The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-05

which WIN be my fault, and shah never
forgive myself as long as live"
81 wish to have nothing to say to you,
dr." she said, dryly.
I was nervous and much excited. In
the first place thought her perfectly
charming. In the next place was furi-
GUS at my idiotic mistake. In short /
was ready for the most desperate steps.
Madame" said, "take my rug or /
swear l will throw myself out on the
track" and casting the rug between us /
lifted the window and took hold of the
outside handle of the door.
Was l really in earnest? Entire nous,
not really suppose, but it seems must
have looked so, for she cried out:
"But you are crazy, monsieur; you are
crazy"
"The rug, or jump" She took the
rug and in softened tone:
"But you, monsieur, you will die Of
cold"
Don't disturb yourself about me,
madame. am not delicate-and even
if do take cold it will only be the just
reward of my objectionable stupidity"
"Say, rather, your haste, for of course,
as you say, your motive was good; but
how could you have taken that other
| woman for me?:"
Because she was so pretty" She
smiled, the ice was broken-the ice of
conversation, | mean, for otherwise /
was chattering with the cold. But how
soon l forgot the cold, the journey
everything. She was delicious, exquis-
tie, adorable, a clever mind, bright, gay,
original. She was fond of travelling like
myself-like myself she had been in
Italy, in Spain. She dreamed of going
to Egypt just as did. In literature,
music, in everything in fact, the same
tastes as mine. And then, only think, a
host of mutual friends She was init
mate with the Saint Chames, with the
Savonys, particularly with the Mont
Vazins. And to think that might have
seen her twenty times at those houses,
and that l had not noticed her. Where
were my eyes-I should like to know
where were my eyes?
She spokt freely, pleasantly, with that
distinguished simplicity which always
so much admire, with little, very
little, southern accent-almost imper-
ceptible, rather lisp-giving little bird
like sound to her voice. 1t was entranc-
fling.
But, although l did everything to keep
from showing it, heavens, how cold l
was? AtDijon GEO p m. my right hand
was seized with cramp. We telegraphed
to Tonnerre for the bags. At Macon AIS
p. n.y. the left foot went the same way.
A dispatch from Tonnerre saying that the
baggage would reach Marseilles the next
day. At Lyon-Perrache (5:49 p. n.y. my
left hand became insensible. She forgot
to claim her coupelet. At Valence (9:59
p. n.y. my right hand followed the ex-
ample of the left. 1 learned she was a
widow without incumbrances. My nose
turned brilliant purple. was given
to understand that she had never loved
her first husband. At Marseilles, finally
Give minutes after midnight), sneezed
three times violently. She handed me
my rug and said, graciously, "Au revoir."
"Au revoiri' I was in the seventh
heaven!
I passed the night at the hotel at
Noailles, restless night, filled with
thoughts of her. The next day when l
awoke I had the most terrific cold in the
head that you could imagine. Did |
dare present myself at the Rombauds' in
such state? Unfortunate, of course,
but they knew l was on a journey-they
will have to take me as | am, and to-
morrow shall be cured in the sunshine
Of Nice!
But, my friend, what surprise awaited
me! That good fellow, Rombaud, had
asked several friends to meet me, and
among these friends was she, my travel
ing companion, my enchantress.
When | was presented to her an i'm
perceptible smile futtered over her lips.
bowed.
"And Tonnerre?" asked very low.
81 have them," she replied in the same
tone.
We went into luncheon.
"What a cold you have, old fellow"
said my friend Rombaud; 'where the
devil did you catch it? Travelling, per-
haps."
perhaps" Ireplied, "but really don't
regret it." No one understood this Gu
rious reply, of course, but my fair fellow
| traveller sent me tender and sympathetic
glance from across the fragrant fumes
CT the magnificent ragout which adorned
the table and was content.
What more shall say, my dear fellow?
did not go to Nice next day, and 1 am
to be married in a fortnight!-Translated
from the French of Jacques Normand
by Anna Farwell de Koven for Chicago
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