The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-07

abled him to display himself with singular
and fascinating brilliancy. Suddenly, as
was natural, he found himself in love with
Hortense, and he awoke to the terrible
reality OF his condition. A penniiess vaga-
bond daring to connect his hopes with
Pshawl He looked in upon his life, and
heartily despised himself. The poles of his
temperament were reversed; the sunlight,
the bright bayou, the dusky old mansion,
the whole world had shriveled into hate
full scowl of fate
One morning the household awoke to
discover a little later that Andre Duval
had left during the night 1t was great
surprise, sore disappointment; but what
could be done? They looked at one another
in hopeless surrender to the silence and
loneliness of their remote and uneventful
existence.
sou est lie maroufeS" (Where is the rag
amufhnH screeched the parrot. "Ou est
Re marouhe? Ho, no, ho-O-oP
Mademoiselle Hortense slipped away to
her room and cried
As if to add to the special gloom, the sky
was overblown with low geay clouds that
presently began to let fall line, steady
rain, which lasted with scarcely an inter
mission for two weeks.
What to the household of Chateau d Ar.
mand seemed peculiarly touching was the
fact that Andre Duval had, in taking his
mysterious departure, left behind him the
respectable clothes that had been given to
him and had gone away dressed in the rags
of his vagabondage Doubtless the old
parrot had seen him go, for it kept chatter
ing about the maroufe and scolding be-
no ~ a
won the wise old bird over to him, but it
persisted in its first impression that hs
ought to be called ragamufin.
We who live in towns and cities, or in
thickly settled regions, know nothing Of
the utter isolation in which the jewellers
on the great lowland plantations passed
their lives. True, they had their visitors
now and again. and they went once or
twice year to some place of resort; but
their home life, luxurious and picturesque
as it was, stood as the measure of loneli-
ness. Think of It'll There was not another
mansion within less than fifteen miles Of
Chateau d'Armand. The bayou was the
highway. The only passersby were those
in the boats.
Long after the minstrel's departure there
came letter addressed to M Andre Duval,
Vicompte de Vaudreuil. care of NJ Nation
d'Armand"
He told me once to open any letter that
might come when he was gone" said Mat
ton.
So he broke the seal and found the fol-
lowing letter, accompanied by a letter of
credit to New Orleans bank for a large
sum:
My DEAR NEPHEw-It is charming news to
me that you are heartily ashamed of your tiff
with me, and that you are anxious to return to
your own country. One good turn deserves
another. Permit me, as your guardian, to
notify you that your aunt is dead and that
your estate awaits you. l take pleasure in ad.
vancing you 1000 francs. If you have really
finished your travels, come back and be a sensi-
BILE man, and l will be glad ever to remain
your devoted uncle, MoNrPENSIER.
Nation read this epistle aloud, standing
in the midst of the assembled household.
They all listened in breathless silence,
Hortense as pale as ghost.
1t was early summer and the ball stood
open, the wind pouring through in q
strong, cool current
"Voicil Voici! LIE maroufle! 10! Ho!
Ho-o-o-ah!"
They all turned about as the parrot
screeched, and there on the threshold,
ragged, haggard, forlorn, stood Andre Du-
val, his old guitar slung at his side, half
jaunty smile beaming through his embar-
rassment and humility.
Hortense cried out and started as If to
run to him; but she checked herself, turned
aside trembling and sat down in chair
limp and helpless.
Nation went to meet him with the letter
in his hand.
Welcome, Monsieur the Vicomptr; we
are right glad to see you back" he ex-
claimed right cordially.
Andre started, gazed hard at Nation,
and gray cloud gathered in his tace,
cloud that was mixed Of surprise hope,
dread, everything that tears mana heart
in moment when a breath may mean life
or death.
Il have glorious letter for you. I'm
sorry opened it, but you were''--.
Andre interrupted him by tumbling for
ward and falling full length on thai floor.
The poor fellow could not bear up under
this sudden pressure of excitement
They bore him to bed and reso.ted to
every means at their command t. bring
him round to consciousness. A leng i'll
ness followed, through which he was CURSED
with tenderest care; and then, when it was
all over, when he was well enough tn come
out of his room and begin to say droll
things and hum the old tunes-we1. it is
the good old story. He was not consented
for a moment if Hortense was out Of his
sight, and before he departed from Chateau
d'Armand there was betrothal, ad he
left his old guitar as gage.
The wedding took place at Aries TIE fol
Ian 3 Ill lxy
migrating thither for the occasion.
In a certain picturesque old residence in
New Orleans l was shown the portraits,
painted on panels of tulip wood, OF the
Ficompte de Vaudreul and his lovely wife,
who, though quite old, are living today
Maurice Thompson in New York Ledger.