Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-01-31
le had never been introduced to the la

dies. -
"what can it meant asked Nine.
Taryenue, anxiously.
Solange was standing before the glass.
"Why, it seems to mo that it is very
clearl' she replied, with deep complacen-
cy. Haven't you noticed, my dear
mamma, that every time we go to hear
the band pay NJ. de Prevaret is there
too 2"
"What !-why-do you Think"
Nine. Tarvenuo did not dare finish, so
audacious did her thought seem to her. .
"And why not ?" demanded Solange,
throwing up her blonde head with q
triumphant air that made her really
immensely handsome.
You are right" murmured poor
Nine. Tarvenue "you are pretty
enough.
1t was quite true that Solange Tar
VENUE was handsome enough to inspire
q passion, but she would never have had
any attraction for o fastidious man.
This young person., with her sculp-
turesque form, her opulent contours
and her dazzling coloring, was ALSO
lutely lacking in innate refinement or
distinction. No reflection of gentle
nature, an elevated soul, ever gave that
Understandable charm to her regular fea-
tnres that such attributes only can con-
vey. She was clever enough, but it
was thoroughly material sort OF clever
ness, and 1t was joined to q most extra
ordinary amount Of egotism and vanity.
She had played, in childhood, behind
the paternal counter; but she had be n
r1dt to1 a .o1,
school, from which she had brought
away oil manner OF ambitions. In her
dreams for the future she saw noblemen
Mt her feet, and she would not have
thought crown misplaced had it
been made to rest ON her magnificent
yellow hair. 1t was therefore no won
der that the Comte de Prevaret's visit
had not much surprised her. She saw
in it simply the natural result of her
beauty. She received her father when
lie returned with superior smile Of
calm fatuousness, while Nine. Tarvenue,
who was more unsophisticated in her
new grandeur, exclaimed agitatedly !:
"If you oriy knew whom we have just
missed r
''Oh You think l don't know" re-
piled the good man, trying to look very
subtle. $50 he has come to make his
proposal, has he =
To make his proposal? ?" quavered
Nine. Tarvenue. You knew then ?"
at is to be hoped that / did know"
remarked M. Tarvenue with importance.
"He said to me only this morning: 1T
is time we came to an understanding.
Eusebe is fairly wasting away, he is so
much in love with Solange.'"
"Eusebe OF whom are you talk
ingl'
'Of my friend Ramillat, who is most
anxious that Solar ge should marry his
son."
IN. Ramillat did not call. But the
Comte de Prevaret rang the doorbell
while you were away" And Solange,
having pronounced these words, maiest-
ically left the room.
IN. de Prevaret!" exclaimed M. Tar
venue.
''Why, yes" said madame, initiating
her daughters self-possessed and indif-
ferent mien. "Solange is not astonished.
He has been noticing her a great deal
of late. And if he should want to marry
her there would be nothing surprising
in that either. She is handsome enough
to make messalliance possible"
A discussion then arose between Nine.
Tarvenue and her daughter as to
whether they should call, in their turn,
on the dowager countess-a discussion
which was thus concluded by the young
lady:
ION general principles it should be
papa who returned the call. But he
,scald not know how to appear in way
that would do us justice. Now, if it were
I, having the habit of the world,
should know how to manage perfectly.
So, it is best that mamma and should go
to call on the countess. By doing so
we will make her understand that we
are very willing to know her, but not
willing to accept the attentions of her
son against her wishes"
The plan was cleverly conceived, and
q week later was carried out.
On the same day the dowager countess
de Prevaret was chatting with her son
in large salon filled with fine old fur
niture. He, who was the most touch
ingly devoted of sons, had been asking
his mother how she had passed the after
noon. She had been too tired to re-
ceive, she said. But there had been
several callers. "Among others these
and she took up card. "Mme. Tar
venue" and mademoiselle.
Do you know these peoplel asked
the countess. / was surprised to get
their card"
II know them and l don't. He used
to be linen draper, think. He is
out Of business now. They sit near you
in church-the father is little man
with spectacles the mother very stout
and rubicund; the daughter superb
creature, blonde, who dresses very
we'll. You must have seen them?''
"Oh, yes, / remember now. I be-
lieve they bow TO me. They are good
souls, should think--they go to church
very regularly.
Good souls, Perhaps" laughed her
son, "but frightfully ordinary. The
mother is impossible. As for the dsugh-
ter, we call her the empress. assure
you the name suits her. She is ire
mendous poseuse. .
But why should they come to see
me asked the countess.
perhaps to solicit subscriptions for
some charity. The mother and daughter
halono n diffaronk rl,urch rroo NJ q ffonu