The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-04-27
CHAPTER VII Continued.)

hTtGen or she might have been twenty
| for she had the simple grace of Il young
| girl and also the modest dignity of ma
| turity. She greeted us with graceful
| courtesy, and when we made known
| our wishes put the house and Ill it con
l tanned at our disposal. Then turning
| to the maid. who stood watching hel
in openmouthed admiration, she said:
Light a fire in the small parlor
| Toinette. The ladies are wet and we
1 must dry their clothing" SIS.
Eyes, Man'selle Rine," and the girl
| disappeared through a door opening
| into the right wing of the house.
You are too kind; all we desire is
1 shelter till the storm has abated, Made
| moiselle Rine," protested Lame.
"Cesarine! and most happy to be of
| service to you in the absence of the
master of the house."
You are his wife? asked Alice, In
| quisitively.
"Oh, no!' was the smiling reply; 81
am his granddaughter. But come, you
must not sit longer in those wet
| clothes"
In vain did the sisters protest. They
| were shown into a room where a wood
| fire cracked and blaZed on the open
hearth. Pretty paper covered the walls;
| two long windows opened upon de-
| lightfuG landscape; workable, sofa,
easy chairs, inlaid cabinet, rosewood
wardrobe and a piano completed the
| furnishing Of the room.
| You are a musician" asked Lame,
| with interest.
"A very poor one. / studied music
some. A few months since l came
| home to keep house for him; it is the
| least can do, he is so generous toward
me-"
While talking, Cesarine had opened
| drawers and closets, displaying with
considerable pride not only number of
| Norman toilettes, but a profusion of
laces and jewels and Partisan dresses.
She then requested me to leave the
room shutting the door after me when
I did so.
A good fire was blazing in the hall,
where Toinette brought me dry cloth
ing and stood guard over me until I
| had made the change which Nam selle
Rine had ordered.
Hurry up" said my singular valet;
the master is larger than you, and
you'll find yourself more comfortable
| when you are dressed"
And she was right. When I found
myself dry and before warm fire, l
experienced a delightful emotion Of
Well being, though Toinette laughed
aloud at the droll figure I cut in my
peasant attire. My companions soon
| made their appearance, Lame in a plain
robe of gray merinO, a black apron, a
frilled fichu, and one of those dainty
little caps called canipettes. Alice had
chosen grand holiday costume-short
| dress of purple silk buckled shoes,
| pigeons ruff and a splendid cap en-
| broidered with red on silver cloth, and
fastened with long gold pins. They
were both lovely in their novel dress,
Alice especially.
What a pretty farmers wife you
| would make, mademoiselle," cried
CeSarine, admiringly.
Thanks: I should like nothing better,
| particularly since 1 have seen you,"
Alice smilingly replied.
The conversation was interrupted by
| the noise of wheels Cn the gravel drive
| leading to the house. The coachman
entered directly after, bearing a square
bundle carefully envelOped in rubber
| cloth.
Put it On the table, Jean, and give
the horses a double ration of oats.
| They need it, poor beasts, after a
| Journey in such weather as this"
Unfolding paper after paper, hand
some gilt frame appeared. In it was
| Alice's last water-cOlor.
isn't that lovely? My godfather has
| two or three others in his room, and
you should see how he values them
He will sit before them for hours, so
| that if did not go for him myself, he
would frequently forget his dinner-he
| who used never to be able to sit still
ten minutes at a time, and was always
hungry before his meals were rea(y.
But" said Lame, as soon as she had
| opportunity to speak, "are we in the
house of Monsieur Barbejean"
DO you know my godfather?
MY sister painted that picture"
Alice! Alice Thevenot! How stupid
of me not to recognize you, my god
| father has spoken of you so often, and
| If Mademoiselle Lame too. How de-
lighted he will be to see you here! But
| he cannot be far away, and will send
| for him."
We argued every excuse we could de-
| wise to prevent her carrying out her
Intention, saying the storm was almost
| over, that is was growing late, and it
| was absolutely necessary we should 60
But Cesarine lent a deaf ear to all,
until Lame finally said, resolutely: DO
| not urge us further dear child, we can
not remain"
But why?"
What would be said if it were
known that we were here in the house
| of young manT'
But it is my house too; l live here
In perfect security No! no! your rea-
4 oil ha1
| Toinette! But stay, there is my god
father himself" as a door opened and
| Barbejean stood on the threshold. To
paint the joyful surprise in his face
| would be Impossible. Cesarine, with q
smile worthy of an artists pencil, said:
| "Are you not glad to see them here
| godfatherY
Poor Anthime was too much excited
to say word.
Monsieur" I said, "these ladies are
very grateful to your amaible god
| father for the hospitality she has
shown them, but it is necessary they
| should leave now, while she seems dis
posed to hold them prisoners in her
kindness of heart"
Let them act their own pleasure, my
child, though If they could have spared
us an hour we should have been very
glad, Rine and l, would we not?'
YES" she said, with a supplicating
gesture toward the sisters.
Believe me that it costs much to re-
fuse you, but Alices pupils expect her"
Her pupils" echoed Barbejean.
"Mademoiselle gives lessons then?"
Eyes, Monsieur"
"And If I wished to study water
colors would she teach me?"
Impossible! my sister can only have
children and ladies for pupils, as you
can readily understand"
True true! but Rine, would you not
like to paint a Hitler
with Mademoiselle Alice for q
teacher? Yes, that would be delight
full" Barbejean turned toward the
| !adies-and said, "Will you have her"
'Will you" repeated Cesarine, TAX
ing hand of each-could they refuse
| 1t was Alice who consented first
How charming! Come, let us get
ready have my first lesson to-day"
'There is no necessity for hurrying.