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


him with pretty little start and blushed
crimson. He was not less confused than
she, and so they stood q moment in awk-
ward silence, looking at each other and
smiling as bashfully as TWO peasants would
have done.
The weather continued fine just warm
enough to make the hooking birls sing
morning, evening and 100 'erTaE, all the
night long. Andre did b. part Of the
singing, too. You could have heard his
guitar and his rich baritone voice, when
tire breeze was right, clear across the bayou.
He must be prince or at least a count
In Disguise" remarked Monsieur Armand
he certainly has a distinguished AIR."
said Madame Armand.
He has read a great deal his language
is very refined. added Nation.
Mademoiselle Horteuse said nothing, but
her face was flushed, aud her heart made
the blood sing in her veins. II he quiet
and isolation Of Chateau d'Armani 4, Andre
Duyal had brought little stir of life. The
change was q seductive one, affecting, deep
ly and strangely every member Of the mousse
hold As Andres spirits rose. his ready
wit and large knowledge Of the world en-
abled MIN 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 penniless vaga-
bond daring to connect his hopes with
pshawl He lSokAsl in unnn his liE- s-I
heartily desplsed himself. The poles Of his
temperament were reversed; the sunlight,
the bright bayou, the dusky old mansion,
the whole world had shriveled into a hate
full scowl of fate.
One morning the household awoke to
discover a little later that Andre DIyal
had left during the night II was a great
surprise, a sore disappointment; but what
could be done2 They looked at one another
in hopeless surrender 10 the silence and
loneliness Of their remote and uneyeutful
existence.
"Ou est lie marouGe" CWhere is the rag
amuttin0 scrceched the parrot. "Ou est
lie maroufe? ITo, no, ho-o-o."
Mademoselle Hortense slipped away to
her room and cried.
As if to add to the special gloom, the sky
was overblown with low gray clouds that
presently began to let fall fine, steady
rain, which lasted with scarcely an inter
mission for two weeks
What to the household Of Chateau d'Ar-
mnnd 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 aud had gone away dressed in the rags
of his yagubondage. Doubtless the old
parrot had seen him 90, for il kept chatter
ing about the maroutle and scolding be-
cause he would not come back. Andre had
won the wise old bird over to him, but it
persisted in its first impression that he
ought TO be called q ragamufTin.
We who live in towns and cities, or in
thickly settled regions, know nothing OF
the utter isolation in which the dwellers
on the great lowland plantations passed
their lives True, they had their visitors
now and again. and they went once or
twice u 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 iti 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 minstrels departure there
came letter addressed TO M. Andre Duval,
Vicompte de Vaudreuil, care Of NJ. Nation
d'ArmAnd.n
"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 large
sum:
My DEAR NEPHEw-It Is charming news 10
mo that you arc heartily ashamed OF yusr III
with me, and that you are anxious to return 10
your own country. One good turn deserves
another. Permit me, as your guardian, lo
notify you that your aunt Is dead and tlgt
your estate awaits you. | take pleasure in al
vancing you $1,000 francs II you have rellJ
finished your travels, come back and be a Sensi-
bio man, and l viii be glad ever to remain
your devoted uncle, MoNTPENSIER,
Nation read this epistle aloud, standing
in the midst Of the assembled household.
They all listened in breathless silence,
Hortense as pale rs a ghost
1t was early summer aud the hall stood
open, the wind pouring through in
strong, COZ. clrgNut.
"Voiri, Eo,ci, lie marouael Hol Hol
Ho-o-oahp'
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 beamiug through his embar-
rassment aud humility.
Hortense cried out and started as IL to
run TO him; Tut she checked herself, turned
aside trembling and sat down in q chair
limp and helpless.
Nation went to meet him with the letter
In his hand.
welcome, Monsieur the Vicompte; we
are right glad 10 see you back" he ex-
claimed right cordially.
Auive star ed, gazed hard at Nation,
and a gray cloud gathered in his face,
cloud that was mixed Of surprise, hope,
dread, everything that tears mans heart
in a moment when breath may mean life
or death
AZ have a glorious letter for you. Pm
sorry | opened it, but you were'--
Andre interrupted him by tumbhag for
ward and falling full length on the floor
The poor fellow could not bear up under
this sudden pressure Of excitement
They borc I'M to bed and resorted 20
every means at their command 70 bring
him round 70 consciousness. \ long ILL
ness followed, through which be was nurse
with teuderest care; and then, when it was
all over. when he WAS well enough 70 come
out az his room and begin to say droll
things and hum the old tunes-we!l, it ;
thp rood old story. He was not Contented