Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-01-24
THE BARoN'S FAIRY.

-E. Nesbit. in Leisure Hours.
THE BARON'S FAIRY.
An of Comtesse d'Eon's guests had
left the chateau that afternoon for fox
hunt. There were more than sixty OF
them and they were pretty well tired
out, for there had been cotillon the
night before and it had itself been pro-
ceded by long excursion. For Com
tesse d Eon was an indefatigable hostess
the more SO that she wished to prove
to her guests that she was the youngest
woman among them She knew that
often when she presisted in waltlng
until dawn people wondered audibly
what her age might be. And nothing
wounded her so much as to hear people
say: .' My dear countess, you are simply
astonishing, for she know how they
added under their breath q at your age. "a
Her age2-how absurd a woman's
age is not a proper subject for speculn-
ton. And what q terrible epoch this
nineteenth century Is, with its registers
its marriage certificates, its contracts, its
notarial acts, in which birth dates are
inscribed in plain black and white Real
ly, if Comtesse dsEon did not like to
contemplate the idea of marrying of his
daughter Marguerite it was because she
was Mortified at the idea of the notary
reading out before everybody
!" Mime. la Comtesse d d'Eon, born in the
year.
She revealed her age to no one, not
even to Baron de Chaulaye. her latest
conquest-to whom she was no more than
a friend. for the countess had long since
ceased to wage the battle of loves. She
preferred simply to DO courted, to be
made confdante of, to be treated like q
pretty woman who does not disdain to
enter the lists, but with whom one dare
not go too far ; a ehnste salute imprinted
on her finger tips, chatter that sailed
close to the wind, and an occasional mo-
ment of torgetfulness in the waltz were
the only favors that she allowed.
Thesbaron had OWNED all this. and he
had been delighted to find a pretty
woman with whom he could hirt a bit
without compromising himself and with
out fear of q CALLING chain.
When you are tired of paying court
to me, " the countess had said TO him,
I'VE must marry you of.
Why" he exclaimed. ''is your
daughter old enough"
What, Cendrinette9" the countess
had exclaimed, with q merry laugh /;
she is a child-A nero infant.l
She is a very pretty infant, then.
Why, she has doll in her room yet. ''
But why do you call her Cendri.
netter"
" Because she is a blonde cendre, she
has hair the color of ashes. 1t was the
count who gave her the name. But evil
tongues viii tell You she ought to be
called Cinderella. I"
ave the evil tongues nothing 70
bak- their remark uponf' asked the
baron. with touch of irony
a. My dear baron, . said the countess,
piqued, 81 bring up my child as seems
to me best." "
There was nothing moro to be said,
and the baron even took to dropping
the g mademoiseIle y when he met the
countess's daughter, addressing her
jauntily with a Good morning Cendri.
/ nette."
This hunt struck him as wearincsE
of the flesh, for the countess had hurried
of all her guests and he had no one ia
talk to. BE began to feel irritated, and
even worked up sort of pity for the FOX
that was being run to earth and for the
dogs that would tear it to pieces. Pres
emily he saw that he would be too late tc
join in the chase.
Who knows, he murmured, " If the
fox should stumble on me just now what
wouldI do, who have just been plead
ing his causef'' And, after moments
reflection. he turned his horses head and
returned to the chateau, thinking of the
| pleasant time he would have all alone.
" / shall go to the smokng-room and
get one of those cigars that came last
night and go to the library for the little
edition of Musset. Then can go to my
room and dream away the morning"
"Wen, I shall find something IL
dream about simply by catching whit
OF perfume from the bouquet of autumn
Il flowers that is put in my room ever
day. It is a curious thing-none of thu
other men have bouquets Of flower
given them, and flowers are very rar,
Just now. Yet every day the flowers OF
my table are changed, and beside them
hnd delicious little bunch of yiolets
The countess is certainly very thought
full for her friends"
!, Presently he arrived at the chateau.
There is no one at home, sir. ven
tured the surprised servant, as he tool
the baron's horse
So much the better. But though
several of the ladies did not hunt"
They have driven over to visit som
neighbors, sir
So he was entirely alone, and naste
OF the chateau. Well, he would enjo.
1t. though he had never cared for soil
{ tude. he went into the smoking room
and looked for the box of cigars. Th
box was there, nnt it was empty.
This is nuisancel' he exclaimed
Some servant. suppose. Such cigar
should be kept under lock and key
There were fully dozen left last night.
He ccnsoled himself by taking a ciga
from another box and then thought o
that volume of Musset that he hal
s glanced through on the preceding eve
ming. He had read page Of Il 10 tn
countess while Ccndrinette was pouring
tea. He could easily fnd It, for he has
n himself put 1t back N tho case.
The library was IN perfect order. bu
: IN the place whore he had put the bool
q he saw nothing but blank space
Here's a run Of Iuckl' he muttered
"I might better have followed tn
hunters. III wager / do not eyen sc
| my bouquet to-day, . and, depressed b,