The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-11
FLEURETTE.


had at last worn of. and found myself
signing for the re- portability of broad
cloth and u settled position in my pro-
fcssion. Aided somewhat 10y thrift. and
more by u fortunate land speculation, |
had made money enough to supply my
wants for u few years Ia come; So ] re-
turned to ENGLAND. resolved to beat out
a practice somewhere.
OF course. the first person ] went to
see was John. lie was my brother-my
only brother indeed, the one tie | had
to England. We were n couple of or
phans. but pretty sturdy ones withal,
and well able TO wrestle with the world.
Fortunately, our father lived until his
eldest son WIS of an age to carry ON his
snug country practice; so John still Oc-
cupied the old rcd-brick house in the
main street Of the little town of Dale
bury. the S.lmc brass plate on the door
doing duty for him rs for his father be-
fore him.
| found old John-so his closest
friends ever called hm-little changed;
rather gtaVCr lu mivn. perhaps. but with
the same honest eyes and kindly smile.
winning at once the confidence. and
soon the love of men and women. AS
we claspcd hands and looked in each
Others faces, we knew that the years
which had made men of us had only
uttlitlltu our lNNlSl lNNt.
1t was pleasant, very pleasant, for
wanderer like myself TO find such awel-
come awaiting him. 1t was good to sit
once more in that coy old room and
talk with John late into the night, dis
cussing all that had happened since last
we sat there. had many questions to
ask. Dalebury is only q little town.
Having been born and bred there,
knewall the inhabitants. had not been
abroad longeuouuh to forget old friends,
so piled John with many inquiries as
to the fate of one or another. After
awhile asked:
"Who lives now In the old house at
the corner-where the Tanners lived
once"
"A widow lady and her daughter,
named DoryauN.'
French, suppose. from the namcP
"No, | believe not. Her late husband
was French; but 50 far rs have learn
ed. Mrs. DOrVauX isan EngliShwOman."
Newcomers. They must he quite
an acquisition to Dalcbury. Are they
pleasant peoplcy'
81 don't know-at least. only know
the daughter. She is very beautiful"
added John, with something very much
| like sigh.
My quick ears caught the suspicious
terestng discovery
Every beautiful is She? Aud what
| may her Christian name he?"
"Fleurettc-Flruru,i replied John,
repeating tine soft French name, and
! lingering upon it rs though it We're
| sweet to his lip, J. Ike wine.
Then he changed the COnversat ion.
and far away we drifted from beautiful
maidens and musical names, as recount
| ed some of my colonial eXploits-hOw
| had treated strange accidents, out-of-
| the-way diseases, CHASTITY gunshot
wounds: until our talk became purely
! professional. and without chccrfulness
or interest for the laity.
| spent the next day in lOokingup old
friends and neighhors. had brought
money back with me; not very much, it
is true. but rumorhad been kind enough
to magnify the amount 50 every one
was glad TO see me. Mind, don't say
this cynically: ! only mean that, leav-
ing the nuisance of appeals To the pock-
ct. for old times sake. out of question,
all must feel greater pleasure ut seeing
roling-stone come back fairly coated
with moss than scraped bare. So all my
old friends made much of me, and
wondered why the world in general
should be accused of forgetfulness.
While | was at one house, another
visitor entered, and | was introduced to
Miss DoryauX. As heard her name,
the recollection of my grave brothers
midnight sigh made me look at her in
tently and curiOuSly: more so, fear,
than pOliteness allowed.
Now you must decide for yourself as
to whether Fleurette DorvauX was
beautiful. When | say, candidly, that
only one person in the world admres
her more than do, that only one per-
son is her more devoted slave than
am, | confess myself partial witness,
whose testimony carries little weight
But to my eyes, that day, Fleurette APP
peared rs follows, About twenty years
of age; scarcely middle height, butwith
a dainty rounded figure; brunette, with
dark-brown eyes, long black ashes,
making those eyes look darker; such
black eyebrows and such black hair
nose. mouth, and chin as perfect as
could be; such bright. bonny, lively
little womanl Not, decided at first
the wife for a Woodworking, sober doc
tor like John Penn.
Stays the girl so bright, so lively
after all? On her entry she had greeted
my friends with gay laugh and merry
words, emphasized with viyaciOus little
French gestures, and for a few minutes
she was all life and sunshine. She
seemed interested when she heard my
name. and with easy grace began talk
ing to me thoughtfully and sensibly
AS she talked, something in her man
ner told me that life was not all sweet
ness to her. At times her bright BROW
ewes looked even grave and serious. ant
the smile. ever on her lips as she spoke
sOftened to a pensive one. The frs
impression she made on me, the idei
that she was only a brilliant little but
terhy thing, left me, and FASTENED Il
atone mentally for the wrong haC
done her by saying to myself. 81 an
for once mistaken; the girl has plent,
of sense, and likely enough, will an(
purpose in that pretty head of hers.
However. grave or gay, wise or foolish
| saw Fleurette DOrvauX Il beautiful
girl, and picturedwO for many II you'll
in Dalebury.
After John had seen the last of hi
patients that night, he joined me in tn
old room, and with bottle of goo
wine between MS, said:
; II saw your beautiful MISS Dorvau
to-day"
JOHN started as he heard her namt
! but made no reply; so ! determined I
learn all that was to be learned.
1t was q very easy task. Old job
had never yet been able to keep asecrt
, from melt may he he never meant I
/ keep this. Any way, in short time
heard the whole history of his love.
I Fleurette and her mother came
= Dalebury some twelve months ago, an
e John, whose heart had been proc
= against all local charms, had at one
|. surrendered. There was something
4 the Girl SO different from all other