The Penn's Grove record., 1888-09-29
FECAOR D'ORSAY.

AT last. uedI IONlDE HtdTts WIN buc'I
-
FE(A0R D'ORSAY.
n
1t was 7 Picturesque place. but
there was ug quietly beautiful
about j IN the whiteness of
snow,~ iron.gray sky of
February. hills, grouped
almost arou,, 'age, suggested
the soft greenery place in sum-
mer; and the dreamy - ,ok, almost a
river. that flowed so slowly in its wan
derings that it was stifllg frozen now,
told of many delicious hooks when a
July sun glinted down ON its waters.
a man driving into the village
through its main street, sitting in a
dainty cutter, and behind a shining,
fei y-looking horse. thought all this as
he refined in his horse to q walk.
I'D like to try for trout in that
brook - he said to himself, and do be-
lieve Ill IL down here next summer.
1t would be a thousand times better
than the places l usually visit. Rather
slow hers now, l fancy. L should die
of inanition in a week."
AS he thought thus, from a little red
school-house near, the children came
pouring out, some twenty of them, and
in the next moment, as il in a hurry
the teacher appeared, drawing her
shawl and hood closer, as she came
down the narrow path in the snow.
The man involuntarily checked his
horse to a slower walk. He had now
Just reached the fence opposite the
school-house ..
10 Jupiterl'' his full and handsome
lips murmured behind his beard. 81
must paint her picture-perhaps taste
her meuth-oh, how divine a mouth!'
No woman hearing him would have
thought that tone or those words agree
able, though he who uttered them
owned a faultless face, and was appar.
emily the most tender and chivalrous
of men. Few women had ever OWNED
the character of Feodor D'Orsay, and
least Of all was it likely that this one
could. In the next instaat he had ut
tered the exclamation "AhI' and had
jumped from the sleigh and was bend
ing solicitously over her. for just as she
left the gate she slipped and fell. He
bent wei her, a tender and ~flattering
respect in his manner, and raised hel
upon his arm.
Are you hurtp" the girl family
heard a low melodious voice ask, anC
in that one instant, despite all in hel
| life that should have counteracted any
such influence, IN that moment wa
the first slight step made in that patti
she was to walk.
Lucia Earle, struggling against the
deadly ~falntness the pain in her ankle
caused her, answered, ~ believe so,'
and then lost sight and sense of every
thing.
A smile OF pleasure mingled with {
look of concern upon the mans face al
he put her carefully upon the seat o.
his cutter. lie sat beside her, chafeG
her hands with snow, and laid hands
full of 1t upon her temples. While III
/ bored to restore her, he noticed
more closely the beauty and grace o
feature which had at first attracted
him.
Palely olive was her face; the fore
head pure and broad, with eyes beneath
it of a soft, pleading brown, lips no'
full, but naturally crimson, with the
| faintest undesirable curve in then
that suggested a lack Of strength O
character.
"What q fortunate fellow l am" h,
was saying to himself, when she opened
her eyes and met the deep and earnest
gaze of his own.
"You are better?" he said softly
II am afraid YOU have spIalned YOU
ankle"
He deftly arranged the furs about
her in a way that left her perfectly a
ease, and she was not a little pleased
that she inspired in this stranger suci
respectful admiration.
"Yes. / must have hurt my ankle,''
she said, in a very weak voice. for The
pain was intense, though something
had called a flush to her cheeks.
He gathered up the lines and said:
"You will permit me te drive vol
homer"
81 am sorry to trouble you." She
murmuIed indistinctly, feeling on thu
verge Of again fainting.
(which way2"he inquired, ignoring
her remark.
"Straight on,n she replied; the hous'
next to the church, this side."
Then she sank back and clasped he
hands tightly, her eyes closed, he.
heart thankful for the speed to which
the stranger put his horse.
When the sleigh had almost reached
the little brown house she had designa
ted they met a young man trudgin.
through the snow, his arms swinging
vigorously and his head bent as HI
walked. Stepping aside for the sleigh
to pass, lie raised his eyes. and his fac
grew scarlet with establishment,
slight tluge of anger mingling with 1t
D'Orsay saw hun, though he Eav'
no sign of it.
AS the sleigh drew up before TIL
farmhouse, the young man stood an(
watched 1t, then suddenly sprang for
warl, pushed the stranger almos
rudely aside, and took the girl In hi
arms and carried her to the door.
Lucia could not speak, but sh'
looked her surprise, as she had not seel
him before. Half ashamed OF his i'm
petuosity, the young mar averted hi
eyes from her glance, and in silenc
passed by the questions of Mrs. Earle
who hurrledly pulled the lounge to til
Gre and gently laid Lucia upon it.
81 beg your pardon" said Ronald
Edgar. looking toward D'Orsay. VIII