The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-05-07


moile & Leeman, the name of the firm
he was connected with. 1t was fool
ish thing to do, yet never expected to
see the young lady again, and sup
pose 1T occurred to me that it would be
a good joke on Smith.
To my great establishment she rec
ognized the first name
"'You must come in and see my
father, she said. Mr.. Tremoine is
an old friend of ours, and he viii be SO
delighted to see you.
Into what kind of scrape had /
gotten myself? declined as courteous
" as possible, and tried to hasten
away; but just then an old gentleman
appeared at the door, in answer to our
ring at the gate, for, as you remem-
Der, in New Orleans most of the bells
are on the front gate.
Gin few words the young lady ex-
planned the situation. With a true
Southern hospitality he invited me to
enter, thanking me in most voluble
terms for my kindness to his daugh-
ter. Seeing would offend by not ac-
cepting their invitation, | stepped in
with them. As usual in these French
houses, the hall led into a little barren
decking court. From this, however,
we entered into an apartment that
was elegantly furnished.
"a servant took my umbrella and
hat and the old gentleman pushed for
ward a handsome easy-chair for me,
seating himself near me. The young
lady disappeared. reappearing in lit
tie while in a charming dinner-dress of
garnet satin.
81 confess | was a little dazed by the
sudden turn affairs had taken, and the
tete-a-tete with the gentleman, whose
name | ascertained to be De Chartre,
was not embarrassing. for he asked me
score of questions about Detroit and
the people there, all of which /, never
having been in that city, was obliged
to answer at random, or from vague
"reminiscences of what Smith had told
me casually.
81 tried in vain to turn the subject,
and had almost given myself up to des-
perate fibbing when | CHANGED to per-
ceiye that a piano was behind me-.
During momentary lull in the CONVEX
sation, in which De Chartre was prob
ably trying to reconcile my rambling
information with his own knowledge
and conjectures, | turned to the young
Lady, requesting some music.
''To my relief she consented imme-
diately, thus saving her father from
any further surprises in the way of
chaotic guessing on my part. She sang
and played quite pfettily, and l found
myself even more prepossessed than |
had been at first.
after she had played several songs
| arose to go, but as ] did so dinner
was announced, and | was urgently
invited by them both to remain. Again
l saw that to refuse would be to offend,
so, in order to preserve Smiths reputa-
ton from further damage, accepted,
resolving that would exert my talents
to the utmost in being entertaining.
You see, | wanted them to speak a
good word for Smith if ever they
should chance to communicate with
this Tremoine, whom heartily wished
at the bottom of the sea.
'The dinner was served In good
style, and quite enjoyed by Smith, who
was sometimes rather dilatory in re-
spending to his name, but who man
eyed to keep the upper hand in the
conversation, not allowing the old gen
tleman single gap in which to insert
his inquiries about Detroit and the Ire
moines,
'After dinner we adjourned to the
parlor that is, the young lady and
myself the old gentleman going off
for a smoke. in which | declined to
join him.
1.-THE rain which had been mild at
first, now turned into a raging torrent.
1t beat savagely against the windows,
! and the wind swept mournfully through
the court. Now and then it crept I'M
der the doors and into the room, bring
ing faint scent of the orange blooms
that were being swept fromstheir stems
on the bending trees without. But the
inclemency of the weather outside only
made the comfort and brightness of the
apartment seem more perfect.
''With such a charming hostess the
moments sped swiftly. / became more
and more enthralled with her dark eyes
and her gracious manners, so typical
of the grace which has made the creole
women celebrated. Besides, the novelty
Of the situation made it seem tenfold
more attractive. | began to tremble
vaguely for Smith peace of mind II
would be superhuman for man to re-
| sist the fascination of the lovely creole.
| don't know to what length might
have committed myself, had not the
door opened and Monsieur De Chartre
once more appeared upon the scene.
AS it was, think he surprised me say.
ing some foolishly tender things to hi:
daughter.
II looked at my watch. A flush Of
shame crept over me. 1t was past ter
o'clock. felt that l had infringed on
the hospitality extended to me. / be.
gan to apologize, but Monsieur De
Chartre stopped me.
q" My dear sir, he said, cordially,
you can not go out in such a storm.
will not permit it. My home is large,
We have ample accommodations. Re.
main with us tonight.
Il hesitated moment; the rain
beating on the window-pane seemed
dismal enough. Besides, / was in q
part of the city with which / was I'M
familiar, l might lose my way and
wander about those narrow streets fol
hours; and then blood-curdling tales
came back to me of strangers who had
been robbed and half murdered in those
dark thoroughfares. l had valuable
watch and chain and quite sum O
money about me, which | would no
care to lose. ! confess the idea o.
venturing out into that pitiless storm
in the heart of the high-walled, mystic
rious French town, unprotected by {
weapon of any sort, rather dismayeC
me. Yet / remembered that / haC
made arrangements to leave the city il
the morning, and | intimated as mucl
to Monsieur De Chartre.
"'That will not incommode us at all,
he said, politely. 4 will leave wore
with one of the servants to unlatch tn,
door and gate at five o'clock. You cal
rise then and leave the house at you
| pleasure. If you desire cup of COTE,
Jacques will have it ready for you