The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-17
NILE. ~ALBERTlNE.

md Mime. d'Aloys was very cosy and
agreeable. ,;.h
married. FOR two wears and o IN love
The one with the other than ON the ifsl
dov. those benevolent ones had the b2t
tasfe TO wish 60 dilluse their happiness
around them. But, stranger stu. from
bousokocper 10 sculicry boy, tho ser
yonts we're disposed 10 look upon then
service as passing in Poradisc-wlth q
few moro clothes, Of course, ana a SGT
pent the less
Thev talked and laughed Gayly. stop
nno only Y~'r enough 20 discuss a Ger.
tain svveetmcat frozen az the cafe, and
which all united in declaring exquisite
..But YOU arc not eating, Auguste'
are YOU not hungry demanded the
maitre dhOtcl. noticing that II 81 the
Wallets de chambre. q handsome leno~,
tan. we'll made. had left his triandlse IN
tact upon his plate.
toned, and ] have
Amocking cough and a voice inter
rupf.l him. the voice of woman:
"D,ncd badly. said she; land shall !
tell vou whys" she continued, with a
dightlv malicious smile, turning 10 ad-
dress her ncighbor.
Certainly. Rose, why Is it,
''Nlle. Albcrtine Is detained by
madame 10 Golf her FOR the concert. She
is not down. you eee-voila tout'N
.'Ah. loves no crime. Auguste has
taste" replied the Inaitre dhOtcl. We
wercin love with the little one ourselves,
only
.'Wcn. only repeated Anguste.
..Shc puts IN in our place again with a
little elap-nUt too hard. YOU know. but
still a slap and a fash Of her big eyes
that made Us comprehend We were los
in time!'
"Then-she j. honest"
Honest. or ambitious, who knows:
IAtany rate she finds Us too low for her.
But Augustc is such q handsome fellow
he may he luclicr than the others
And the eaucy chambermaid shut upber
lins with an air that told you plainly
enough everything she thought about 1t
at least.
"A compliment 10 the others cried
the goodman, joining the discussion,
''but no natter. Rose, Augustes & good
soul II he Is a new conner; well pardon
you for his sake. Besides, If he does
please Nile. AlbeTtine she'll not come TO
him with empty hands. ltstwo years
now since Nine. Ia Confess broughther
from hcr home Ia Switzerland. She
thinks the world Of her and viii be gen
erous at the last, IS she has been with all
of us
'.True. truer' ohorused the table,
though Auguste shook his head with a
dhsdainful movement as if 20 say: bah!
who cares for q dot?' and which clearly
showed how seriously he was touched.
In the boudOir above stairs. a marvel
Of luxury and taste, Nile. Albertine put
the last hand 10 u couture that would
have rendered even al ugly woman
charming, and the very pretty Comtesse
d'Alovs, with her blonde hair which she
did not tint. her complexion without a
blemish. her ewes without penciling, her
figure supple and sustained, but not III
prisoncd, in o light corset scarcely drawn,
her lace lobe sOwed with jewels above
cleaning satin. was one Of the lovellest
women in Paris. So Paris said, and
Paris should know, and also that she JUS
.ti6ed-no, hundred times 1ustuied-the
love that the husband evinced for hs
'amiablc wife.
Think of it for y~OUr5elveS-a woman
beautiful without being foolish, spirit
'uelle without being wicked. Paris was
right. -.
Leave st alone. my good Albertine,"
said she presently; "the puff VIII do as
lit is: you VIII be late for your dinner"
Madame need not worry-l have fin
iished." was the calm response.
She who occupied the heart Of the
noN1n.r.r Nr,wtaUfa x~nr "a x-ll-rr nlgrCInm
~personace. Twenty-Five years of age,
Eperhaps. and perhaps a tribe too slender
hn her dark wooden dress, but with feat
lures clear cut and well shaped, beautiful
teeth, smooth skin and great black eyes,
lat times lively, at times soft, at times
firm and resOlute. The hair chestnut
and half concealed under the little ma
tional colt or square that Albertine had
never been willing 10 leave oil. parted IN
the middle and cOmbed back IN black
shining bands. a skill Of hands truly
marvellous. IN extraordinary dcXterlty
about all her duties. q step so discreet
they seldom ever heard q sound in her
apartment, a conduct SO regular that III
her two years service she has never been
known 70 take u hours outing--such
were the qualities that had already at
tached the comtessc TO this Incompatible
handmaiden.
Good. very good indeed! Tell Jean
70 barnes up Immediately. My bonnet
and gloves III put on for myself. so 70
your dinner at once, my good GIRL" and
the mistress. throwing oil the light dress
Enc wrap that protected her toilet,
stepped forth like q gorgeous butterfly
from its chrysalis.
"As YOU please, madame" and Al.
berthe left tie room. She had scarcely
gone when II. d'Aloys put his head
Through the half opened door.
II can enter" he demanded.
ssOf course, Henri; come in
He obcyod and pushing 10 the door be-
hind him stepped 20 the side OF his wife.
Have you found it, he questioned
half tFaGicaliy.
mo. its gone
"Ard what do you think Of IL, my
dearest said he.
"I am disturbed. very much disturbed
by il, indeed. Not 30 much for the value
Of the trinket, great "a IL Ii, but that
cross of opalayou gave me on my birth
day-yon remember itE'
sand also the thanks | received
"Always a lover" she answered sml-
ing, "but it chagrins me. Henri, 20 have
it 80 like this from my own house
taken by whom .
'Ah, | know not, and II Is the second
time In three months; your diamond
bracelet first, and now the opais''
''And ali my servants were with my
mother, who changed but seldom,
heaven knows"
THE new valet dc chambre'-
WAS not in our service when the
bracelet disappeared. ! was at Ltretat
with Albertine and Dcpuis. who has since
died"
True, md this time il wasatwo days
absence at the house Of your brother-in-
law"
with Auguste and Albstine"-
"Auguste and the inevitable Albortine
-yes."