The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-05-27

flash, at each passing face, Somethin
of the sleuth-hound's tenacity, combines
with foxy cunning, characterized hi
frigid eyes. Another sidelong glance
yet swifter, telegraphed the result O
such inspections to the small woman a
his side, who caught their meaning wit
indefinable rapport.
Surely, yon'a young Chester!" sal
MACPHERSON, surprise quickening some
what his usually deliberate Scottisl
drawl. "WE atever brings him to thi
goddess place wi the bit lassie, tool"
(Which? that yellow-headed girl
Much what set Adam and Eve meddlin;
with sour apples, l should say" sneereC
the Englishman, with an obtrusive yawl
Disgusting a start of recognition on hi
part also, as Rodney and Rotha cam
slowly forward, Rodney's face slight.
grave, yet filed with interest, curiosity
and quiet admiration, his wife's bright,
expressive of a young girls vivid appre
citation of unimagined beauty, and tn
excitement consequent upon first pres
entation to a place whose evil reputation
enveloped it in weird romance.
at is like vision!" Rotha exclaimed
with catch in her breath and a sympa
thetic pressure on her husbands arm, a!
a few steps upon the terrace spread the
whole panoramic scene before them, out
lined sharply as a cameo by the slantinl
evening sunbeams. Blue, blue sea, feckeC
with white and tawny sails-the quaint
walled, Moorish town perched on it:
rocky, wave-washed promontory-a dis
tant, filmy mirage, Whispering of Cor
sica's snow mountains and fateful mem
ories-palms waving great fans overhead
and parting dusky fronds to glimpses oil
sapphire sky, and showers of golden light
Like VISION" Rotha said; and she was
right. In its beauty-and deception-ii
was, and is, as dream and-awakening
Bitter enough to some is the lifting OF
that trance-ike sleep.
From the palms, the sky, the amber
glow, Rotha's winged fancy dropped sud
denly into the reality of finding Rodney
introducing to her a brawny Highlander,
who was blending congratulations with
discreet curiosity, in Caledonian fashion.
'The MacPherson"-as, being at the
head of his clan, he, with pardonable
vanity, affected to be styled-was sandy
haired, elderly man, with kind blue eyes.
His rather ponderous gallantries amused
Rotha; but the unmistakable interest he
diplayed in her as his cousins bride won
upon her, as her bright face and manner
attracted him. Strolling leisurely for
ward he soon learned the young couples
experiences and ojects-Rodney' mis-
sion to Monaco-his belief, from informa-
ton gathered, that the dinner-hour was
the time most likely for finding Monsieur
Duval at home; and Rotha's rejection of
his proposal that she should remain at
Nice, whittier, if successful in his appli-
cation to Duval, they intended returning
that night.
81 wouldn't have missed coming for
anything!" Rotha protested, flushing with
pretty triumph-"Fancy being at Nice
and-not seeing Monte Carlo-dear, de-
ightful, wicked place!'
"Aweel, then, while your guide
mons speirin' an pokin' for this
Duval, Wen just TAX a LUX round
you an meat the beauties
O. nature outside, an the puir hutterin'
moths o. full bodies within that spiders
web O. the evil ones own spinin'. An
ne'er fash yersef ABBOTT the wee wife,
Rodney; we'll neither waste the bawbees,
nor max muneEcht fittin' to the Bon
ME Elaine" So, with dry humor, spal1e
The MACPHERSON.
1t was a good arrangement, placing
Rotha in safe keeping, yet leaving Rod
ney's movements free. He laughingly
departed, though Rotha's wistful glances
him with girlish transparency.
Quickly, however, attention and imagin-
alton were both distracted and en-
chained. The cleaning marble palace
rose before her like childhood's fairy
tales embodied, uniting the strange 81
ence of enchanted sleep with the mag
rncy of Aladdin's halls. The spells of
he place held her forcibly. The OPP
Dressive stiffness, broken only by omin-
ous, fate-filled tories, the blanl1ly apa-
shetic faces, the social differences
merged in the united purpose of the
,rowd, held her senses in the mute re-
preston of concentrated intensity.
Time seemed annihilated, space TO-
;ussed, sensation condensed to a diamond
point.
Once again in the open air, she drew
ler hand across her eyes, as though
from her brain some fever-im-
lge.
at was dreadful" she said, shudder-
ng; dreadful. -dreamily- un-
lerstand now the fascination of which |
me hears and reads"
Meanwhile little scene passed be-
7ween the bearded Englishman and his
mall French wife.
Something in her husbands expression |
arrested madame's attention as Mac |
'herson followed the young couple.
ut is true, is it not, that you also
now those two?" she questioned, with
lex of her finger towards the Chesters.
Him" was the laconic answer, sand
him. Plague him,
ow hate that fellow!"
"Fi done, mon anil" and madame
lpped his arm lightly with her dainty
loved hand. "Oh, you English, how
OH are drole, with your hate and your
late'-so coarse-si bette. We have
lore politesse. We say simply we do
OF lofe."
Then 1, too, will not 1ofe'" he re-
lrned impatiently. ~Nay, 1 will not
ofe' mockingly dearly! closely!
is wife shall be your bosom friend,
arie-"
His wife, Mark interrogatively.
"Bahl yes. The marriage was in Tho
ines. We will cherish-follow them
evotedly! 1, in shadow; you, openly
I'd it viii go hard if" but here en-
led whispered colloquy, to which sub
quent events alone supplied the key.
Rodney returned too late for Monte
arlo to be quilted that night. He had
und the lair, but not the wolf. Nor
d several ensuing days bring him more
Iccess. Yet they were halcyon days to
m and Rotha, filled with explorations
the queer old city, inland excursions,
anderings about that terraced, flower
eighted paradise, with its gay crowds
Id gayer music, and, for Rotha-when
e could induce the MACPHERSON to take
,r-the strange attraction of these silent
Ills, where yelled vice. open misery,
,ubtful triumph, and undoubted ruin