Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-10-01
CHAPTER v.
AUNT MARGUERITE PREVAILS


- 20
"You are Verg beautiful, Miss ROsGlte"
About two weeks after the arrival of
Aunt Marguerite at the mill thing
came to pass which caused her to begin
fearing lest the seed of trouble had al
ready been sown in Rosalie's life 1t
was visit from that magnetic young
cavalier Frank Ellis, who, thinking he
had thoroughly outwitted the govern
ment detectives, had once more begun
his riding into and out Of the valley on
his mysterious business He brought
some papers and magazines for the mem
bers of the mill household, among them
a recent number of The Revue des Deux
Mondes for Colonel Chenier, who, from
natural bent distaste for everything
American since the downfall of the
south, and from long habit, turned to-
ward France for all his reading. A gay
fashion periodical pleased Rosalie with
its colored plates representing stylish
women and children at a northern sum-
mer resort. With all young girls Gu
riosity touching them, she yet seemed
not to think of these lovely and costly
dresses, bonnets and things in connec-
ton with herself
She mastered with quick glances the
Yninutest details of their construction
and arrangement, admired the exquisite
blending of colors, the graceful lines of
waist and skirt, the jaunty elegance OF
this hat or the quiet charm of that bon
net. Her taste was not at fault. She
chose the simpler things. But she chose
them in the abstract and with no per
sonal view not with any immediate
sense of their appropriateness to pur-
pose or need of her own Ellis sat on a
bench beside her and helped her turn
the leaves of the periodical, now and
then Offering some light comment on the
plates.
Aunt Marguerite noticed with the
practiced eye of one old in the ways Of
society that this young man was no boor'
ish mountaineer. He was keen, thor
oughly sophisticated, self poised man Of
the world-a narrow world, maybe, but
the world all the same She did not like
his restless eye, his startled glances, as Of
q hunted man, and she recoiled from hi;
big pistols, his gun and his bowie knife
He looked to her like bad man, WAC
could nearly hide his badness under {
veneering of suave politeness. His voic'
had false notes And yet she could SCI
how easily he might have been a goot
and perhaps even q great man. His larg
head, his strong, dark face, his air of i'm
nervousness, his firmly rounded jaws
were the exponents of high order o
ability
How well such dress as that woul'
become you" he said to Rosalie, pointin
out blue silk robe ruff1ed and founce
in the then prevailing style; your CON
plexion and your pale, bright hair woul
blend so sweetly with that color"
This seemed to Marguerite Chenie
Roosevelt piece of cool, devilish wicl
edness. She saw Rosalie glance dow
at her own coarse white dress, dust
with -four, shadow of self conscious
ness fitting across her pure face. Ell
bent closer to her ear, and added In
very sweet soft tone:
"Blue and gold; your hair would ia
over that rich silk like feeces'of sunst
cloud over a blue sky. How shoul
like to see you in that sort of attire
You are very beautiful, Miss Rosalie-
Miss Chenier." his voice dropping almo
to a whisper
But Aunt Marguerite overheard ever
word. She could not help it.
A rich blush leaped into Rosalie
cheeks, and then pallor followe'
which affected Aunt Marguerite deepl
All, this serpent in Eden! The goo
woman felt as if she would like to brui
his head with her heel
"Come Rosalie dear" she said,
want you to go with me to my roor
please. You know you haven't read
me any today.
The young girl rose promptly, with
quick responsive smile, as her aunt
voice called her wholly back to herse
"Oh, madam" exclaimed Ellis depr
catingly Il have but few moments
stay, can't you let Miss Chenier she
me the rest Of these pictures? I'm
genuine child about looking at pictur
of any sort.
Aunt Marguerite affected not to he
him
Come on, dear" she added; and Ros
lie obeyed.
"Goodby," he said, holding cut /
hand, which the girl took.
"Goodby," she responded
AS their eyes met he said: 81, to
should like to hear you read. Won't y
read some for me one of these days%
"Oh, yes, sir, if you would care to
ten," she replied.
'Come on, cRild. persisted Aunt Ms
guerite.
The cavalier darted quick, inten
look into the old lady's eyes, then lifti
his hat and bowling very low, turne
mounted his horse and rode away up t
valley,
Aunt Marguerite was wise. She
not venture word to Rosalie about t
Young man just then, much as she
like saying what she suspected. 1t
too often the case, she reflected, tina
young girl would develop sudden
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