The herald., 1893-07-30

- k@%hH'~~f r~-~~
Der arms about her newly found father.
bhs murmured lacquer name with IN
lntonation like ringdove in her voice,
and frown corrugated the old mans
handsome brow. He flung her aside.
''Ingratsi" he cried stormily.
Fanchette kissed him sadly and crept
sway. just at that moment she longed
for the starlighted land, the coins that
Father Badeau threw to the poor turkey
driver and the curses of Mother Hugot
with heartsickness that terrified her.
She never mentioned Jacques name
again. She stole from her home one
night at the hour Of 10. She paused be-
yond in tho 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 friexe 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 indolence and with
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 the millinerB
art. Here fan coquetted with an opera
cloak, there dainty ball gown spread
it's fimsy founces over a Partisan bonnet
laden with purple violets.
She dropped tear, she burst into a
sob. Her woman's heart cried out after
all this luxury. Her better nature whis-
pered Jacques name into her ear. The
tear became as rainbow touched by
her smile. She turned and fed, crying.
"The world is well lost for love, my
Jacquesl comet come"
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 a new shyness born Of her fresh
beauty and her solemn joy.
"Jacquesr'
"What, Fanchettcl You'll What! Fan
Ghetto in the rags of the turkey girlr' he
stammered.
"Oh, yes, jacques, yesl The turkey
girl, Fanchette, whom you love. Not
the lady Fanchette ever againi ! am
yours, jacques, yoursi'
He dropped his hat from his hand. His
rugged face paled and his lips quivered.
She thought his JOY unnamed him.
He put both hands over his face and
stood 80. abashed before her dewy eyes.
She brushed his hands with her red lips
and whispered to him:
Look up, my Jacquesi Surely You
will speak to your own Fanchette? Oh.
He. friend Jacques, tears for Joy, for
soothi Methinks that is worthy Of a
woman. What! viii you not look at
me? They say that am greatly changed
"A beauty, Jacques, your little Fan.
chette Are you not glads"
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 lie. 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 agai'.
her hand.
Their star on high looked down upon
them benigniy.. D'1 '''' pls
''Look, Jacques lookZc--- FstHrl Do
not kneel to me, my OWL JACQUES, do
not, prayl 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 will you not kiss me3
Am / to sue for 1t. 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
go?"
II bid you CO."
Tho voice was hoarse, agonized with
deathly anguish in its modulations.
jacques
II am married."
He caught her, held her to him as her
eyes closed and cursed himself.
"Fanchette, Fanchette, look up and
listen! Ny God. hato myself mar
ried Rosamond Cartier six months ago.
Thought sou would not come back.
Father influenced n-e"-
"Don'tr' ranthetto said.
She seemed more beautiful than ever
when she stood mp again. But Jaques
could not bear to look at her.
She slipped away from him over the
grass toward Mother Hugot's house.
"Como to Our house, Fanchette," he
pleaded.
Bat she 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 out of her window she still fancies
as she weeps horself into troubled dream
land that Jacques is once again claim
ing kiss for every star in the crowded
heAvens.-Exchange.