The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-10
Select Storg.
FELICIE'S RECEPTION.

From Lippincott for December,
Everything was bright and still anC
green in Madame Duvergne's garden
There was neither stir nor languor in the
air; the full masses of june foliage were
cut clear against deep-blue sky, while tn,
fresh fowerbeds below were set in SHARP
lines Of color like brilliant mosaic. The
only moving thing there was a young girl
who sat on a low stone seat in the shadow
playing with a white kitten. At the heigh
Of the laughter and frolic the play was sud
denly turned into desperate earnest as i
great dog came flying over the neighborine
wall and rushed after the kitten as if tt
make one mouthful of her With frantic
energy the little creature scrambled uI
water-spout and roof and thence to the
pointed top of a dormer-window, where il
sat trembling all over. The dog barked
the kitten mewed, and Felicie screamed
and in the midst of it all young mar
sprang upon the low wall over which the
dog had jumped, and look inquiringly abou
him.
"Oh, monsieur, Minette r cried Felicie
"She is frightened, and she will fall, so fal
up there r
The young man took in the situation a
a glance. "Have no fear, mademoiselle,
he said reassuringly II will bring hel
down none the worse to you" And al
most before she understood his meaning he
-.-,e, eIP NOV ~, 70. tho uoaf
Felicie stood watching him with hei
hands clasped and her lips parted, divided
between fear for the kitten and her rescuer
But presently the young man returned
with his prize in safety. Then he turned
to the dog, sinking in corner. But Fe
licie interrupted his threatening GESTURE
eNo, no, monsieur do not hurt pool
Caesar He knows no better.
sAh you know the rascal, then ?" sale
the young man, turning to look at her.
''Know him? Why, yes, since he was
Just little ball of black fur. But send
him away, please; he frighteps Minett'
still"
The young man complied with her re-
quest, and then stood hesitating, as if un
certain whether to stay or go. A question
from Felicie decided him.
"But you, monsieur" she said, smiling
as she held up the kitten, "you do not re
member this darling Minette ?"
The young man laughed as he turned
and sat down beside her "No mademoi
selle, assuredly. How should 2"
'sHow, indeed, since she was not borr
then, poor little pet?"
'sOh, she was not born then p he re
peated, watching her with doubtful
smile.
"0f course not, monsieur. Why, it il
three years since you were here =
EIs it indeed three years since, mad
emoiselle?' r.
"Ah, yes You forget, away in Paris
But we, who stay here between four walls
we remember. What else have we to dol?
And she sighed
"And SO mademoiselle remembers me
And she does not find me changed at all
"Oh, monsieur, on the contrary Mon
sieur is taller-and paler-" lifting hel
eyes with the briefest little glance Of scru
tiny between the items of this personal in
ventory- -and-apd-quite different alto
gether.
''Do you recognize me by the differ
ence2 said the young man, laughing
'sBut you find me changed for the worse
you would say?"
sAh, no [ did not say that, Monsieur
Jules
"No, do not call me that" broke in thu
young man, his mischieVoas look givins
place to frown. ~ hate the name,
will not acknowledge it"
"And what shall l call monsieur, then!'
said the girl, with gay laugh.
He gave her quick, searching look:
"Call me Felix, if you will. [ like i
better"
oAh? you are very gallant to assume
my name, but 1 know you have no right t.
the Felix all the same.
"And how do you knoW that, if yo'
please, Observation-Disclosures p after
pause and with a smile.
because I know that your name
Jules Rene Lacroix, and | cannot remem
Der to have heard that you were eve
Felix"
"And can you remember to have hear
everything in the world, then, mademoi
selie? Felix-happy-yes, | am surel
Felix. Look at me, mademoiselle, and sa
if you do not believe it.
The young girl, confused by something
different in the hitherto light tone, change
the subject hastily.
"And all this time you have not on
word of inquiry for madame, my mother
That is very ungrateful of you, Monsieu
Monsieur Felix.
aPardon me, mademoiselle. May hop
that madame, your mother, is in perfe(
health, and that she remembers me as we
as you do?''
"Oh, as for that, far better. If moi
sieur had done us the honor to inform L
of his early visit, he would have been r'
ceived by madame herselfin the great salol
But now she is gone away"
"And meantime mademoiselle is chat'
laine ?''
eyes, under Marthe But you kno'
could always do as l would with goo
old Marthe
ssThen, mademoiselle, let us have sei
son of playtime before madame, your mott
er, returns and the stern realities Of lii
begin for us. Do you not see" be wei
on, as the girl looked at him questioningl
''that if the worthy Marthe is of the part
l ,.o,1, ,oe, u 1ro