The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-01-23

to-day-dropped from the clouds as it
were,
Recovering herself, she ran quickly
downstairs. A tall, sunburnt young
man was standing in the middle OF
the room, looking eagerly towards the
door.
'Oh, Monsieur Tom" she cried;
''est-il possible2"
why not?" he said. smiling; IAN
80 altered But, | say, you mustn't
talk French, you know. | can't I'm
derstand a word OF that"
Melanie laughed, but the tears so re-
Gently repressed were very near the
surface Papa will be very glad to
see you. she said, with her pretty ac-
cent.
Mr.. Tom looked moderately elated
at the assurance.
Il think you might say you were
glad, too, Mile. Melanie, for unless |
had expected to see you | should not
have come one hundred miles out OF
my way. hope you haven't forgot
ten your stay with us. We had great
fun, ifyouremember. Doyourecollect
our ride on the tricycle. and our pic
MICS on the river?"
II shall never forget them !" she an
swered, her eyes cleaning like sunshine
after rain. There was a depressed in
tensity in her tones which did not es-
cape Tom. Both young people were
silent & few seconds.
Just then her mother entered the
room. She had been peeping behind
the Venetian shutters to see Mr.. Pa
gets departure, and now came to see
the cause OF the delay. She was dis
pleased to find them deeply engaged
in conversation, and packed him off
to the Prefecture without delay. But
she never guessed what her husband
would do He was in such a state OF
ELUSIVE beneyOlence that he invited
Tom TO the important dinner in the
evening. Mime. Pontoise was i'm
mensely disguised.
How stupid men are That tire
some young Englishmau will make the
count look ten years Older
However, it could not be helped,
and the good lady was too immersed
IN household cares to give much
thought to the matter.
PunCtuai to the moment, NJ. de la
Croiserie arrived; a well-preseryed
man, over fifty, carefully dressed, with
gray hair, which looked long by the
eide OF Toms regulation cut" and
NJ. POntOise's bristles. He was for
mally introduced TO Melanie, and
made g profound and elaborate bow,
clicking his heels together as ne did so.
"a galvanized mummy" thought
Tom, as he watched the performance,
but his opinion was not very valuable.
He had learned the state OF affairs
from N. PontOise and had at once
conceived strong prejudice against
the count
The dinner passed off very we'll. NJ.
de la CrOiserie addressed Melanie with
marked Difference once or twice, and
she replied in monosyllables. Nine.
POntOise was quite ecstatic-this was
exactly as it should be.
Tom began to wish he had not come.
1t did not require a COnJurer to see
that MelanIe did not care for the count,
and the young Engiishman's soul was
Overlooking with chivalrOus pity. To
sacrifice that warm-hearted Melanie to
such an iceberg; what a shame! He
had not expected to burst into such
an exciting chapter of the family histo-
ry; and once here what could he do?
He had always liked his sisters pretty
French friend, but he had had no def
niteplan Orscheme in coming to see her.
Now that hefOund her again no longer
2 schoolgirl, but a beautiful woman,
whose llfe-happiness was trembling in
the balance, his feelings were stirred
and deepened He watched her every
movement; he took note OF every
changing expression which fitted
traces OF tears, and his heart went out
TO her. Nobody but the two young
people saw any paJhos in he situa-
ton. The parents answered their
daughters wistful elanCes with exul-
tant smiles, and the count made a
good dinner, serenely certain of sue
cess.
When they went into the drawing
room, Tom hoped to exchange a few
words with MeIanie unObserved, but
he reCkOned without Nine Pontoise's
watchful eyes. Fortune favored him,
however. The mother was suddenly
called away, and the count and NJ. le
Prefet had gone into the garden to dis
CUss matters by the light of a post
prandialcigar. Tom seized his oppor-
tunity.
"Your father has told me every
thing, hesaid in a low voice. AZ hope
you will be happy"
"Ah Monsieur Tom" she sighed,
with pretty appealing gesture Of her
hands and an earnest look out of her
great dark eyes, "what can | do?"
ii you don't like him, there is still
time. When you are married it will
be too late"
Before Melanie had time to answer,
Nine. POntOise returned, and the
young people separated.
"WlIl you not join the gentleman
now, Monsieur Paget?" shesaid mean
lngly. "My daughter will give us a song;
but you can hear very well in the gar
dem"
II think | viii take my leave,
madame. | have already trespassed
too long upon your hospitality" and
Tom departed. But all the way to his
MOTEL he was uneasy and doubling.
What can | do? How | wish
| knew what she really wants!
What a fool ! am, What sent
me here to trouble that poor girls
life? What grand, wonderful eyes she
has, with the pleading look OF some
dumb animal in them She doesn't
ike the Frenchman-hut-I wonder If
she likes me- | wasn't a bit in love
with her when | came-at least think
nOt-but now. On if | could onlv
speak to the girl. The mother glares
at me like a dragon. Poor, pretty
AeLame Ia give anything to know
what shethinks OF me. wonder what
a fellow ought to do"
The next morning rose clear and
beautiful and NJ. de la Croiserie sent
over mounted messenger to beg the
/ Pretet and his family to lunch at the
chateau. The worthy Prefet and his
J wife We're raliant hut NfaIa,,;n -