The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-09-25
Ma belle petite,
Qu'ils etaient beaux, les jours-

Ma belle petite,
Qu'ils etaient beaux, les jours-
She trilled with her rich but rather
slender and childlike soprano voice, the
chords of the banjo blending well with
it. The mill gate was down, but the
water had not yet filled the racevay, and
only trickling sound came from the
messy forebay Colonel Chenier, as it
CHANGED, was not in his accustomed seat
under the mulberry tree, and Mrs
Chenier and Adelaide were in the mill
When the carriage, rather seedy cab
from the neighboring railroad village,
stopped. Rosalie caught her breath ex-
citedly, quitting short in the midst of
her song. l...t H
A little sharpfaced, black eyed old lady
got briskly out through the door Of the
vehicle and looked about her inquiring-
ly. The cabman deposited a heavy trunk
and two large travelling bags on the
ground near by. Rosalie stood gazing as
one scarcely able to credit her vision.
Could this wrinkled, sallow, thin little
old person be her aunt, Marguerite
Chenier Roosevelt?
Colonel Chenier came hobbling up and
set the matter at rest
Dear sister," he cried, gathering the
newcomer into his strong arms and kiss
ing her withered cheek again and again.
Rosalie was disenchanted. This was
not the cold, stately dame of which she
had been dreaming .sF -
Mrs. Chenier and Adelaide came forth
from the mill and the guest was given a
warns welcome.
When Rosalie was presented the old
lady ran her sharp black eyes over the
girls lissome form, from head to foot.
"You are very pretty my DEAR" she
said, in a soft, quavering tone, taking
both of Rosalies hands between her
own. you are the prettiest Chenier
ever saw @
Rosalie smiled radiantly. She was too
unsophisticated to doubt her aunt's sin
cerity
$50 she is" exclaimed Colonel Chenier
my little girl is real beauty"
Little girl" said Aunt Marguerite,
emphasizing the second word; little
girl, indeed! She's young lady. She
ought to wear her dresses longer. Come,
my dear" taking Rosalie's arm, "show
me to my room, please; am very tired.
Aunt Marguerite was Immediately
taken up into the coy but scantily fur
nished room prepared for her. The cab
man followed with her baggage. She
sank into chair by the window, whence
she could have fine view of the valley,
the foothills and the deeply notched
chains of blue mountains, lying one be-
yond another in almost parallel lines
She leaned back and tipped her vinai-
yrette against her nose, half closing her
ayes as she slowly inhaled the sharp con-
;ents.
You don't look st all like your father
,r your mother, my dear" she said to
Rosalie. ii wonder where you got those
Eyes," C..r rfa
Papa calls them fen del la vendee."
Rosalie; land sometimes
when | get a little excited he cries out,
Flammes du Midir or 'Eclair de la Pro-
7encev"
but your hair is not southern hair. It
s fine northern gold" The old lady as
he spoke, reached forth thin hand and
Dyed with the girls long. pale braids
Her manner. her voice and the touch of
Ter fingers had in them that caressing
enderness peculiar to the south You
must be strange sheep in the Chenier
lock-" she continued
But not a black Sheep" Rosalie
quickly responded. laughing lightly.
Aunt Marguerite smiled Her kindly
I'D heart warmed to the sweet girl
They at once became far more than
riends The childless woman had found
ust what she had all her later years
'een looking for. She felt as if she
must take Rosalie in her arms and cover
Ter face with kisses. What sunbeam
o take to the Roosevelt mansion, she
bought What a ripple she would make
a Savannah social circles this lovely
niece!
Marguerite Chenier Roosevelt had for
many years nursed desire to find some
eautiful girl to adopt as her own. Why
Tould not this gold haired Chenier. this
lear eyed, pink Tipped. sweet voiced
laid of the mill serve her turn? Al
lough this thought arose in her mind
once. Aunt Marguerite. being wise,
id not let fall even hint of it for sew
ual days She studied Resale with