The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-05-06
Chapter LIN. Continually

Chapter LII. Continued.)
mo, I will not; he is a rustic, but he
does not look wicked. Indeed, I have
conceived a sort of admiration for
him, and you are too generous, T am
sure, to nurse your prejudice against
him, though, anyhow. you have no req
son to be afraid Of him, since he car
ries no sword and your sister Anne is
always by YOU"
"Bravo!" laughed the lght-hearted
girl; Il must give up since everybody
Is against mel even promise not to
run away when he comes, and to put
my best work on the picture. Shall I
be taken into favor again, on these con
ditions?'
Lame answered her by a kiss, while
l arranged the easel and colors, when
she set to work, succeeding marvel
ously.
Our millionaire ought to be more
than contented, for you never did SO
we'll before. 1 am almost sorry you
refused the bank-note. You are giving
him ten times the value of his money"
"That shall be my revengew
w.
Anthime Barbejean was exact in
keeping his appointment. The ladies
received him with the simple polite
ness habitual with them. The admira-
ton he expressed when his "Valley Of
Tongues was presented him had a
simple charm which is the most fiat
tering of eulogists for artists.
There is the very spot where I first
saw you," pointing to it with his finger.
THAT has been my favorite walk from
childhood, especially on summer after
moons when, just before sunset, the
mists rise from the sea. For me this
is more than a picture-it is a memory.
I thank you, Mademoiselle, I thank
you!" Shyly and awkwardly he placed
the painting ON the. chair from. which
he had risen, and, taking a small roll
from his pocket, he offered it to Lame.
She hesitated a moment before &C
cepting it, but Barbejean said quickly:
you need have no fear, it is only
fifty francs. 1 shall not repeat my in
discretion of the other day. But 1
should be very glad Of other sketches
Of my domains at the same price. Pray
do not refuse me, the obligation will
be mine."
But how can we know"
'"That will be easy, and without i'm
posing on you my advice or company.
Go anywhere you like about Trouville
and ask the first peasant you meet
which are my Iands-then select for
yourself. When finished send the pict-
ures to me. My house is as well known
al my other property. May I hope you
|. will do this, Mademoiselle?"
1--WE promise you, yes, and are CRATE
full for your OFFER" said Lame. But
this did not satisfy the young man, for,
turning to Alice, he Intercepted her by
q look.
Il ratify the promise my sister has
made" she said. you shall have all
the water-colors I can do while in Trou-
| vilIe." .a
'Thanks!' cried Anthime in frank
delight; II am your servant" Then
all his former embarrassment returned,
and he retired covered with bushes.
Poor fellow!' said Lame for the Sec
ond time. .s
Really he improves on acquaintance.
He gave his orders to-day with aston
ishing ~delicacy," was Alice's verdict.
V.
Some days after, I met Barbejean
/ 1GCC " luCC dS J. was 1ChtlhS " snip OA
the quai. We bowed, but exchanged
no words. Several times we passed
each other in I'll promenade, and I
could see that he wished to speak to
me. So, under pretext of a cigar, I
stopped and asked for a light.
with pleasure" he replied; in a tone
which proved it was not a mere repe-
tition Of an idle formula. My cigar lit,
Vx,1 rxyolIyn1 ci1o hv cf1n nynh0nuinp
the usual trivialities of conversation,
until he paused suddenly, and. looking
me full in the face, said, care you a
relative of the Mademoiselles Theve-
not?"
II have not that honor. I am only
their friend" 49,
"Have yoq known them long?"
Scarcely a month";
"Yet you seem very intimate with
themY
would you like to know the history
of this intimacyY"
Indeed l should"
I then told him what I have here
/ written. s""Then,'' he said, these ladies
are without family and have no fort
une except what they gain by their
| own haEG.-so much the better::'
49, AAo" ~ AAAoSA ~AS OSSS~
The young nabob avoided an ex-
| PLANTATION, but blushed to the roots of
his hair, for this giant was sensitive as
q schoolgirl. There was a moments
pause, when AAthiMe observed with
| sincere warmth, .atFfhe eldest appears to
be an admirable character! =
IAN admirable character!' I repeated
In the same tone.
but the youngest is very pretty"
every pretty, indeed! You have no.
ticed that, have youy"
At this Barbejean again became
scarlet. A second pause ensued, during
which made q motion TO leave him.
But he stopped me. HShail speak
frankly to your IN
rRpeak mr.
AT first | thought yop were the lover
Of these ladies'"
"Of both?"
"No, Of one or the other"
Monsieur Barbejean, I replied with
sternness, ALLOW me to Inform you
that, in the first place, I am not gallant
by nature; and that in the second, your
s~upposition is q gross insult TO y
angels of purity"
/ expected to see the giant tussn pur-
pie with rage, o. perhaps choke me IN
his wrath. But instead Of that his
/ breast heayed as IL a mountains
weight had been lifted from II, and q
fash OF joy ilumined his eyes as he
said: "You have given me more pleas
nre than / can tell, and, grasping my
hand till 1t ached, he dashed away up
the rocky hill. Reaching a small eleva,
lion he stopped, and gazed long 10 the
direction Of the tiny house le occupied py
the sisters.
$50 this Norman bear is In love with