Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-07-29
PLAYING WITH FIRE.


II was five o'clock OF hot August
afternoon at Luc.sur-Mer. The bath
ers were roaming over the beach or
ensconsed In coy, sheltered spots
Women, rosy pink with the heat,
were leisurely crocheting and gos-
siping, emphasizing their remarks
with the movement OF the white ivory
needles Bright-eyed men, their
smiling listeners, idly traced hero
glyphics on the sand. Happy chill
dren, watched over by white-capped
nurses, made mud-pies TO their
hearts content.
Over one small group OF l0ungers
presided young woman. whose pen
siyely graceful, delicate-featured
face was one OF rare sweetness. Her
hair was blonde. her mouth fresh as
child's. while ia her black eyes
quiysred lights and shadows, as on a
placid lake. A crowd OF young men
were gathered about her, each one
anxious TO claim part Of her atten-
tion By some trivial little speech.
Now and then she would quietly
drop word and every one stopped
talking 10 hear and applaud her
Marguerite Helm was Norwegian.
She had married for love a country
man Of hers, a painter. but he had
died soon after Gifted with mar
Velons voice. she had resolved 10
make Il her means Of support
Going 10 Paris. she had shut herself
up for year. with her grief and her
musical studies Her stay al Luc-
su-Mer was the first dissipation OF
her widowhood
just now the conversation had
turned on foreigners difficulty in
using French idloms All her I'D
mirers seized the opportunity 10 com
pliment her on her proiiclence III the
language
Gentlemen, she said. suddenly.
''yol shall each tell me which word
ID ali your language you prefer
After a moments hesitation the
contest began, To the men II was d
preiext for new gaiiantries
Marguerite. sighed one
Norway, murmured another.
love. suddenly exclaimed a boys
undcyelopcd voice voice Just an
dcrKoIng change
The word was SO impnlsivoly ~
tered that every body started. Mar
gucri;e herself bent forward 10 see
the speaker Il was Jacques Lcspar.
mere boy OF almost girlish
beauty. Ills white forehead. his
straight nose. with !ts sensitive nos.
irils. his slender. refined hands all
betokencd good blood. His pcnc-
trating eyes faxed themselves upon
those 81 Nine Helm; hers were filled
with q sweet indnlgont curiosity.
We'll. there really are no more
children. Make way for the young'"
were the remarks heard from the men.
Happily the dinner hour was near,
and the group dispersed jacques
and Nine. Helm remained together
They both felt a little embarrassed at
being alone. and neither knew what
TO say. Finally they began TO talk Of
tho weather. Of the superb days and
warm evenings Then the boy es-
corted Marguerite to her hotel, and
went homo.
Ever since the beginning Of the
season. he had silently admired Nine.
Helm. a subtle fascination ir.
resistibly attracted him TO her.
When she took her morning stroll.
he insiinctivcly walked behind her.
like q dog following his master.
When she sat down on the beach
amid her admirers, he furtiyely
slipped In among them envying. with
all the strength OF his Ingenious
youth, the young men who could
laugh with her or the old gentleman
who called her dear child" How
often he had tried to speak to her!
But the great sadness rising in his
heart az his utter insignificance
would choke the words in his throat.
An orphan from his cradle. he was
alone in the world. A dis.
tant relative had become his guardian
and directed his education, He
managed Jacques
finances and bestowed only scant
upon his ward. The boys
generous nature was starved in this
atmosphere OF. Indifference, aud he
" once loved Marguerite with all /
The energy Of long-suppressed feel
ing. II was his first passion. and,
ike rich spendthrift, he laid at her
Toct ala the treasures Of his heart. |
As to being paid Ia return. he never
Jared 10 think 81 that. lie would /
have been satisfied Il, like priest at
Gods altar, he might be allowed 90 I
Marguerite all his life,
After that August afternoon.
Jacques and Nine Helm were frequent +
y together. They talked over their
plans. and being mutually attracted,
earned TO know each other well.
Every day after breakfast. they
walked on the quay, and the boy
made the young woman his confidaut
heard his gsaee speeches
With q smile, and reciprocated by
yivtn0 mod advice with almost |