The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-11-28
miscellaneous.
Taking French Lessons.

Philadelphia Times.
We wished to acquire the Partisan accent
young Inglis and l, and had been advised by
friends abroad to take lodgings with Madame
LIE Blanc, a widow, the mother oftwo charm
ingly vivacious daughters, daily intercourse
with whom it was thought would give US
more practical knowledge of the French Ian
guage than any number of grammars.
There was fourth member of the house.
hold, we discovered when entering it, q
Madame Fentoune, an old woman, upon
whom time appeared to have an unusually
shrivelling effect, reducing her to what We
faucied to have been about a third of her
original proportions Though this lady sat
at table with US she rarely spoke except in
answer to direct question, and we were
never able to define her position in the house
hold Whether it was that of u humble
friend, an upper servant, or a combination OF
the two we were at a loss to decide.
We had scarcely been domiciled in our Nv
Quarters a month when discovered that
IngIis was learning something that was like
ly 10 have more important effect upon his
future than knowledge of the French
tongue in short, that he was falling in love.
And one could not wonder. MademUiselle
Christine, the younger Of the two girls, was
very charming If | WIRE called upon 10
sum up in a single word the chief end to-
wards which French woman's efforts are
directed l should employ for that purpose
the word effect. One sees it in everything
the tying of ribbon, information of the
voice, tie pose of the figure, the gestures en-
ployed and even the disposition of the lights
and furniture about the room.
Inglis was a straightforward, honest-heart-
ed fellow, utterly incapable of fathoming the
little wiles and pretty airs Oh woman like
Christine, and all the more certain, in conse-
quence, to fall victim to them. was not
so gullble, or to speak the truth, not so good
fellow as my friend. The more saw of
the LIE Blancs'the less seemed to know them
or rather the more clearly l perceived the
gulf by which education, habits of life and
hereditary tendencies had sundered our
natures.
Give me home production" said to
Inglis one night as we sat smoking together
in my room. "These people don't speak
our language Il used the expression meta
phoriealiy) They can never understand US
and we can never understand them, and there's
the end oft"
THAT'S not the end of ii" replied Inglis
shaking the ashes from his cigar. II isn't
necessary to understand things i'll order to
admire and reverence them" We admire
and reverence them the more perhaps that
we do not CON plelely understand them.
II dare say" said l with meaning laugh.
Reason and sarcasm, however, were alike
power!ess. Dazzled by the brillancy OF ma
demoiselles attractions, Inglis continued to
hover moth-like about her; and, dropping
that figure, grew daily more familiar with
the verb Ginaer in all its moods and lenses
About this time our young friends began to
be frequently absent from home in the even
ing, taking with them Madame Fentonne as
an escort. When we remons' rated with
them for thus depriving us OF the pleasure OF
their society, we were told with many ges-
lures expressive of the utmost affiiction, that
a very dear friend, Mademoselle Desparolle,
living a number of blocks away, was lying
dangerously i'll, and that they went as often
as possible 10 watch by her bedside aud so
relieve those in attendance upon her.
The case of the unfortunate demoiselle
seemed rather peculiar one. Sometimes
after one of these absences, the young ladies
reported her condition as much improved
then again, with despairing headshskes, they
declared that her recovery was quite out OF
the question.
Inglis was delighted with the unselfshnes'
and tenderness of nature which mademoi.
sele's constant ministrations evinced.
$50 overlooking with life and youthful
spirits" he said, land yet so willing to sacri-
flee her time upon the altar of duty. "Inglis,'
l said, like the horrid sceptic that
was, "do you know that l don't believe in
the existence of this Mademoiselle Despa-
role ?"
NV friend looked at me for moment as
though not clearly comprehending my mean
ing.
existence. believe she is myth
Brooke" replied Inglis, when be had suf-
ficiently recovered from the establishment
into which my announcement had thrown
him to be able to speak, ''such suspicious as
these are discreditabe to you and do these
Young ladies the grossest injustice. l am
surprised that you should harbor them for an
instant"
81 am willing to dismiss them" replied l.
"the moment discover them to be without
foundation. In order to test the matter, then
suppose we follow the young ladies when
they go again upon one of these expeditions
and see which of US in right"
Inglis was Mortified at first at the bare
idea of playing the spy upon the actions OF
bis friends, but l insisted that should never
receie from my opinion until the matter had
been investigated, and in order to establish
their innocence he finally gave way, and de-
cided to act upon my suggestion.
AS we sat together at tea that evening
Mile. Cecle informed us that they had heard
in the afternoon that very unfavorable
change had taken place in their invalid friend,
and that they were going as soon as possible
to inquire into her condition. l exchanged
chances with Inglis when this announcement
was received, and as soon as we arose from
the table we repaired to my room, where, en-
velopiug our figures in long cloaks and draw
ing slouched hats over cur faces, we stood
near the open chamber door to W ait the de-
parture of the young ladies.
Presently we heard the sound of their
voices in the lower hall, followed by the
opening and shutting of the front door. This
was the signal for which we waited, and
quickly descending the steps we passed I'M
observed down the passage and out into the
street. Our young friends were third of q
block in advance of US, we discovered, walk
ing demurely along with Madame Fentonne
pacing between them. Taking care that our
relative positions should remain the same
Inglis and followed in their wake Passing
| from the region of handsome buildings and
broad and brilliantly lighted thoroughtnres
| the streets through which we were being led
| became darker, Gingier, more devious.
Our guides now quickened their steps,
while madame's little pace changed into a
swift, rot Presently, with an astonishingly
dexterous movement, the young ladies, each
passing an arm under those of the escort,
| lifted her from the pavement and flew, rather
than ran, down several dirty, dsreputable.
looking streets, pausing at length before a
dimly-Iighted public building. Seeing them
enter Inglis and l, now completely out Of
breath, followed and discovered ourselves al
the entrance of wretched fifth or sixth rate
| theatre.
81 am determined to STE this thing out
Inglis," whispered, and investing in couple
of tickets we passed into the building. Our
seemed to be enjoying themselves hugely, il
! we might judge from the expression on theil