The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-09


hand in mine as we went up the stairs.
a vast staircase. mysterious like ii tenn
pie, and covered with carpet where Our
footballs made no sound. We had talked
of nothing but love. and | was so full of
my subject, | expressed myself with so
much warmth. that a sweet intimacy
was not slow to csta blish itself between
us. We had assembled Il dozen steps amt
found ourselves under the light of the
.candelabra when the young lady
stopped.
Then she said in low voice, you,
too, you love me?'
THAT love is all my life. madam
1t is easy TO say that one loves-but.
the proof
The proof
still held the hand OF the princess,
who looked into my eyes as if 10 read
my soul
Yes" She repeated, the proof"
Had the time 10 improvise an ardent
plea, to tell her all felt. to multiply
words? 1t was impossible. was
wildly excited; u brilliant idea crossed
my mind. And then her eyes were SO
;,lluring! Yielding 20 the irresistible
temptation | caught her in my arms.
and, for All instant, my lips sough,
hers
At last they met. Oh. that was IL kiss
OF despair: a supreme kiss wherein
seemed to lose my life. it was no longer
the princess palpitating in my strong
arms, but the beloved woman who
thrilled at my touch and whose soul
drank. do not know how long it
lasted; we whirled upon the steps.
Then SAW the princess clinging TO the
giided railing, very pale, her eyes
closed She held one hand on her breast
and seemed to no longer breathe As for
me, l tremblcd like Il criminal When
she opened her eyes she frowncd at
first, then her face softcncd and saw
that she tried to smile.
on use singular arguments" she
said in a light tone, from which it was
impossible to divine what was passing
in her mind.
At this moment we heard the sound
of door some one opened. The wait
ing-maid OF the princess came TO tell her
mistress that many callers awaited her.
They were Nine. Gravicr de Mirct and
her three big bachelor sons, the hand
comte de NoInbclles, and the lively
Marquis de- AIusirolles. Mime. de Mirat
ran to embrace the princess.
'Ah, my dear said she. ''you did
no expect to find such IL large conr;
Nobody wanted to go without having
seen vow"
The princess would not allow them
TO depart Immediately, and with hcl'
bewitchin~ grace began to chat. saying
ali the time the prctticst things.
was very little acquainted with this
brilliant company. and the lovers of the
princess especially cast upon ms
stcalthy looks. full of deiiance and
jealousy. But | gave no attention to
them nor 10 the conversation, interest
ing as it was, because a small person
age to whom had not yet been pre-
scented was all the time causing me the
most cruel alarm. This was NJ BON
bon, the dog OF the princess, griffon
of pedigree, Il rare and marvellous
beast as large as my two fists, and who
had cost the price of anoX. 1t is incon-
ccivablc to what extent these little ami
mails, reared in opulcnce, can become
fopp:sh and ridiculously vain. There
is something of the vulgar upstart in
their small heads When / first entered
he sprang from the armchair, where
he was coddling himself in soft drowsi-
ness, and came straight to me. ewing
me from head to foot, showing by most
expressive grimaccs the disdain and as
constituent inspired by a visitor so i'll
dressed. "Why DO they admit people
of that sort?' he seemed TO say. Then.
running around me, he gave long
growl, which doubtless contained all
the abusive language that dog could
utter to man. My boots, above all,
appeared to him monstrous. He touched
them with the tip of his paw, smclled
of them with Disguised air. and car
ried his insolence so far as to
pretend to sncczc. At last he turned
his back on me and walked off. stop
ping now and then to look Sideways at
me. 1t was plain that he would have
had me thrown out ut the door if he
had been able. Hoping that NJ. Bonbon
would cease his impertinences, took n
seat. He was placed on the knees of
his mistress, and, indifferent to the
caresses of the pretty hand that
patted him, he gave me ugly chances
that did not alarm me. Alas he had
other malice in store for me- Presently
he raised his head, his nostrils dilated
right and left, he gave series of little
shifts as fhc inhaled an unaccustomed
odor.
''What is the matter with him now?"
asked myself uneasily. Then a sub
tie cmanation surrounded me. Gradu-
oily the scent became stronger and