San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-09
SINGLE SATURDAYS.


Monsieur Charles d this, man OF
the birth of his son Robert.
The child Is doing well.
A number of years ago, all literary
and artistic Paris received this lIttieI
note upon satin paper, engraved with
the arms OF the Count ,d'A this, OF
whom the last. Charles G'Athls had
succeeded, although still young, in
O. NV" for himself the renown IF q
true poet.
A.u ne motber-O! of her the
letter did not speak. The world
knew too much already. She was
the daughter of an old country man
on the Seine. former model, VINO
was called Irma Sale Her forehead
was low, her profile antique. the Wis
age of q peasant drawn in primitive
lines. She had been little keeper
OF turkeys, yet she possessed the
features M a Grecian beauty.
One night coming home from the
"Opera ,all," d'Athis had taken
her TO supper, and now for two years
that supper had continued Irrua
had entered completely into the lite
of the poet, yet this ins0lent aristo-
cratic billet, showed plainly how
small part che really played. II
was her vocation to render herself
useful and indispensable IN the house
OF the "pOet gentlema but to ef-
clever enough to comprehend the
Reuius of d'Athis, but she exhibited
the reverence of the peasant for the
noble, the vassal for the baron. The
birth of the child newly accumulated
her nullity.
When the dowages countess d,
AthIs, mother Of the poet heard of
the birth OF this little grands on she
wished TO see and embrace him. She
was q distinguished woman In the
very highest circles, an old member
OF the court circle surrounding Marie.
Am-lie. She went to see the child
at muse and chose days when she
would meet no one. She admired
him, she cherished him, and adopted
him into her very heart.
Afierward when the baby VIcomte
grew older, and returned TO his father
and mother, the Countess could not
give up these visits, and an arrange
ment was made. At the sound of the
Countess bell Irma disappeared, hum
bly, silently.
Sometimes the child was sent to
his grandmama's and spoiled by
both, he loved one as well as the
other. d'Athis absor bed i'm his yer
sea, and his increasing tame, contend
ed himself'by adoring his little RIB
ert He spoke ( him to all the world
and imagined to himself that the
child was his, and his alone. This
illusion could not last.
II wish that you would marryn
his mother said to HIM one day.
Eyes, but the child?"
80 not worry, 1 have discovered
q young girl of noble birth, who is
poor, but adores you. L have made
her known to Robert, and they are
old friends. For the first year or
two, L will keep the precious little
"na with me-" Afterward we will
see.
And that-that girl?" hazarded
the poet, blushiDg little, for it was
the first time he had spoken of Irma
before his mother.
Ban" responded the old dowager
smiling, we will make up pretty
dowry for her, aud she is sure to
marry. The bourgenians of Paris
are not superstitious."
That same evening d'Athis who
had never been wildly in love with
his mistress, told her of these arrange
ments, and found her rs usual, very
submissive and prepared for any,
thing, But on the morrow when
he came home the mother and the
child were gone.
He discovered them at Irma,s
father on the borders of the forest
of Rambouillet, and when the poet
arrived, his son, his little prince, all
in velvet and lace, set on his grand
fathers knees, playing with his pipe
or getting down to run after the
chickens.
D'Athis wished to take the fugi-
tives back with him.
Irma would not hear of this. She
had been turned from the house she