The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-07

quite white" said his wife to me. "and
rushed out of the house and went roaming
about the woods like a demented man till
late NJ night. And I have cried every
time 1 have thought of Mr.. Charles, whom,
l knew when he was a baby not
higher than my knee" But per-
haps the most devoted friend that
remains TO the family is NJ. de Lesseps
valet. who since his masters faiths never
left him for more than ten minutes to-
gether, sleeping on mattress In his bed
room and waiting on him patiently all
day and all night. Don't let anyone,
don't care who ii may be-" he says,
come near my master. I will he killed
before any offense shall be put upon him."
And though one Is rather skeptical as to
such professions. I fully believe that In
this case they are sincere. 1t was touch
ing to note with what reverence, when
lunch was served. this valet approached
his master and. mindful of old formalities
of respect. bowed his head and said that
NJ. the Count was served, to note with
what womanly gentleness this strong man
lifted his feeble master up and guided his
tottering steps into the dining-room.
What beautiful family it was TO be
sure that gathered round that table. Paul
with his gIrlish ringiets, Robert also in
curiS and with an Angels face, Helene,
who sat next to her father, with her ies
black hair loose down her back and her
bright eyes, contrasting with the ivory
paior OF her face, worn out as tho poor
child is with care and sorrow and hard
work as her mothers pen woman. Then
there was l.olo, a young lady of Is,
roughly dressed. but of great elegance,
who looked even sadder than the rest, but
who tried to he bright and gay, and on the
other side of her Solanno. who is ono Of
loveiiest girls in France and who, though
she is quite a woman in appear
ance, hates to he considered 30,
and wants to be treated as
child and refuses TO wear long
dresses and loves to climb the trees in the
park and to give picnics to her little broth.
ers and sisters in a mud howell which she
has constructed in the garden. Then there
is Zo-Zi and Griselle. more than twenty in
all round the long oval table. Every now
and then one of the children rises from its
seat and runs up to the old father and
kisses him on the cheek or presses his
hand, and think all envied Helene, who
sat next to him and co1ld caress him
when she liked. l was seated just oppo-
site the old man and l am afraid my pres
ence disturbed him tor he seemed to listen
to what said and to wonder who l was
and what might want. 1 shall never for-
get the sight of him as he faced
me, sunk down in his chair with ono
trembling hand holding his napkin to his
breast and feebly with the other guiding
the morsels to his mouth. He seemed to
eat with some appetite. though under per-
sistent drowsness, which was only shaken
OFF for moment when his wife, who came
in late. took her seat at the table. Then
his head was lifted and bright look came
into his eyes, as if of salute to the heroic
comrade of his life. Whatever Nine. do
Lesseps may have suffered am sure that
she feels herself repaid each time that
those eyes are SO lifted to hers. The de-
jeuner was n simple though ample one,
the menu being in keeping with the man.
ner Of life at the Chesnaye, which IL that
of comfort without ostentation OF
any kind. The rooms are simply
furnished, the people dressed for an out.
door country life. The wine is grown by
Madame De Lesseps herself on vineyards
of her own planting. and Is that grey
wine" which is SO much appreciated by
connoisseurs. 1t has beautiful color in
q cut-giass decanter. The conversation
was hating one. Each tried to be gay:
each tried to forget the deep shadow that
lay over that family gathering. When the
Old mans eyes wandered round the table
in quest Of some one whom he desired but
who was not there. a silence imposed itself
on all. for all knew whom he was seeking
and where that dear one was.
In his buttonhole was Helene's bouquet
of vioets, underneath which peeped out
the rosette of the grand officer of the Los
gion of Honor-alas in jeopardy.