The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-21

vealing as it did two dimples and small,
exquisitely formed teeth, white as ivory,
utterly transformed the pale face. Hither-
to observers would have set her down as
positively ugly, extreme wanness and
rigidity and that acquired habit of ex-
pressionless impassibility repelling rather
than attracting the gazer.
But what will not smile and q glow OF
grateful, afiectionate happiness effect In
any woman's looks? AS the young peas
ant waited while she fitted the gloves to
her small, slender hands, slight blush
deepened his sunburnt complexion. Those
little hands reminded him that she was
gently born, the dimples revealed the fact
that, if not exactly beautiful she was very
sweet look upon. And naturally enough
under the circumstances, the more openly
she expressed her gratitude and regard,
the more studiously he avoided anything
like indiscretion.
Still they could not trudge on mile after
mile in silence. A certain candid init
macy must spring up, whether they would
or no.
Ellie would forget the formal "mademoi-
selle," Etiennette the monsieur" with
which high-born French lady addresses
peasant in these days. Although for the
most part their talk was OF very serious
things, little outbursts of gayety on her
part, grave playfulness on his, lent their
| condolences a sweetness and endearlng
tenderness new to both. They. were
hardly friends; yet with all the enthusi-
asm of lovers each poured into the others
ear the story of life.
"What made you unhappy at the con-
vent?" he asked. 'Was any one unkind
to your"
~ blame no one except myself" was
the vehement reply. "How could I, for
one moment, believe that / was fitted for
sainthood, martvrdom? But the least
| alienation, little freedom, glimpse OF
| Joy, would have enabled me to endure to
| the end. The lay sisters seemed to me
too happy; they were busy, they were
| free. they had friends"
IL wish you were not workman, that
| you could always be my friend. 1 mean
| that we could often see each other and
| chat as we are doing now" she began.
| "But 1 shall never forget how you have
stood by me-never, never. And my
parents are rich, they will repay you.
| Father, mother-these names / was hidden
| to forget in the cloister-do you know that
your own Esiennette is on her way home ?"
Don't cry, my child" the young man
| put in, kindly reproachful.
"My tears are tears of Joy. For they
will, they must be glad. Yet is it not
strange that parents can so give up their
| children? It all comes back to me as il
! happening yesterday. ROBBED in bridal
white, myrtle blossoms in my hair, velled
| and gloved, stood at the grating, myself
| calm as we made our adieus all the rest
weeping, my poor old Alsatian nurse
| Lisbeth, sobbing as if her heart would
| break. But even that did not move me.
She turned toward him, her pathetic
/ eyes still wet with tears, no reserve posi-
| bic in this sudden outburst of long pent-
up emotions.
-"Better far become a peasants wife,
share the burdens OF a daily life with an
| honest man like yourself, than be doomed
to such fate. But do not let me talk OF
it any more Put other thoughts into my
head"
Distractions were not wanting. The
long glad day seemed almost intermina
BILE, each hour blissful experience, many
rolled into one.
How fair showed this Jura world il
early summer. Against the turquoise sky
rose ridge upon ridge of bright green larcf
trees; between the narrow combes OF
close shut valleys trended many crysta
stream: whenever they rested in sunny
| Bldut, LkltullClJC 6MNOb al W
| sizes. the small purple clematis, the lily o.
the valley, the skv-blue hepatica carpet
ing the way. If they overlook a timber.
cart, the good-natured mountaineers
offered them a seat, themselves afoot al
ways as they guided their team round the
| sharp precipices. Or a trader bent upon
| purchasing local wares, spectacles at Mo
rey, tops and pipe-handles at st. Claude
would take them upon his light cart
shortening for them many a mile. Eft
iennette's gentleness and look of fragil
ity, Flies chivalrous care of her, won the
sympathy of all.
'The lass is weary and very pale vii
she have drink of wine ?" said one.
"Here, my girl" said another, filling
her hands with ripe cherries, "try and pu
them in your cheeks"
Little kindnesses and courtesies were
thus showered upon them as they went
When night came they were far away
from the cloister, but further still from
their destination. They rested at little
wayside inn on the borders of pine fores
beyond that dark rim, the shining silvery
| peak of Mont Blanc.
".
Toward evening on the fourth day o.
their travels the Chateau Grandial was in
deed reached Etiennette's cheeks flushed
with pride as they came in sight of the
the lordly pile towering over a province
| Growing an eminence, its terraces com
manded a view of the entire Moran
granite peaks, dimple valleys, curling
| rivers, smiling hamlets. all lay outspread
as in a map This perfect specimen Of
medieval architecture. not debased fol
feudal purposes, a nobleman's palace, bu
no prison, had suffered little from time
war, orchange. Perhapsthe early founders
of the noble house of Grandial could they
emerge from the tomb, would find as little
moral change, their descendants holding
the same beliefs, the same faith, the same
prejudices as themselves.
From the porter's lodge carriage road
swept upward through the park The
gates stood wide, and, unperceiyed, the
pair now passed in.
az am surely expected" Etiennettt
whispered, "outherwise the park would
be closed. And see, tent is spread OF
the lawn, servants are busting about,
banquet is prepared Yes, 1t must be SO
these rejoicings are for me. But we viii
steal into the house, escaping notice;
long to weep on my mothers breast"
The tent had been erected at some dis
lance from the principal entrance, and the
servants busted in festive preparations die
not observe the strangers. The stalwar
blue-bloused peasant and his slight com
panion, as they now hurried along the