Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-08-01

every tear for Jacques, every smile for
Jacques. She knew not il he were dead
or living. When she was of age, at the
end of the year, then she would know.
Her beauty expanded. Her eyes were
deeper, her form rounder. her skin
frmer, with q glow like polished marble.
She carried her head with u saucy tilt,
her lips melted into smiles, her cheeks
dimpled. They called her Fanchette
the lovable.
When IL months had passed, she put
her arms about her newly found father.
She murmured Jacques name with an
intonat;on Ike ringdove in her voice,
and frown corrugated the old mans
handsome brow. BE flung her aside.
"Ingrateg he cried stormiIy.
Fanchette kissed him sadly and crept
away. just ct that moment she longed
for the starlighted land, the coins that
Father Badeau threw to the poor turkey
driver and the cursesof Mother Hugot
with heartsickness that terrified her,
She never mentioned Jacques name
again. She stole from her home one
night at the hour OF 1a. She paused be-
yond IN the corridor and gave one glance
behind at the luxury wrapped nest she
had quilted. She saw the gilded panels,
shining mirrors rejecting painted cell
ings hung in roses with frieEe of Gu
pids, soft, rich carpets and lace hung
bed where dreams of Jacques had cir
cled round her drowsy head.
She saw her tiny satin shoes, subtly
suggestive of Incidence and with a
touch of personality seeming to cling
about them still as they lay discarded ON
the white fur rug before the scented fire
Her glance wandered to an open chest
of antique wood hard by, heaped up with
the choicest treasures of tho lnilliner's
art. Here fan coquetted with an opera
cloak, there dainty ball gown spread
its fimsy fiounces over a Parisinn bonnet
laden with purple violets.
She dropped u tear, she burst into q
sob. Her womAn's heart cried out after
all this luxury. Her better nature yShis-
pered Jacques name into her ear. The
tear became as rainbow touched by
her smile. She turned and fed, crying.
1.-THE world is well lost for love, my
Jacquesl comei comeI'
In the old familiar trysting spot at
last, waiting for her lover, she echoed
those words. She crouched down and
kissed the turf and the star eyed mar-
guerites and laughed to herself softly
and gleefully.
She heard his step at last. She arose
with new shyness born of her fresh
beauty and her solemn joy.
"Jacques"
What, Fauchettel Youl whatl Fam
chette in the rags OF the turkey grip he
stammered.
"Oh, yes, Jacques, yes! The turkey
girl, Fanchette, whom you love. Not
the lady Fanchette ever againl I am
yours, Jacques, yoursi"
BE dropped his hat from his hand. HyJ
rugged face paled and his lips quivered.
She thought his joy unnamed him.
he put both hands over his face and
stood SO, abashed before her dewy eyes.
She brushed his hands with her red lips
and whispered to him:
Look up, my jacques! Surely you
will speak to your own Fanchette? Oh,
he, friend Jacques, tears for JOY, for
soothi Methinks that is worthy of q
woman. WhatI Will you not look Mt
meS They say that am greatly changed
"a beauty, Jacques. your little Fam
chettel Are you not gladr'
She was sobbing and laughing and
clinging to him, the moon showing her
dimples, and her soft, quivering lips.
and her new great beauty TO him in a
maddening way. Her hair fell around
him. her warm arms were laid upon his
shoulders, she was leaning against him,
delicious in her womanly gladness. But
he did not touch her after the first invol-
untary caress. He dropped upon one
knee at her feet and laid his face against
her hand.
Their star on high looked down upon
them benignly.
Look, Jacques, look-our start Do
not kneel to me, my own Jacques, do
not, prayI See, it is smiling at us-it
is happy, too. The year is past, is past,
Jacques, let us thank the good God to-
gether. But first viii you not kiss mep
Am 1 to sue for it, then? Dear friend,
do not give way thus. am here, close
beside you, Jacques. will never, never
leave you now, love, unless you bid me
goy"
al bid you CO."
The voice was hoarse, agonized with
deathly anguish in its modulations.
'tJacquesP'
'I am mRrriedF'
He caught her, held her to him as her
eyes closed and cursed himself.
"Fanchette, Fanchette, look up and
hsteni My God, hate myself mar
ried Rosamond Cartier six months ago.
Thought you would not come back.
Father influenced me-
"Don'tT' Fanchette said.
She seemed more beautiful than ever
when she stood up again. But Jaques
could not bear to look at her.
She slipped away from him over the
grass toward Mother Hugot's house.
Come to our house, Fanchette," !" he
pleaded.
Butshe shook her head, lifted the latch
and went in.
She is the turkey tender once again.
She sees Jacques wife roll by in her
carriage. She is humble and patient,
but she prays the old prayer no more.
All that remains of the past are the
stars, and ON calm nights. when she
looks ont of her window she still fancies
as she weeps herself into troubled dream
land that Jacques is once again claim
ing kiss for every star in the crowded
heavens. .-Exchange