The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-10-22

drop!' e.. .
This was Leonce's opportunity, and
hc went straight to Madame Dulaurier,
hat in hand. ~ ,.u t.g...... ."a
..Madame." said he. IL should neyor
forgive mysolf if / did not come to
your aid. know this park thorough
~; and can show you tho fountain Of
Sainte Marie, renowned through the
country" satr..s-. a...g IS .,...
"a thousand thanks. sir" said Ma
dam Dulaurier, surprised and charmed
by tho young mans grace Of m4nner.
He offered 10 show them the way to
the fountain, and with much gayety
and kindly feeling they set out to-
gother. @.
Louise and Louisetto walked little
once. -s s.. .l 0.... ....
'.Do you not think" said Louise,
''that this gentle man resembles won
derfully tho one that was in the res
taurant with usp'
''Why certainly not!" replied Lou
isettc. "All Pnrisians look alike"
But shc blushed as shc spoke.
When thcy reached tho fountain
they -wero already acquainted, and
woro mutually pleased. They would
soon bo friends il circumstances IA
vored.
"Oh! father" said Louise, ''instcad
Of returning to that tircsome Paris. let
us stay hero till evening"
It'll EVENING" My dear, it is i'm.
possible. We do not know tho ways,
| and wo have no place to dine"
''If that is all" Lconcc FASTENED to
say, IL am subject to your orders. /
can take You across to Clamart, whore
know OF pretty restaurant, with
arbors, flowers and fountains, where
wo can dino oven better than in Paris
1t may bo that my society is not agroe-
able 10 you. but yours. sir, and that of
these ladies is so much 10 my taste that
l should be very sorry TO leave YOU"
Mme. Dulau:iar. more and moro
charmed ut Lconcc's manners, replied
instantly:
~ accept on my own authority. at
the risk of cncroaching ON my hus-
bands rights"
II must at least, then, Introduce
myself to you in u more regular man.
ner. l am the Viscount Loonco do
Verdun."
And /. SIR" said Nj. Dulaurior,. 'am
Adolpho Dulaurier. old notary; these
arc my wife and our daughters"
In an hour they wero seated in tho
arbor promised by Lconcc, and were
altogether friends. Leonco had ac-
ceptod with warm gratitude an invita-
tlon from Madame Dulaurior to visit
them at their Flemish village home.
''Do you not think" whispered Lou
ise to Louisctte. "that father aud
| quickly with this strangerP"
ttWhv no ~ rnn1ioA I,onioofto. ia
perfectly natural"
Two months later Leonce alighted
at tho railway station, Donia and M.
Dulaurier offered his hand in welcome.
He now had time to appreciate M. Du-
laurier's unaffected kindliness. and
strange to say tho provincial. who had
seemed to him slightly ridiculous in
farls, seen at home appeared to the
| young man as he really was-simple,
natural, sympathetic and gentle.
| Leonce was received with the most
demonstrative joy by Nine. Dulaurier,
with cordial salutation by Louise,
| with an odd little smile by Louisette.
1t was nearly o'clock, and M. Du-
laurier rose, saying: "Since Van der
Velde is not in yet, lot him run after
his partridgcs, and lot US dine without
him"
The repast was a real French din
ner. with all the meats, poultry and
game possible, an enormous quantity
Of beer, and all tho wines one could
think of.
After dinner, which was prolonged
quite into the evening, M. Dulaurier,
in consideration of his guests fatigue,
conducted him to his room at once.
Leonce set himself to opening his
trunks and portmanteaux. AT length
he drow from a portfolio letter daint-
lily folded and perfumed, and began to
read aloud, as follows:
II love you Louise! Sweet and charm
ing as you are, who would not love
your 1t is for this reason that left
Paris; it was to tell you this. For two
months have thought only of you,
and Of the happy day when travelled
with you, the day that determined my
life. Oh, Louise! Louise! if you only
loved metz
ut is very good" said Lconce to
himself II never expressed noto
moro suitably. Now the question is
how to convey it to that lady. The
simplest way is tho best, of course.
I'll put it under tho door into her
room. But where is her room? That
Is the question"
He then began to smoke n cigar, at
eentive, however, to every sound in tho
house; He had not long to wait, he
soon heard light steps in tho passage,
the rustic of robe; ho rosoi quickly
and opened his door with tho greatest
caution, just ia timo to see Louisetto's 8
delicate figure entor room on the left
at the end OF the gallery.
Our hero allowed few moments to
eiapse, and then, stepping like cat,
visited the door through which Louis
cite had disappeared, and adroitly
slipped under the door tho letter no
had prepared.
"Good!" he thought; '.my letter
morning"
Then ho went to. bod, hummine O.
tune, and slept tho sleep of the Just.
AZ the next morning he was awak-
ened by worry lively sensation In his
arm, as If it had been tightly grasped
4 Dy iron pincers. Standing by his bed
ana holding his arm was q sort of ei.
| HntI 1ully six feot tall. with tho frafT,e