Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-06

work to bring all this about; the dress, the
decorations the perfection. But they do
not seem to work in Paris, things come by
magic"
"a pretty illusion, mamselle, but 1 could
dispel it, said Choisy, stroking his glove and
smiling.
'sPray do not!' she exclaimed quickly, II
have had a good many illusions dispelled
since I came here. should like to keep
few
81 advise you to do so, my child" Choisy
broke into smiles. ''Here comes one now!
Bonnetheau! M'sieur, have the honor to
present you to Miss Whipple"
l could no more have hindered it than
could have prevented Pluto from carrying
off Eurydice; yet wished in my heart that
they had not met. From that moment 1
watched Hippolyte with kind of fascina-
ton 1 saw his eyes search her face, as if
gauging her maiden SOUL and knew with
what intentness the beautiful pupils were
narrowed upon her. He seated himself be-
side her, and knew precisely what he would
say, for he had formula from which he sci
dom departed in raising such sieges, but the
band of the imperial guards was crashing In
my ears, and lost the drift of his harangue.
That it had an air of innocence aud unaffect-
edness was sure and that Miss Whipple was
fast surrendering was equally clear. Her
ivory tablets hung neglected at her side, and
she frowned imperiously at the young men
who approached her, declining to dance.
Why did not Bonnetheau himself ask her
to dance? Because his brains were not in his
heels, and he had infinite resources besides
waltzing I had remarked that he reserved
his dancing capacity, which was of high
order, for his hours of ennui. Obviously, he
was not now bored
As Choisy rejoined them, Hippolyte turned
to him with boyish eagerness: "Still living
in the Faubourg ST. Honore m'sieur? And
ma'm'selle is, without Doubt at home to
Paris-happy Paris! ere this2 Thanks,
thousand thanks! I shall be charmed to
calls' and Hippolyte backed like courtier
from their presence.
''The refinement of brass, Bonnetheau!" l
remarked, as he thrust his arm through mine
and drew me to the supper room. He smiled
one of his strange, brief smiles and assured
me he had done no harm.
For myself I was not so certain. Miss
Whipple was stainless; the stream of Partisan
life polluted How long would this fair
flower float upon it's tide without becoming
suihed? The light dust that settled SO swiftly
upon fresh souls imported to the French cap
s'Call it a dynamical phenomenon, moral
evolution, superinduced by'-- with laugh
and bacLfinging of his head, ''le Diable!"
who to judge from his conversation, was
familiar of Hippolyte's.
Some weeks after the foregoing occur
rences, and perhaps a fortnight later than
our skirmish in the Sorbonne, Bonnetheau
sat in our apartment constructing and de-
molishing houses of cards. l had observed
these bits of pasteboard and surmised the
advent of some such extreme for an evening
at ecarte. But soon an order for a carriage
conveyed his intention of going out.
"Whither to-nightl' [ inquired, cycling
rather gloomily the edge of a coat that did
not go into company
iiThe course of destiny runs straight to the
Faubourg st. Honore,n he replied; and it
was trying element of Hippolyte's remarks
that they were invariably good natured My
polemical mind had no chance with him.
''The Faubourg St. Honore!" l exclaimed.
He nodded, smiling and stacking his cards.
eThat is the residence of Choisy," declared.
Precisely. What discernment you have,
Hendrix, and of his ward Also"
why are you going there to-night?' de-
handed
''To teach mam'selle the mysteries of
ecarte, my child. shall set up-let me see.
what shall I set upa It must be something
trifing. For good manners suggest that l
l. lose the first game You will say, there is
nothing so tri1ing as the heart of Bonnie
! theau. Bien let it be my heart. Then, for
the second game, I shall exact similar stake
from her, which I shall make it point to
win. AS for the rubber the second stake
must be repeated. Enfin, the game shall be
mine"
''You had best buy prie-Dieu for mann
selle, and send it to her with your compE-
ments and the petition that she offer prayer
for you upon it" This I observed as tossed
his cards into the open fire.
. He reflected: ebony standard, 100 francs;
blue velvet cushion to same-or pink? Which,
my friend, is more inspiring to the knee?
Parbleu! Blues her favorite color. Blue
velvet cushion to same, fifty francs. Protest
ant Bible bound in ivory-ciel, how the &C.
cessories count up! And, after all, she would
pray that I become a Christian, and, pro-
vided the prayer were answered-ah, insup-
portable! No more Chambertin, no MabilIe,
no Julie, no little turns at rouge ct noir-
think Of it! To entail such misery upon my
fellowmen! The wine merchants would fail; ;
Mabille would lose caste, Julie would cry her
eyes out; the clubs would lose their most
cherished habitue. Tempt me not, Hendrix,
tempt me not!" He made pretty gesture of
entreaty, ''The world claims my services
Au revoir!"
There was much calling of carriages and
dispatching of flowers in these days, which
led me to believe Bonnetheau was making
himself especially agreeable in some direc-
ton. 1t required no discrimination on my
part to locate the object in the Faubourg st.
Honore, and | resolved to discover to what
extent. Miss Whipple was being deceived.
Choisy had opened his doors to me, merely
on a social crack, to be sure, but sufficient to
allow me to push through upon occasion.
This I now determined to do.
'Hippolyte, my FRIEND u said I, one morn
ing, s'hast thou coat to lend that is genteel
as to buttons, and not shabby in the matter
of sleeves? As thou art an amiable fellow
lend it to me, for I propose to make morn
ing CALI
He broke off his little song of 'Que lie jour
me tklre" abruptly, and there was spark of
anger in his eyes as he replied "Truly,
do believe you are in favor at court OF you
would never thou me SO. 1t is sign of sur
passing humor in you. After what manner
has your divinity blessed you?"
'iAfter the manner of women in general
Dy ignoring lie, SWeetlJ anu Absolutely
Still he did not remove his eyes from me,
eyes mournful enough in those days,
"Your nose is not Grecian," he remarked,
presently,
$50 have been told"
"Nor your brow classic"
''Of that, too, have been informed"
"Finally, you have an ugly mouth"
''The Lord made me, Il protested.
$50 you believe said Hippolyte "And
yet, though you are not first cousin to Apollo,
you are outstripping me in a race that 1 had
set my heart upon. All, it is you earnest fell
lows who win the prizes of life Moi, eat
the ashes" He passed a hand across his eyes
, md leaned his head upon his hand in help
less, childlike way he had. "TalSe my ply
, factory broad as I choose them Go, and
may all that is good attend yoC."
As | closed the door the clink of glass and
; decanter made me wonder sadly how
should find Hippolyte on my return. made
| my way towards the Faubourg st. Honore
, with some misgivings, but resolved to see
Miss Whipple and warn her against her be-
quilting foe
l was ushered into very somber and mag
niicent apartment, neutral in tints CT fur