Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-02

say we were at home, as tolu your
!" But, mademoiselle, the footman
didn't ask. He gave me the card and l
said, Madame is Mt home Then he
said, We'll, give her that then
every well, /" said Solange with acer-
bity. "But You might at least have re-
Trained from saying that we were at
home, since you hadn't been asked"
Nevertheless the sight of the countess
card somewhat appeased her. That q
grande dame, of the countess age, too,
should have taken the trouble to drive
out in the cold in order to leave card
at their house proved conclusively that
she wished to sanction her sons course.
Thus did Nine. TarVenue think likewise,
and the two ladies resolved that the least
they could do would do would be to call
once more upon the countess without
delay
This had been arranged when NJ. Tar
venue, who spent an hour at his club
every day, came in with very clouded
\ brow.
Something very serious has hap
4 pened,' said the retired linen draper.
! Then-"We have no secrets from you,
my daughter, and you know already
} lldO NY lIltuo ilub bllOhCA W
me of his desire of making match be-
tween you and his son. l expected an
official proposal from him three weeks
ago. / did not receive it, and since
then lie had seemed to avoid me. did
not like to call upon him because that
would have been undignified under the
circumstances. Finally met him to-
day on the street, and, although he pre-
tended not to see me, | accosted him:
/ Whats the reason one never sees you
any more, Ramillat?' 1T seems TO me
SIR he answered stiffiy, that it is
scarcely my place to call upon you again
after the step / took three weeks ago,
and which you failed to recognize in any
way" "And now it turns out that he
came here, left his card, MS was not
at home, and thought of course, as we
had had conversation on the subject
the previous Gay, that / would under
stand the visit as formal demand on
his and his sons part for Solanges
hand. Here we are at loggerheads, and
all because you did not give Inc his
card"
"But he never came, he never left a
card, cried Nine. Tarvenue.
''In any case, there's q good match
off, " grumbled NJ. Tarvenue.
"Do not deplore it, beg, remarked
Solange, with her most suberb mien. ~
should not have accepted NJ. Usebe
Ramillat in any event. / hope before
long TO present to you son-in-law Of
quite another stamp"
In less than eight days Nine. Tarye
nue. and her daughter repaired anew to
the dowager countess. Solange was en-
chantingly handsome in a suit of dark
blue with astrakhnn trimmings, and
toque of the same on her golden hair.
Mime. Tarvenue, in plush and jets,
had assumed an indifferent and con-
temptuous air which she thought in the
best possible form.
When the COUNTIES saw the two ladies
enter her drawing groom she suppressed /
n movement OF surprise, but she receiv- /
ed her guests with that gracious ami 1
ability which so successfully keeps peo- I
pie at distance.
az was sorry" she said in her slow,
musical voice, ''not to have been at
home when You came some little time /
ago to see me-"
"The loss was entirely ours, madame"
said Solange, with empressment.
Certainly, certainly said Nine.
Tarvenue, who was very red and very i'll
at ease.
~ regretted the coincidence all the
more that | thought You might have
wished to see me with regard to some
church charity"
Solange understood the allusion, and
her eyes flashed fire.
"No, madame, / am interested in
church work, but l do not solicit aid
from others, she announced trenchant-
ly. "We have come simply to prove
our recognition of the visit by which
you were pleased to show us that you
OF your sons visit to us.
1t was now the countess turn to be
agitated. Had Gerard really gone to
see these peoplel The daughter was
pretty-yery pretty.
II did not know that my son had
called upon you," she said with her
grand air " But his friends are mine
Ali There he is now. Gerard" ad-
dressing the young man who now en-
tered with n smile, twill you not intro
duce me to Nine. and Mile. Tarven-
ne Z"
eft seems to mo that it is you who
ought to introduce me- remarked the
young man, bowling low before his
mothers guests.
g IL is true, monsieur, said Solango,
while her mother wished that the earth
might open and swallow her mp; 1--WE
regretted not being at home when you
called some time ago."
The young man bowed again, and
looked embarrassed, aud said nothing.
my daughter alludes to the visit you
made us at the beginning of January"
sc-c threw in Nine. Tarvenue.
81 wish that l too might allude to it,
but am afraid there is a mis-
understanding. since would never
have permitted myself, not having the
honor of knowing you, to present my ,
self at your door. Now, however, 1 ,
SHALL he continued with profound ]
bow, certainly beg for the pleasure of
LONG So