The National tribune., 1893-06-29

stepped from out the "break," which had
been sent 10 Tours to meet us, on to the rose
laden terrace of the castle, where with Mad
anne de Flavelles he stood awaiting our
arrival, he had not ceased to peTsecute Mar
garet with his attentions, and if my cousin
failed to notice this it was only because an
other image had so filled her heart and mind
that she ignored many things which could
not possibly have escaped the eye of the
most casual unprejudiced observer.
How did long to enlighten her on the
subject! But there was so calm and grand
a dignity in her very innocence that it
effectually tied my tongue in so tar as she
was concerned though it did not prevent
my attempting to score some point IN an-
other direction, that l must frankly ac-
knowledge And this is how succeeded in
accomplishing my end.
1t was one bright aud lovely morning
about week or 10 days after our arrival at
Flavelles, and /, coming down stairs with
my hat on, all eager impatience to be OH for
a good long walk IN the beautiful forest
near by, found to my intense dlsappOlnt-
ment that Margaret had promised to assist
la Marguise in overhauling some old cabl-
nets which had not been looked into for
score of years and more, and which were
known to contain many very beautiful and
curious things. Seeing the blank look upon
my face. Madame de Flavelles took from
small inlaid workable a bit of crimson
wool, and putting it into my hand said:
"Tiens. mon enfantl have need of more of
this for my knitting for the poor, and Nam
ette. old Jacques's daughter, who was TO go
in town yesterday, was to get 1T for me. Ii
she has not yet brought 1t here 1t must be
that her father is i'll. Will you go'tO their
cottage and see about il? l assure you you
viii be helping ME greatly"
Now, although l knew this was SAID
merely to give me an excuse for getting out
of doors, | accepted the commission with
alacrity, and moment later, alter calling
"Tom,'' the great black caniche, my one and
only admirer, 1 had made nay way through
the garden and along the aYenue OF chestnut
trees into the leafy depths of the forest be-
yond. 1 knew the road to old Jacquess
cottage well, for it was walk Margaret and
] had already taken several times. How
intensely blue the sky was, seen through
the great bending branches overhead, and
how soft the moss under foot For Tom
and / never thought Of keeping 10 the road,
but were having the widest, mCst utterly
delightful scampers, now In this direction,
now in that; SO that by the time we reached
the cottage l, at least, was pretty well out OF
breath and not sorry for rest.
There l found, as Madame de Flavelles
had thought probable, that Jacques had one
of his bai attacks of rheumatism, and that
Nanette had not dared to be out OF his sight
She had the wool, however, and as she gave.
it to me asked, with smiling glance at my
disheveled locks and crimsoned countenance,
whether Madamoiselle would not have
glass of milk to refresh her after her walk"
This l accepted most thankfully, and as |
replaced the'empty glass on the table, said:
1T must be very pleasant to spend ones
life in such peaceful, lovely spotl In the
country from which / come, Nanette, every
one moves about so constantly that 1t Is rare
to find grown-up people living even in the
same city in which their parents lived. You
were, ! suppose, born in this house, were
you not ?"
aWhyis it that all my life, whenever
have wished to make myself particularly
agreeable, have been sure TO stumble upon
some unfortunate subject OF conversation
just as l did then. In moment Nanette's
frank and open countenance had clouded,
and her eyes had taken q stubborn, angry
look.
"NO, Madem0iselle," she said; +" was
not born here! My father has not been al
ways in the service of Madame la Marquise.
He was formerly gamekeeper TO Monsieur lie
Comie de Saint Armand"
Now, nothing could possibly have been
more inOppOrtune than my expressing any
emotion at those words but the remem-
brance of Madame de Villeneuve's story
flashing suddenly across my mind, l cried
out: What the old Count? The one who
was murdered?" And in voice cold and
hard as ice she answered: Naturally! Since
the other one has never lived here!"
o. my never-ending curiosity! How
many times in my life have had cause 10
repent me Of it, and yet despite the many
severe lessons l have had, it is constantly
breaking out afresh.
But you were only child en,"-this
In my most wheedling and iBgratiaaing
mannsr,-" and cannot, of course. remember
much about the Counts death"
"NOt remember, l." And with flushed
face and eyes like those of a veritable fury,
Nanette moved suddenly toward me, while
Tom-who had been lying at my feet
sprang up, barking furiOusly.
Nanettei" came in a deep-tOned voice
from The adjoining room, and at that warn
ing cali The color died slowly away, the angry
light faded from the honest eyes, and cover
ing her face with her hands, the girl said
'Ah, pardon! Mademoiselle, of course,
could not know. But-though nay fathers
innocence was fully proved-he was sus-
pected at the time, and We could no longer
remain at the Hermitage" This with
proud lifting of the head which many
tragedy queen might have enEied. 1t was
then, when everyone was against u.s. that
Madame la Marquise-like a saint as she is
brought US here, where We have remained
ever since
And what did the other-the young
Count / suppose you would call him-say to
your leaying?"
An, Maiemoisellei what could be say?
He was not here! And though his homme
d'affaires' said we were not TO go, ny fathers
feelings had been too deeply hurt. He was
very proud, my poor father, and no one will
ever know all be suffered in those days.
lie had had no easy life with the old Count
either; but he knew how 10 take him, and
was in fact the only one who dared oppose
him when be was IN one of ms angry moods
Indeed, because Of his very feaElessness, the
Count was continually threatening to send
him away, only TO call for him the next
hour to consult him about his pheasants.
The day before the death Of Monsieur le
COmte, however, there had been most uu-
fortunate scene. Monsieur de Saint Armand
suspected one of the under keepers of dis
honesty. and ordered my father TO discharge
the man Immediately. But he was poor
fellow with large family dependent on