The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-13

| MAY ask who the lady was L met,
in the hall as came in?" inquired his
lordship, casually, of Lady Blanche,
when he had discharged his mission.
''Was she small and dark? It must
have been Madame Lebeuf," answered
| the hostess.
e'Oh, the Madame Leb@uf, I sup
pose, he remarked, pleasantly, as he
took up his hat.
eyes; the great Madame Lebeuf.
She come to consult me about my dress
for the drawing room. I am especially
favored, you see, for Lebnuf always
calls upon me, whereas other people
have to dance attendance upon her."
said Lady Blanche, with conscious
pride.
Remarkably condescending of her,"
observed Lord Leytonstone, looking the
widow straight in the face. ssTve heard
she generally gives herself the airs of q
wealthy dowager."
''Oh, but it's gratitude, you know"
said Lady Blanche, rather quickly, as
she turned aside from his 1ordship's
scrutinizing gaze. ''She used to be my
maid, and those foreigners are always
SO devoted and warm-hearted."
eyes, very. Particularly middle-ag
French women," said his lordship,
dry1y
Lady Blanche, who was quick-tem-
pered, seemed vexed at her visitors
| tone; but before she could speak Lord
Leytonstone had suddenly seized her
hand, and was lifting it gravely to his
| lips.
''I will not be behind the Lebeuf in
paying especial homage to Lady
Blanche Dulcimer," he said, loosely,
as he bowed himself out of the room.
It was evident that Leytonstone was
| in an unusually good humor. His
stiff and pompous manner relaxed
as he descended the stairs, and when he
reached the street he began to twirl his
moustache and to hum a fragment of a
| lively French chansonette in an under
tone.
"Gad p he muttered to himself, ,br eak-
ing off in the midst of the refrain, it
makes one feel quite young again, and
yet it must be twenty years at least.
She wears well, la petite Ernestine."
After another short burst of melody
his lordship again commenced uncon-
sciously to shape his thoughts into
| words.
''I will call and pay my respects to
Madame. I begin to suspect that Lady
Blanche is even a cleverer woman than
I imagined, and, by gad! if my suspi-
cions are correct, will propose before
I'm day older"
Lord Leytonstone's reflections kept
him in good spirits for the rest of the
day, and it was observed at the club
that he was uncommonly sprightly and
IL. l.
hand at whist, lest it should make him
late for dinner, as he had particular
engagement in the evening. He said he
should probably look in at the opera Ia
ter on, but soon after he started off in
hanson to an address in Bond street, |
and was set down at the door of Madame
Lehoef's atelier.
He was ushered into handsomely
furnished apartment on the first floor,
where he amused himself by studying |
with complacence the reflection of his !
well-preserved face and figure in the |
numerous mirrors, until the door |
opened, and swarthy little lady, with a |
mustache and very dark eyes, bustled !
into the room.
"Milor Leytonstone she said in
quisitively, glancing at the card she
held in her hand, and stumbling over |
each syllable in the name.
''Ernestine!" said his 1ordship, with
transparent attempt at sentiment.
Comment! C'est vous, Monsieur
Birmingham ?" exclaimed Madame Leb-
@uf, quite calmly.
eyes. We used to tut one another
once upon time, Madame, but that
was when we were both younger" re-
mark d his lordship, pressing the
plump hand which was extended to him.
"Were you not at Lady Blanche Dull
cimer's to-day ?"?" inquired Lebeuf,
glancing at him curiously.
Eyes. / passed you in the hall as I
entered" said his lordship. I knew
you again at once. That is more than
you can say of me-.
Il did not recognize you, Milor; but
had forgotten that you were no longer
young even when knew you," returned
Madame Leboeuf, frankly.
Flows Leboeuf?" inquired his lord
ship, with grin, as he polished his eve
glass with his dainty silk handkerchief.
''He is dead" said Madame, pursing .
her lips.
go! Indeed. Left you fortune, I
suppose ?" remarked his lordship, in an
off hand way, as he continued his occu-
patton.
'That is my affair It is no concern
of yours" said Madame Lebnuf, with | I
startling directness.
'Of course not; but I may be per- I
mitted to congratulate you, Ernestine ?" !
said his lordship, settling his glass in
his eye and flushing up. s'You seem to
be in clover here. Lebmuf's luck must !
have changed indeed, if he left you in a s
position to start q business like this. 6
You are making fortune, I hear?"
''Pasmal," responded Madame with t
an angry shrug. IL
"Well well. That is capital capital! !" !
said his lordship, in more genial tone,
as he glanced approvingly round the t
room. 81 am delighted to hear SO good {
an account" l.
s'You did not come here to pay COM 3
pliments, Milor," said Madame Lebnuf, |
evidently modified. r