Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-04-11

with me 40 my fathers house yonder."
ooh, with deep pleasure; thank you,
monsieur"
"Come, then"
you are very kind, monsieur"
They strobe side by side along the hedge
till they came to an opening, then they
crossed the little field q the great oaken
gate.
The sun was now well up In the east and
shining gloriously. From the bayou came
the leaping breeze to worry the long moss
on the spreading boughs and to make the
leaves clash and rustic like the stir Of
heavy silk.
Andre looked up the avenue ana saw a
slender girl standing on the step Of a YER
anda IN the dusky shadows Of the trees.
She was dressed in white and looked not
unlike a tall, pure flower Instantly a wave
Of shame came over him. He stopped just
inside the gate.
"Come on, monsieur" said bis com
panion
"But, no, be exclaimed 81 cannot. l
am not--l''- He glanced down over his
clothes.
do not think Of that, urged the other
In soft persuasion. 1T makes no differ
ence if monsieur IS trifle travel worn.
That IL nobody but my little sister"
He grasped Andres arm and led him
right along while he was speaking The
two young men were like twins In size,
their athletic shoulders and well set heads,
their 1.-the bodies and graceful limbs match
ing almost perfectly.
ave call our place the Chateau d'Ar-
mand, said the young man in Andres ear
as they approached the veranda "My
name is Nation dArmand; what name
have yOuy
"Audre Duval."
Monsieur Duval, little sister; my sister,
Mademoiselle d'Armand," said the your
man, with graceful lightness and yet with
dignity.
The girl smiled sweetly, but there was
reserve Of wonder in her eyes as she inyol-
unfairly swept them over Andres form.
Her brother managed to make sundry
signs to her which she interpreted readily,
and from them she caught the spirit Of
Nations hospitality. II he had sid, THE
poor fellow is starving" she could not
have been surer OF his meaning.
breakfast is waiting I believe" she
said stepping back ward to let them pass
into the ball "And you found no came
this morning, brother miner she added To
Nation
"lls dog captured me, Mademoiselle,"
said Ands, with shrug and q reminis-
cent smile
AJ',his moment a magnificent parrot
cried out from it's perch on an antler hang
ing near:
'Venez icil Venez icil I'm mHrouneI
Eol Hol Hop' Come hereI A r.-galnuf-
fnO
1.-The bird discriminates with accuracy.
Rdded Andre.
Everybody Laughed; it was impossible
not 10 do IT,
Nation laid bis gun on bucllhorn rack
and took Andres battered hat and hung it
beside his own; then said:
"Come this way, please"
They bowed to Mademoselle Armand
and Andre followed his young host into a
room where he was left to battle his face
and make ready for breakfast, silent
black boy standing by to serve him at
need.
A few minutes nter Nation came 10 in
quire II he was ready, and they went 20
gether to the breakfast room
As they were crossing the hall the parrot
screamed out:
"Begone, you ragamufIln, begone, quiekl
Hol Hol Hop'
Andre Duval found himself in house
worth studying; IL was a place to charm
the eye Of the artist, the poet, the dreamer
Here, indeed. was a provincial palace-a
rustic castle, so to say--a sylvan chateau.
IL wt. wooden structure OF ample dimen-
sions bul. after tho cradest design and
d H. o e,I
at every turn a solid taste and that refine
ment which comes Of u long line of refined
ancestors. The roughly carved oak cell
iugs, tLe massive wall panels the great
dark stairs In the hall, the ancient pict-
urcs, the tapestries the ponderOus mahog
any furniture-all these seemed to be
stepped in the atmosphere Of centuries.
He remembered having seen such things
during his childhood in France.
Andre followed his young host into the
large airy breakfast room, where he was
presented TO Madame aud Monsieur d'Ar-
mand The master of the place was a short,
sturdy, dark man, gentle and winning in
his manners, while mHlame, his wife, was
tall. stately, reserved. though by no means
lacking in atfability. ltademoiselle Hor-
tense the daughter sat opposite Andre at
Somehow our vagabop forgot his tattered
clothes and sunbrowneA face in the midst
OF the pleasant chatter that followed.
Moreover. be did not ext over heartily for
one who had tasted SO long. True, be did
ample justice to the yenison the fish the
eggs, the hot rolls and goodly number of
other toothsone comesdbles, but he man
aged not to appear rayeuous.
After breakfast the gentlemen had ci-
Cars, and then Andre was asked TO sing.
OF corrsc he could not refuse, though his
hesrt almost failed him at thought of sing
iug in the presence OF Mademoistlle Hor-
tense d'Arm.nd He could scarcely trust
himself to look at her Tor her sweet
bright face sent all sorts Of wild thrills
through his heart Foolish reilowl He
thought 90 himself that TO spend one hour
in such company was ample reward for ail
the prvauou he had endured since land
ing at New Ogleans,
When once ue began to sing the trepida-
ton left him IUc&ily, perhaps, be tried
some old French songs At least the ef-
feet was an that he could have wished for.
HIS four auditors showed tears in their
eyes before he WIS doae, and when he arose
to resume his tramp, ami was thar sing
them fer their generous and touching kind