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

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Tarvenue, anxiously.
Solange was standing before the glass.
''Why, it seems TO me that it is very
clear" she replied, with deep complacen-
cy. "Haven't you noticed, my dear
mamma, that every time we go TO hear
the band play NJ. de Preyaret is there
too 2"
"What i-why-do you think
Nine. Tarvenue did not dare finish, SO
audacious did her thought seem to her. .
"And why not ?" demanded Solange,
throwing up her blonde head with a
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
passion, but she would never have had
any attraction for fastidious man.
This young person, with her sculp-
| turesque form, her opulent contours
and her dazzling coloring, was abso-
lutely lacking in innate refinement or
distinction. No reflection of gentle
nature, an elevated soul, ever gave that
indescribable charm to her regular fea-
lures that such attributes only can con
yey. She was clever enough, but it
was thoroughly material sort of slever-
ness, and it was joined to most extra
ordinary amount of egotism and vanity.
She had played, in childhood, behind
the paternal counter; but she had been
educated in fashionable Partisan
school, from which she had brought
away all manner of ambitions. In her
dreams for the future she saw noblemen
at her feet, and she would not have
thought a crown misplaced had it
been made TO rest on her magnificent
yellow hair. IL was therefore no won
der that tho Coplte 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
he returned with n superior smile of
calm fatuousness, while Nine. Tarvenue,
who was more unsophisticated in her
new grandeur, exclaimed aqitatedly
eff you only knew whom We have just
missed I"
ooh You think I don't know" re-
piled the good man, trying to look very
subtle. $50 he has come to make his
proposal, has he n
To make his proposal?" quavered
Nine. Tarvenue You knew then ?"
at is to be hoped that did know"
remarked NJ Tavenue with importance.
"He said 10 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
mgr"
"Of my friend Ramillat, who is most
anxious that Solange should marry his
son"
M. Ramillat did not call. But the
Comte de Prevaret rang the doorbell
while you were away" And Solange,
having pronounced these words, majest-
ically left the room.
IN. de Preyaret !" exclaimed NJ. Tar
venue.
"Why, yes" said madame, initiating
her daughters self possessed and indif-
ferent mien. "Solangc is not astonished.
He has been noticing her great deal
of late. And il he should want TO marry
her there would be nothing surprising
in that either She is handsome enough 1
to make messallinnee possible"
A discussion then arose between Nine. (
Tarvenue and her daughter as to |
whether they should call, in their turn, /
on the dowager countess-n discussion 4
which was thus concluded by the young
lady:
ION general principles IL should be
papa who returned the call. But he /
would net know how TO appear in way
that would do us justice. Now, if ii were |
/, having the habit of the world, / I
should know how to manage perfectly. /
So, it is best that mamma and should go 4
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
a week later was carried out.
On the same day the dowager countess
de Prevaret was chatting with her son
in q 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-
,eive. she said. But there had been
several callers. "Among others these
and she took mp n card. "Mme. Tar
venue" and mademoiselle.
"Do you know these peoplel asked
he countess. :" was surprised to get
their card"
"I know them and I don't. He used
10 be linen draper, think. He is
out of business now. They sit near you
ID church-the father is a little man
with spectacles the mother very stout
md rubicund the daughter a superb
,reature, a blonde, who dresses very
we'll. You must have seen them r
"Oh, yes, 1 remember now. I be-
ieve they bow TO me. They are good
'ouls, / should think-they so to church
very regularly"
"Good souls, perhaps" laughed her
ION, "but frightfully ordinary. The
mother is impossible. As for the daugh
er, we call her the empress. / assure
7ou the name suits her. She is ire
nendous poseuse."