The morning call., 1890-11-09

she spoke few words of tender sympathy
and proposed that they should pay visit to
an old friend whose villa was situated at
Rambouillet, 50 that he might be near
Robert OF Aurelie there was no mention
made, and Count Charles FASTENED to accept
his mothers suggestion, and the next day he
had the sweet satisfaction of claspinG little
Robert in his arms and Of finding him rosy
and happy in the old poacher'S home, of the
wonders OF which he had dreamed so long.
I'VE Shall not get so many eggs said the
old peasant, laughingly, as the baby Wis
count in velvet and silk scattered the fowls
to the right and left in his mad gambols,
shut those we do get will taste better.
A warm pressure of the poets white and
ariStocratic haad upon Father Sales horny
knuckeS thanked him for that touch of hui
manltY SO quantity and charmingly evil
denced.
Irma met Count Charles with smile full
of the old time sweetness. In it was hope
mingled with forgiveness. and SO grandly
noble and wOmanly was the bearing Of this
Greek girl whose Partisan gown could not
wholly conceal the native grace of her car
riage that the poet gazed upon her with feel
ings akin to awe. He felt his soul lifted up
as he took her hand and pressed it respect
fully to his lips. If lrma had any resent
meut in her heart it vanished as she fixed
her lustrous dark eyes upon Count dAthis'
face and saw the suffering visible beneath
the affected calmnesS.
Poor boy! Poor bnyv' she murmured
slowly and SOFTLY and then each turned
away from the other, 1rma to go TO the little
chamber beneath the tiled roof where as a
happy girl she had sat at her mothers feet
and learned to knit and sew; Charles, Count
of AthiS-MOns, to return to the beautiful
villa where he found his mother, accom-
panied by MademOiselle de Seychelles,
strolling in the garden. He avoided them.
however, and passing up the stairway to his
room, closed the door after he had rung for
inf nnIc mt pnrHf IN pnof har hat
his work would prevent his appearance at
dinner.
The Countess Dowager made one or two
visits to Father Sales to see little Robert,
who entertained her with delightful stories
about Grandpa Sales wonderful home and
what it contained, indoors and out.
Alb, Grandma 'Aths, this beats Paris"
cried the boy, his cherub face illumined
with celestial radiance; :" want 10 live
here forever. But just wait, grandma, until
next week, Grandpa Sale and | are going
to have brood of ducklings with hen for
mother Think of it. dear grandma,
won't il be royal fun TO see them brighten
their old mOlber by going into the pond for
a swim? But its very naughty to brighten
ones mamma. Isn't it, grandma? | would
rather die than brighten poor dear mamma"
The old peasant dashed a tear from his
cheek as he nodded cOnfideDtiallY to the
Countess Dowager.
An, these little ones touch our old hearts,
0on't they, COunle-S! Anu lie KNOCKED
the ashes from his pipe.
"Will you not go back to Paris with me,
soon, Irma ?" asked Count Charles timidly
Que day.
The old smile. so sweet and sad, came
back and played around her beautiful mouth
as she shook her head mournfully.
mot now, mon ami" said she quietly.
Robert is very happy here with Grandpa
Sale. He grows so strong and rosy in the
sunshine. It would be shame to take him
back to gloomy Paris"
A shadow stole over the poets face at
these words.
YES, Count d'Athis," exclaimed the old
peasant, Trina is right. A city is no place
for a child City children are dollhouse
plants; they have no strength. never
for air the whole night long. 1t was ter
rible. 1t cant be possible that you people
have two lungs"
In gentle but wilhal decided manner
1rma now entered protest against the
Countess Dowager,s visits to the little cot
tage. She called Charles attention to the
fact that her retirement TO her room upon
Nine. d Aths' arrival was noticed by Rob
ert, and that the child was perpexed and
hurt by it. II was incomprehensible TO him
why his mother should not be present to
talk with his dear. kind grandma" who al
ways came loaded with presents.
Charles was quick to appreciate the point
made by lrma. and he expressed in tender
words his deep regret that he had not saved
her from this uncalled-for humiliation.
Henceforth Robert must be taken to
the Countess Dowager. a decision which
filed that lady with grief and anxiety, for
the villa was nearly mile away. and even
with the best intentions on lrma's part it
would often happen that the visit must
needs be postponed, the weather would
change suddenly or little Robert would
have cold or be some way ailing. The re-
suit would be that these interviews so ar
IDENTIFY desired by Nine. d'Athis would grow
less and less frequent, and Irma's influence
over aud hold upon the child become CORE
spondingy strengthened.
1t was prospect which filled the mind of
the Countess Dowager with strange fore
bodings. The arrival of a messenger say
ing that little Viscount Ro bert had cOughed
once in the night, and it was not deemed
prudent to permit him to go out, suf6ced to
plunge Mime. d'Athis into a fit of melancholy
Her sweetly cherished visions OF a serene
and peaceful ending to her life beneath her
sons roof faded away like dream. and
even the possibilities OF the case became day