Middletown transcript., 1891-04-16

|
a close examination than at a DIS
tance. As she sat SO near his elbow,
Mr.. Pendleton felt again that he
must be careful to remember that ne
was a married man.
Certainly! China ladies are
prettier than the regular sort," ne
said. AS for the men-now that
fellow there, m'am'selle-is he folks
too? l mean, is he alive, animated
like you, you know?''
And as he pointed to the beau his
under lip protruded scornfully.
cant say like him much.' he added.
:" He is a good deal of puppy, l
should think. But perhaps he is
friend Of yours, and have hurt your
feelings again" for once more La
Belle appeared to brush away a tear.
"Ifhe is relation began Mr..
Pendleton
"a relation All, non p cried La
Belle. He is a rascal a bad man;
a vera bad man"
Il thought as much," said Mr..
Pendleton.
"I ate i'm p' cried La Belle,
clenching her little fist. 81 ate i'm
and 1 despise!'
"Do you now ?" said Mr.. Pendle-
ton. eve no doubt he deserves il /"
"'E is my enemy and e is yours,
also " said la Relic. "I come to.
night to expose i'm. Zis is why I al.
low you to know zat which we Of
china keep secret always-zat we live
zose ozers," she sighed. F" But 'e-oh,
yes, e is all ze same as efrybody-s-h!
watch !" she said, after long pause.
i" Watch him we'll"
Suddenly the hand that Mr.. Pen
dleton touched became cold. The
face gIistened in the light of the
lamp--all that stood upon the arm of
his chair was china figure which he
caught, lest it should fall, and placed
upon the mantlepiece. But as he
stood before the fire, puzzled beyond
description, he saw the figure Of LIE
Beau, at the other end of the Chin
ney, move, resume its mask, throw its
cloak over its shoulders, look at the
face Of the bronze clock, take mine
ing step forward, spring from the
manteL to the table. thence to the
floor and vanish through the door,
way.
Hullor' cried Mr.. Pendleton,
what does all this mean p
Monsieur" said the voice of La
Belle. Monsieur, vat zis means is
exactly vat | am come to tell you.
Eat man-zat rascal, is my 'usband.
l ave been true to i'm ;'e pretend to
adore me. Alas Monsieur-ow
can | tell you? Alas 3 is false to
me !"
/ "FaIse to such beauty as you ?
said Mr.. Pendleton.
False" replied La Belle. "Ah,
Monsieur, you are as unhappy as |.
For whom belief you e desert me ?"
| "Not for Jeanette, there, on the
bracket ?" asked Mr.. Pendleton.
| "Ah, non !" replied La Belle; she
is true to Jeanot. Non, Monsieur,
she as rob me of lis art is madame,
your wife.
"Eh p roared Pendleton.
!" Madame, your wife" repeated La
Belle.
you don't mean Mrs. Pendleton2"
cried Mr.. Pendleton.
"Alas! Monsieur, I do ?" said La
Belle. 81 know by my own art 'oW
you suffer-"
"Oh! But I can't believe" cried
Pendleton 81 can't! Mrs. Pendle'
ton! But still Of course she know;
nothing about it she can't help it
she couldn't believe that ffty-cent
china image would be in love with
her."
"Can she not ?" replied La Belle
Behold the proof. To day l founc
+ zis."
And from some fold of her robe
where it had been concealed she drew
a note which she handed to Mr.. Pen.
dleton, who read these words:
DEAR LIE BEAU-Certainly you
are the loveliest fellow l ever met
| bought the pair of figures for your
sake. I meyer cared anything for Ii
Belle. And SO you are alive, ant
love me! To think of it l an
amazed. Of course, / mustn't low
you. There poor, dear olds Pendle
| ton. I'm married, and I'm exceed
, ingly particular in my conduct.
can't help wishing Mr.. PendletoI
looked like you but he never will
However, that is not to the purpose
I suppose there is no sin in a httl
fun, especially if it is not found out
am going to wedding tonight, an
/. you can come after me--hnd tn
= direction below-in a carriage. Z
course the china ball is late. Whs
: a lovely affair it must be! l will hav
a Vatican costume made and powder
my hair and wear a mask and look a
e much like china as I can. Your ad
a miring AMELIA A. PENDLEToN.
r "My goodness !" gasped Mr.. Fen
9 dleton.
n "Calm yourself, monsieur, ;" i'm
plored La Belle.
"Great heavens !" shrieked Nj
2 Pendleton. :,
"Do not exasperate yourself hA
e zis," signed La Belle.
I'll mash the puppy J" cried NJ
Q Pendleton, seizing the poker:
:, Monsieur of what avail I" erie
La Belle. "If you smash M. L
: Beau, he will become some broke
it china. No Won will beliete, oil
It nevair, Eat he is capable of zis col
duct, but ave patience. Come to
}, ball wiz me. Behold madame on. h
g arm. Zen you may be avenged;
e "Tll take the poker with me" sal
0 Mr.. Pendleton.
= A moment more, and he seemed
fit through space and darkness. The
n L. o, =, a ,raot hall decorated wit