The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-25
reply, and the three went in to din

airy, pleasant Mexican fashion. Large
trees that grew in the open space
shaded the impromptu salle-a-manger,
and flowers, in pots of Mexican earth
cnware, bloomed upon the surround
ing verandas and balconies.
Where is Narcissa?" asked Mon
sieur de Chalusse, as they took thei1
seats.
As he spoke a young lady appeared
upon the upper piazza, and presently
entered the court yard little out OF
breath. She was about nineteen or
twenty years of age, and fifty clad in
summer white.
my daughter, this is the old friend
of your father, the Comte de Saint
Cyr, of whom you have so often heard.
This is my only child, Rene"
Narcissa put out her hand and ex-
claimed:
"Monsieur, is it possible? If you
only knew how delighted we are. We
have talked of nothing but you for the
past two months; in fact, ever since we
knew that you were TO cut the great
canal for us.
Saint Cyr looked at her wonderingly.
What fair flower of France was this
blooming in the new world? She had
her fathers straight and rather cold
features, but her mothers dark, viv-
id and eloquent eyes She had her
fathers stately presence and her moth
er's beautiful hands and her graceful
bearing. Her smile was exquisite, her
voice rich and sweet, he~ glance direct
and brilliant, yet modest.
Saint-Cyr was charmed. He drew
a gentle sigh of regret for his long
past youth. Did he know how the
young girl opposite him regarded him?
How coulbhe know her thoughts of his
llon-like head with its crown of thick,
silky hair; his black eyes, the fire OF
which no age would ever dim; his ma
jestic, erect figure: his air noble, at
once imperial and winning?
What pleasant dinner it was. The
great engineer thought it was the pleas
antest hour he had ever spent, and
said so afterward. The scent of or
anges was in the air, and in the cool
shade of the colonnades Narcissa's ia
vorite flowers spread their silken leaves
and she'd odors of jasmine and roses.
Then in the latter evening. when the
stars were out and the
Crescent moon, silver boat,
Hung dim behind the trees"
the music from the military band on the
plaza coming, to them mellowed by
the distance, they sat and spoke of
France.
Il have longed to 90 to France, !"
said Narcissa to Saint-Cyr. "But papa
says he will never return to his coun-
try; and no wonder, since Lorraine is no
longer French province; but" drop
ping her voice for his ear alone, IAN
old Mexican woman, a fortune teller,
says shall live in France some day"
''She is wise woman" said Saint
Cyr, smiling. II can tell fortunes,
too.
Papa, do you hear what the Count
says? He can tell fortunes"
''He has certainly spent them, and
made them, so I've no doubt he can tell
them, too. Does he foretell the fu-
turc of the canal?''
"Cela va sans dira," retorted Mar
cissa; ''besides, monsieur is not ex.
pending his millions upon our canal.
America is able to provide for her
own
''She does not provide in this case,
mademoiselle; but if / were obliged
to expend my money upon my ven
lures. | would do it without hesita.
ton"
Even upon the great canalP"
Most certainly. / hope you do not
doubt my success?''
Monsieur" she returned. reproach-
fully, ''it is the grandest undertaking
since the building Of the pyramids
They laughed at her enthusiasm.
.'But tell me of France" she con-
tinued.
my child, !" said De Chalausse,
"things are sadly changed since '72.
Look at Lorraine. /"
Papa she said gravely, "you
should not complain. Before ~ you
had lost the battle of Waterloo; now,
you have won it. !"
THAT is o consolation that never oc-
Cured to me, said her father, amused
s'but just at present happen to be an