Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-25
A VISITING CARD.

IL was rainy day In January. Large
drops were beating monotonously against
the windows Of red brick house whose
white stone trimmings and other heavy
architectural ornamentafions wore that
air OF having been manufactured by
the thousand which characterizes the
dwellings of those good people who have
gained wealth without gaining taste.
Behind the guipure curtains on the
first floor stood handsome blonde look
Ing out with a bored expression in her
cold blue eyes. This was Solange Tar
Venue, the only daughter of a respect
able bourgeois who. having made his
money In trade. now lived gentleman
of leisure in this fine new house.
"Heaven!" exclaimed Mile. Tarvenue,
show tiresome this rain is! One can't
go out TO make any calls and no ons
comes to see one"
The bell rang.
There! I'm sure that is call. You
see, mamma, you were very wrong TO
say that you were not nt home to visitors.
Every one Is not as much afraid of bad
weather rs you are"
my dear child, what are you think
Ing OF! Such day as thisl Why the
parlor furniture would have been ruined
by peoples wet clothesI'
Peoples wet clothesi IL Is to be
hoped the people we know would wear
waterproofs-as long as they come on
foot. added the young lady, bitterly.
She rang the bell. A young servant
girl came in.
Bring the cards that were left Just
now"
The servant returned. Solange threw
an indifferent glance on the bit OF
pasteboard. Suddenly her face lighted
up; she exclaimed, quickly:
Mamma. 1t was NJ. de Prevareti
And you didn't receive himl'
IN. de Prevaretr' walled Mime. Tar
venue. Dear mel What pityi''
ut does great good to say What q
pity, nowI cried Solange, sourly.
Nj. dc Prevaret was considered the
very best catch in Vile Abbel Young
and handsome and clever, and the pos
SCISSOR OF n large fortune, he lived with his
mother, the dowager countess, in one OF
the most sumptuous residences in the
town. And this young man, on whom
every woman of rank with O marriage
able daughter smiled, had rung the door
bell OF the Tarvenues and left his cards
Tor theml how had this ever come
about He bowed 10 them, because they
bowed To his mother, but he had never
been introduced to the ladies.
what can 1t mean? asked Mime. Tar
venue, anxiously.
Solange was standing before the glass.
Why, II seems 20 me that ii IL very
clearl she replied, with deep compla-
cency. Haven't you noticed, my dear
mamma, that every time we go to hear
the band play NJ. de Prevaret Is there
too!'
"What!---why-do you think?"-Mme.
Tarvenue did not dare finish. so audaci-
Gus did her thought seem to her.
And why not" demanded Solange,
throwing up her blonde head with a
triumphant air that made her really i'm
mensely handsome.
You are right" murmured poor Mime.
Tarvenuc; You are pretty enough"
1t was quite true that Solange Tar
venue was handsome enough to inspire n
passion, but she would never have had
any attraction for a fastidious man.
This young person, with her sculptur-
esque form and her dazzling coloring,
was absolutely lacking in innate refine
ment or distinction. No reflection OF
gentle nature, an elevated soul, ever
gave that tindescribable charm to her regu-
lar features that such attributes only can
convey. She was clever enough, but it
WAS thoroughly material sort of clever
ness, and it was joined to most extra
ordinary amount of egotisn and vanity.
She had played, in childhood, behind the
paternal counter; but she had been edu.
Gated in n 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 crown
misplaced had IL been made to rest on
hsg mRgniieeatn sliQE; QE;.s hnls bs o!s,s l. Sss 3s
Prevaret's visit had not much surprised
her. She saw In IL simply the natural
result OF her beauty She received her
father when he returned with a superior
smile OF calm fatuousness, while Mime.
Tarvenue, who was more unsophisticated
In her new grandeur, exclaimed agitat-
edly; III you only knew whom we have
just missed!''
''Ohl You think | don't know" re-
Piled the good man, trying 10 look very
subtle. 80 he has come 10 make his
proposal, has heg''
ITO make his proposaig' quavered
Mime. Tarvcnue. "You knew, thenY'
at Is to be hoped that did know"
remarked N. Tarvenue with Importance.
HE said TO me only this morning: 1t Is
time we came to an understanding. En-
eebe Is fairly wasting away, he Is 30 much
IN love with Solange.
"Eusebei of whom are you taikingY'
.'0f my friend Ramillat, who Is most
anxious that Solange should marry his
son."
IN. Ramillat did not call. But the
Comte de PreSaret rang the doorbell
while you were away And Solange.
having pronounced these words, maies-
tically left tho room.
an. de Prevaretr exclaimed M. Tar
venue.
"Why, yes said madame, initiating
her daughters self possessed and indii.
ferent mien. .Solange is not aston
ished. He has been noticing her great
deal of late. And If he should want to
marry her there would DO nothing sur
prising in that either. She Is handsome
enough to make mesalliance possible"
A discussion then arose between
Mime. Tarvenue and her daughter as 10