The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-10

s"It is agreed, then, that the estimable
Marthe shall remain stranger to our
meetings. For we shall meet, shall we not
mademoiselle? We will come here in the
cool mornings, and will bring Caesar and
make him pay his respects to Minette, and
our acquaintance will go on with theirs
until by the time madame, your mother,
returns we shall all four be the best friends
in the world Say, mademoiselle, is it not
agree ?"
But Felicie would make no promise, and,
at parting, her sole response to his entrea-
ties was to tell Minette to say "au reyoir
to monsieur.
The next morning, head might have
been seen cautiously rising over the wall
and then rapidly retreating. After this
maneuver had been repeated several times
small door opened, and Felicie appeared
with Minette "Enter boldly, Monsieur
Robber," she cried, laughing. "The watch
dog is at the market.
"Good morning, Mademoiselle Hard
heart, answered the young man, adyanc-
ing and taking off his hat with low bow.
elt seems, then, that you knew [ was wait
ing here ?"
"Oh, yes, answered the girl coolly. Il
have been watching for some time mon
sieur's head going up and down like ajack-
in-the-box. But l was afraid Marthe
might see it too, and then it would not have
been SO amusing. How would monsieur
like to be taken for a robber 2"
The young mans face changed. "Mad-
emoiselle Felicie, he said abruptly, "what
would you say to me if told you that [
had deceived you, that I was not Jules at
all butt"
aMonsieur Felix /" the girl interrupted,
with gay little laugh. "Oh, | know
already, monsieur You have nothing to
burden your conscience with. You told
me that in the first five minutes"
l'That is true" he replied / gave you
fair warning, did not? And, after all
what difference does it make whether Jules
or Felix ?"
s.Only this difference" said the girl de-
murely, ''that if you were Felix-at least,
if you were not Jules-we could not be
sitting here together. "
The young man raised his eyes with a
new look in them. "Ah, well, what mat
tiers anything but our two selves? [ am
going to dream that this is the garden of
Eden, and"
"And poor old Marthe is the serpent p
laughed the girl, little unsteadily-
'sPrecisely-, whom it must be- our
object to keep out of Paradise as long as
possible"
And so, after this, every morning at the
hour when the innocent serpent Marthe
was away at the market, this young pair
met, until, at the end Of the week, Madame
Duyergne's return drove them out of their
garden of Eden.
Everything was quite different when
Madame Duvergne was at home. Not one
in the household but felt the spur of her
sharp black eyes and keen tongue. As for
poor Felicie, who in the last weeks sun
shine had been yenturing her head out of
her chrysalis and futtering her butterfly
wings, her mothers presence sent her back
meekly into her shell again. She did not
dare to mention her late experience, for
Madame Duvergne was not a mother to in
vite confidence Felicie wondered, indeed,
to hear nothing said of Jules Lacroix' S
visit to his estate, but she had been too
thoroughly repressed to speak the first word,
aud waited respectfully for the course of
events.
1t was not long, however. One morn
ing, some days later, card was brought to
Madame DuVergne, with the word that the
unknown caller begged few minutes con-
versation on subject of great Importance.
"Felix de Varot, repeated Madame Du-
vergne "No, in truth, do not know the
name. Let the gentleman know that will
be with him directly, Nanette.
Madame Duvergne followed her own
message so speedily that she was on the
threshold of the salon in time to perceive
her visitor standing with his eyes fixed on
Felicie, who with dropped lashes, was turn
ing over the leaves of her book with hand
which trembled perceptibly.
"Felicie, you can leave us, said Madame
Duyergne, with more than her usual cold
ness. Monsieur de Varot is come upon
business.
The girl, schooled to absolute docility,
left the room without SO much as back
ward glance; but in her heart she ques-
toned with amazement why her mother had
given another name to Jules Lacroix, and
why the latter, on entering the room, had
murmured those agitated words which con-
tinually fingered in her ears. What was
this mysterious interview from which he
hoped yet feared SO much? IF it were a
formal demand for her hand, why should
there be this painful uncertainty about SO
simple matter? Ever since childhood
Felicie had known that her mother destin-
ed her for Jules Lacroix, who she knew
was equally aware of the marriage project
ed between the two families long ago.
Why, then, should he feel any doubt on
such matter Of course Why, unless
something had happened to make the union
an undesirable one? And at this thought
Felicie's heart stood still, as it would not
have done a week ago, when Jules was
more part of her childish playtime than
distinct figure about which her girlish
dreams of the future had learned.'to cluster
These meditations were broken at length
by the appearance of Marthe seeking hel
with anxious face
Madame is asking for you, mademoisell
You are to go to her at once, in the salon
and, oh, Petitei what has happened to
vex her so? Whenever she looks like
that. But go, go! You must not
make her wait.
Felicie walked away with sinking heart
She found her mother sitting bolt upright
in one of the high-backed chairs that were
her preference 1t was theory of Madame
Duvergne's that the human back, from
childhood to age, needed no support.
HCome hither, Felicie," she said, indi
eating an opposite seat, as the girl hesitateC
on the threshold Felicie sat down, look
ing smaller and more childish than usua
beneath the eyes which surveyed her witt
cold disapproval
"Well, may hope that you have enjoy
ed this week of my absence, mademoiselle
Clandestine meetings with young man
| Mamma, it was only Jules"
at was only Jules p mimicked he
mother, cutting short the timid protest
'sYou need not attempt to keep up th'
comedy longer. cannot leave my house
for week, it seems, but everything goe