Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-08-28

by InlS Tune three or Tour OfflcorS mad
joined the group, one of whom, Il man
of large proportions, whose bronzed
face indicated the habit of command,
but not of self-control. and whose eyes
| had that furtive look which we asso-
ciate with moral obliquity. interrupted
the conversation with florid compli-
| ments to the ladies. He was Colonel
| Lemouricr, commander of scouts and
irregular troops. and distinguished not
only as an Indian fighter but duelist,
q dead shot, and an invincible swords
| man.
| HE is her fiancee," whispered the
| elder lady, Madame Chevreul to De Bar
FAC. The match was arranged by their
| families in France, and as he could not
| get leave of absence she was sent out to
me, and the marriage will take place
when he returns from the campaign
which is now preparin g."
| Doubtless the lgind-hearted lady had
| detected the admiring glance in the
| young mans eyes, and thus took the
| opportunity to warn him against vain
| hopes. De Barzac was conscious of a
| pang of disappointment so keen that
| he was about to retire when she laid a
| OBTAINING hand upon his arm.
''We give little .tste tonight ia honor
| of my niece" she said, land 1 shall ex-
| pect you. Promise me-"
| 1t was late when De Barzac arrived at
| the home of Nine. Chevreul. The
rooms were brilliantly lighted and
| crowded with men in uniform, while
the number of ladies and civilians was
much less. The Older people were play
| ing cards or discussing military affairs,
while the younger portion were dancing
or Longing around the rooms, listening
to the music and trying to fancy them
selves in a Partisan salon.
| The hostess met De Barzac at the
door.
"LoitercrI' she exclaimed, s'Where
hast thou tarried SO long? or is thine
ear so attuned to trumpet call and war
whoop that thou carest no more for the
music of the dance? But I have a
pleasant task in store for thee
81 am too much your debtor, madam,
to decline any service of yours"
Come, then! where are your eyes?
All, you have found her! Yes, Mile.
Destain sits there encircled by admirers,
whose idle words She heeds not. She is
| thinking of something else. Perhaps
she is piqued because Lemourier is not
more attentive. Did you not hear him
as you passed, boasting of his achieve
mentS to those young officers? Ha! he
thinks that she is secure-that he need
not trouble himself to play the lover.
We shall see!''
Her flashing eyes and heightened
! color, not less then her words, evinced
her resentment.
"But you shall lead her to the dance,
m0a cher; you shall tell her tales of adj
venture that will make her forget this
braggard and his rudenessr' Her anger
was at white heat now.
De Barzac smiled; his spirits rose; he
would try, and that meant much to
man whom no danger OR difficulty could
dismay.
1t seemed as if Mile. Destain lost
something of her apathy when her aunt
presented the young officer.
She accepted his invita- ton to dance;
she listened to his sketches of army
life, it's tolls, its triumphs; the romance
of war colored by an ardent enthusiasm
which forgot the narrator in the soul
inspiring theme.
The pride of birth, which was after all
but fiimsy vail, melted before the elo-
auence of the young soldier, whose Grip
pied arm was the only indication that
he had shared the dangers which he de-
scribed.
The announcement of supper, how
ever, interrupted the tale; but Nine.
Chevreul, who had not lost sight of her
proteges and in whose face anger had
given way to triumph, placed them to-
gether at the table.
Perhaps it occurred to Lemourier
that it would be as we'll to pay Mile.
Destain the attention of taking her in
to supper. tshe was not to be found.
Elbow now, Lemourier, what haveyou
lost?" asked one of his friends, observ-
ing his perplexed look.
''Where is MY mean where is Mile.
Destain?" he responded.
''She went III to supper with De Bar
zac," said young officer, adding ma
liciously: "He has monopolized her for
the last two hours"
''Look to your laurels, Lemourier; De
Barzac is no mean rival" said another,
willing to add to his annoyance.
Gentlemen, supper awaits you" 1t
was Nine. Chevreul who spoke. She
was regarding Demourier with malic-
ious satisfaction. The cloud on that
gentleman's brow spread itself over his
face. He could scarcely command his
voice.
''Mlle. Destain?"
t'She is at supper"
''She-she has an escort?'
'Iprovided her with an escort, sirr'
81 believe that privilege is mine, mad
ame'
Pardon me; I am her guardian: I
am also the mistress of this house and
permit no dictation.'
Lemourier was accustomed to dominate
men, but this lady's high-bred dignity
over-awed him and he retired to the
supper-room with much greater appe-
lite for revenge than for the edibles
spread before him.
A distant view of his fiancee at the
opposite side of the table added fuel to
his wrath. Her face wore an expression
which he had never seen there before
it was one of serene pleasure. He OBJ
served the vivacity with which she re-
sponded to her companions words-the
smiles which wreathed the face which
he had never seen without its vail of
naughty composure. The eye of jealous
hatred also perceived in De Barzac the
exultant rival and chief cause of his
discontinue, and he resolved to remove
him from his path either by intimida-