
That valley, still gray with the mornin,
mist, and the river Yvette glistening in til,
sun, and winding round Cheyreuse like ,
gray ribbon round basket. All, what
lovely mornings
We heard the silvery sound Of the gprin)
flowing over the white pebbles. She tool
off her gloves, and kneeled down to drinl
greedily in her two hands.
will you drink, too?" she said to me
filing once more the cup Of rosy mn BIZ
and Offering II to me. I drank in ecstasy
'sMore?" she asked, laughing.
And drank again, breathing in at tn,
same time the perfume Of her hands. Thel
took both Of them, still wet, and covered
them With kisses. felt them under M,
lips ct once cool, burning, and trembling
staggered. The blood mounted impetu
ously to my face. s.ts 3.
Pvel gra*d enfaat uoHs faites" Oh,