Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-12-30

ITS too much for me all at once" said.
struggling with my hysterical emotion.
Its more'n | can bear. Don't you say
another word to me just for a minute or
two, or I'll make "A fool OF myself again.
But though he did not speak, and turned
away, biting my lip to stop it's quivering,
the tears would spring in my eyes and
choking sobs rise in my throat.
I'm a-goin off. ! think" said |. with a
queer laugh. at length 1T amt so much
these clos and things-it's this kindness
~ comes over me- amt used to it. This
Ii twice I've give way like this. Herep
suddenly turning, in impatience with my
weakness Il amt R-goin to carry on this
here way no more. I'm a-goin to be regular
good. am
Tarls nodded spprovingly, and placing a
chair for me seated himself.
There's the purse you give me, I've only
paid for the boots out of it, said |, offering
the purse.
Keep it, you are sure to want other
things. You may see some ornaments that
you would like for your room-this would
look homelier for a few trifles such as you
girls delight in"
There's somethin in here, though, as |
must give you, 'cause"- Not knowing
what excuse to make. took out the iron
ring had stolen from him In silence and
held it out TO him with a shamed face.
He took IL with smile, and putting it on
told me that II | wanted it again should
have IL, but in a tone which led me 70 think
that there was more in his words than ]
then understood.
At that moment Mere Lucas entered the
room with the soup, and her exclamations
Of astonishment a. she recognized me In
my new gown gave a new turn to our
thoughts Having set down the tureen, she
stepped back, and putting her hands on her
hips surveyed me from head to foot with
smiling admiration, while she conveyed
her thoughts In confidential but perfectly
sudible asides ! distinguished only the
words "elegante" and "propre," but these
just served to whet my appetite for fiat
terry
"She says I'm elegant and proper, but
what else does she sayl" asked eagerly.
"Ahl to understand Mere Lucas cornpli.
ments you must learn French" Taras re-
piled, laughing. Come, let us wee II her
dinner isn't just as nice"
"Dinneri" | exclaimed, why, we've had
one How many do you have a day. for
goodness saker' That dinner stands out in
my recollection as the most delightful |
have ever had. There was greater variety
Of dishes than at "A lunch, and each-espe-
cially a wonderful gateau prepared express
ly for me-was a fresh surprise. The can
dies, clustered round boquet Of bright
flowers and delicate grasses, shed soft
light over the table. the silver glittered. and
the wine shone like ruby in the glasses II
afforded me great satisfaction to be able,
after one or two little accidents, to hold my
knife and fork as Taras did, to forego the
habit OF resting my elbows on the table.
and to find that after all, thanks to my
large French serviette, had not made
single spot on my new gown.
When we had finished our little cups OF
black coffee, ventured to ask Taras what
he usually did in the evening.
"Well, usually saunter along the EN-
bankment for half an hour or so" he re-
piled.
Would you mind me a-goin along with
you Jest for oncey" asked.
He glanced at my dress with moments
hesitation, and then. overcoming his
qualms, said that he should be very happy
10 take me.
"Jest you wait bit" said l. jumping up,
"Pll be down in jiiiy."
The "jiny," | fear. must have been a
rather tedious one to Taras, but at length
came down in my dark skirt, my sealskin
jacket and toque and a pair Of pale kid
gloves.
"What dye think OF me nowi" asked
in exultatian.
Taras purposely restrained himself from
saying all he felt. for fear that praise might
do more harm than good at this time. and
felt littA disappointment when he said
very quietly that my dress was lady like and
graceful.
We walked over Westminster bridge and
along the embankment to the temple and
then back. My walking boots were tight
and pnched my feet cruelty, but had the
pain been 10 times sharper could have
borne it cheerfully and without murmur.
Indeed almost exulted in this suffering
AMI in the effort to conceal the slightest
trace of il from Taras. with the feeling in a
MINOR degree OF martyr enduring torture
for "A great cause. The gain to me was moth
ing less than tremendous. But yesterday
giis stopped to laugh In my face and jeer
at my grotesque distress; now they glanced
at me with looks Of envy. There was moth
ing Iudcrous in my appearance, nothing
anomalous in my walking beside we'll
dressed gentleman. appeared to be his
equal.
Taras himself seemed pleased to have a
companion to talk to-not that said much.
for was unused to taking any part in con
versation; my powers of forming ideas and
expressing them were wholly undeveloped,
and my chief anxiety was to hold my shoul-
ders back like Miss Hopkins and to find II
gait which was neither shuflling nor jerky.
He knew my inability to talk, and no kept
up an easy running chat which called for
nothing beyond yes" or mo- on my part,
remember he told me the history OF Mere
Lucas life-how years ago she had starved