The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-18
THE CORNUC0PIA.

1t was 2o'clock. The month, April
between two showers--Aprii, smiling
with sun, under azure sky, with feecy
cloud.driits like bits OF thistie.down.
The carriages rolled noipily, the idle
strollers joyously dawdled through the
crowded streets SO recently washed by a
tepid rain.
Whirling with the rest OF the dark
green brougham OF the Baronne de
Rozier turned the corner OF the Place
de Ia Trinite, passed swiftly the stormy
crossroads OF the Boulevard Hauss-
nann, rolled briskIy down the Chaus-
see d'Antin to suddenly pull up with
Jerk that bounced the baronne like a
ball upon the mellow myrtle green,
gold.bnttoned cushions oil her luXur-
iously appointed equipage.
With the shock came cry, yells,
curses, boots, badinages. She hastily
pulled down the glass to find herself
the central figure oil jostling throng,
talking, ordering, gesticulaIng,, swear.
ing. with that furious sympathy and
exasperation peculiar to excited mobs.
A ragged gamin, with hands in his
rocket, leaped to the carriage step to
thrust his tongue at her; street fakir
Hnied and reviled her with volley OF
slang: the coachman's whip piled right
and left, like an angry blacksnake, and
the baronne, mad with terror, was out
OF the carriage and pushing her way TO
the pavement with the energy OF de-
spair.
Once there, she threw herself into
the first open door-a cake and cream
establishment-passed like bomb into
the ice.cream saloon back OF it to fall
upon chair, pale, breathless, swooning.
She came to herself slowly. Happily
the luncheon hour was over, the pastry
room empty. The shop-girls, with
nothing TO occupy them, were free to
crowd about her pityingly, with all the
zeal Of tender hearts and the remedies
learned from romantic novels. They
loosened her veil, removed her hat, un.
buttoned her coat, and bodice, and the
baronne, hearing everything, the stir
and commotion, but unable to move or
speak, remained inert and strenghtless
upon her chair.
"Come, come, be quiet, girls. She's
all right now, l think" said sonorous,
deep:toned voice "a mans voice, IN
short-rlsing authoritatiyely above the
shriller gatherings Of the excited dam
sells.
The baronne. opening her eyes, saw a
tall form bending over her; also that it
was snugly buttoned into well-f!ting
overcoat; that the red ribbon OF the
Legion OF Honor peeped from under
the left lapel, and the figure was
crowned, as her gaze languidly travelled
higher and higher, with q face that
made her sit bolt upright with little
''You, Richardl"
1t was his turn now to start, gaze at
her blandly, drop her wrist as if it
burned him and repeat the cry:
"You, Armandow
Suddenly resusticated, the baronne
sprang to her feet, rehooked her cor
sage, smoothed down her skirts and her
hair with sweep OF the hand, read
iusted her Ioosened jacket, and once
more turned full upon the astonished
gentleman the dazzling beauty OF her
five and thirty years. Then, content
with herself, sweet as honey, Oerenely
calm, she advanced upon him with out
atrelched hand.
Monsieur, need you stand there as ii
planted? ?" said she.
He bowed profoundly.
'And to think, too, RichNrd"-she
paused on the name doubttully and q
little reproachfully-"that you did not
know me: that you still refuse to speak
to meW
This was too much. The gentlemen
called Orchard" unbent in spite oil
himself.
II really did not" said he. "As for
speaking, you gave me no time. More
over, ma bonnie annie. one does not
seek, as a rule, TO crush old acquaint-
ances precisely in this way. Divorce
even does not warrrnt it"
what il it you say--crush old &C.
Quaintances? raising her hand with
an appealing gesture.
Meanwhile the little mattresses, see.
ing the lady herself again, had acattered
to their usual stations. One only re-
turned with the baronne's chapeau-
apparently tuft OF primroses in lace
rosette-assisted her to pin i: on her
heavy braids, and then she also direct
ly departed. The girl out oil hearing,
the baronne repeated her question.
"What do you mean?" said she.
"What old acquaintance did / crush
and how"
"NIe, Richard Planter, surgeon OF the
Paris hospitals, your own ex-husband
and most obedient servant, madame"
"You"
From head to loot she scanned this
gentleman OF these masterful manners
tall, stately, robust, so much at ease in
his plain, medical garb, and seeming al.
WAYS 10 hide smile in the depths Of
the dark beard rayed here aud there
with thread of gray thai covered the
firm chin. One by one, with the tip OF
her slender finger, she pointed 10 the
silvery hairs.
"Ciagrin!" said he calmly.
She raised her shoulders, smiling
"Bu., seriously, Richard, explain,
Why, repeat, do you say that ! crush
cd you?"
He pushed the chair in which she sat
towards one OF the little tables.
"You will take something, OF course
A bad habit, yes, but plate OF cream