Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-16
CAPRICE.
Translated from the French. for the SUNDAY
UNION, by Mrs n z White

with all the beauty of lovely morning in
early spring. Through the many winding
| drive-ways, clean and smooth as those of
an English garden, cleaned and disap-
peared the brilliant equipages of the beau
monde Of Paris. In the handsome carri-
age which has just entered Madrid Avenue,
and which rolls so noiselessly over the
| shining sand, is seated a young woman.
who eagerly scans the distant perspective
of the avenues as they speed away before
her flying caleche.
at is not two o'clock yet" said she, as she
touched the spring of the tiny watch sus-
pended from her girdle, "Oh! yes, it isl
she exclaimed almost Immediately at is
exactly twow And, quite radiant with a
sudden feeling of contentment, she sank
back on the luxurious cushions of her car
riage.
AT the same moment, a young man.
mounted on spirited Irish pony, appeared
at the end of one of the avenues. and ad-
yanced at lively trot towards the carri-
age, which stopped Immediately, as the
cavalier drew rein before the window.
He was about to dismount, but, at sig
niticant gesture from the young lady, he
retained his seat. That gesture had said
as plainly as words: "You see clearly that
l cannot offer you place in my carriage,
! for l am without chaperone Lady Cad
ington is indisposed"
"Very well, so be it," replied the young
man to this mute objection the propri-
eties require it, and yet you are English.
and widow. Does not the world permit
you more freedom of action?"
Certainly; but on condition that do
not avail myself of my privilege"
" Perhaps, my Lady, you are not dis
pleased that the condition furnishes you
with pretext for Withholding your hos
pitality?"
Such an observation deserves no reply.
Monsieur; you have your CODE and what
| find blamable in it is that it always ex-
acts compromising speeches from your
friends. We English cannot accustom our
selves to such opportunities, so let us drop
the subject. My carriage is going to fol-
low this path, therefore ride close to the
window and let us talk. First of all, tell
me about your visit to Count de Saligny.' y
He welcomed me with the utmost cor
dlality-in fact, as one power welcomes
another. There was grand hunt, and a
riding party. They had fine programme
mapped out for the entire week, and
pressed me to remain; but the days seemed
interminably long to me- and amid that
dazzling assembly Of great ladies some
thing was lacking to my happiness-"
" Enough, enough" said my Lady,
smilingly. "Let me hear how YOU spent
your evenings"
"As you predicted, the company in
sisted upon hearing my comedy"
"Well?7
1t pleased beyond my widest expecta-
! tions."
Accept my congratulations. And now,
with regard to the minister"
| saw him yesterday. He has my last
report in his possession, and says he will
not fail to mention it to the King"
Better and betterm exclaimed the
young lady, with radiant smile of salts
| faction.
The lady and her escort had by this
! time reached the most crowded and fash
| ionable avenue of the Bois. The happy
expression on the faces of the two young
people, and the apparently confidential
nature OF their conversation, gradually
aroused the curiosity of the promenaders.
The young cavalier was of fine form. easy
IN all his movements and possessed a face
of unmistakable distinction One uncon-
sciously assigned him a more elevated
social rank than really belonged to him.
In Spain he would have been called Don
somebody-or-other; in Germany, Monsieur
! 10 RarOn in EncrlanI c.
as she was formerly, before social figure
heads became as mixed as those of the
various coins, he would have been ad-
dressed as Monsieur lie Vicomte.
The young lady was of no less distin-
gulshed and aristocratic appearance but,
apart from the ideal beauty of her features,
the most remarkable thing about her was
the elegant ease with which her garments
adapted themselves to her graceful figure.
a painter, in copying her infinitely in any
! costume, could not fail to make most
charming PASTEL. Silk, velvet, lace, flow
ers, precious stones, and the brightest
colorS, when placed on her-abundantlv or
parsimoniously-were becoming to her,
and were enhanced by contact with her
beauty.
Among the cavaliers and the carriage
people were many acquaintance of Lady
Cavendish, who bowed as they passed. At
each new salutation she experienced an in
expressible feeling of inward ioy. This
sentiment could be translated thus Mon
sier de Blainvilliers is young, elegant ta-
Tented, and sought after by Partisan So
ciety; it is something therefore to be loved
! by him. But the impulse of these rehec-
tions could not induce her to go beyond
the most punctilious limits of proprietv.
As widow she could have allowed herself
great freedom but she was young and
| beautiful, and her very youth and beauty
rendered her circumspect. As an English
woman, she could have invoked in her be-
half the customs Of her own country.
which is exceedingly tolerant toward every
unmarried woman; but she was in France
and her countrywomen, always jealousy
! critical of every one else. exercised over
her malevolent control, which, without
changing her tastes, compelled her never
| thelesS to restrain them.
NJ. de Biainvilliers understood the ex-
! igencies Of her position and submitted to
/ them with the best possible grace. In
| public he was only simple acquaintance :;
in the discreet circle of few kindred
souls he was cherished friend. He filled
the double role which had devolved upon
! him with marvellous skill.
In nearly every case, whatever LADY
| Cavendish was about to ask him to do, he
had already foreseen and accomplished.
His friendship seemed to possess the gift of
second sight
You are preoccupied," said she, when
they had ridden for some time in silence.
Yes, for l know must leave you, al
though have only Just come"
You are right If you were to remain
any longer with me, you would set all the
gossips to chattering. Captain Fauntle-
roy has just passed; and Mrs. O'Mera,
whose carriage has already crossed mine
three times, smiled most ironically as she
looked at us the last time'
All those people are very envious."
/ Their righteous Indignation amuses
me-"
Confess, however, that you fear it, for
you dare not brave it."
Yes, l acknowledge that | shall stand
in awe thereof for little while longer"
"Would that l might know your pro-
jects p
Perhaps you have already OWNED
them. But if it would be agreeable to you
to learn them from my own lips, we shall
talk about them some day ere long"
why not now? See how fresh, shady,
| and unfrepuented tbiS avapua lnol.S W.