Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-12-07
just served TO whct my appetite for fiat


"She says I'm elegant and proper, but
what else docs She say" asked eagerly.
"Ahl to understand Mere Lucas compli-
ments you mist learn French" Taras re-
piled, laughing. Come, let us see if her
dinner isn't Just as nice
"Dinner!' | exclaimed, why, we've had
one. How many do you have a day, for
goodness sakeY' That dinner stands out in
nv recollection as the most delightful |
have ever had. There was greater variety
of dishes than at a lunch, and each-espe-
rialy n wonderful gatcau prepared express
ly for me-was Il fresh surprise The can
dies. clustered round a boquet of bright
flowers and delicate grasses, shed soft
light overthe table, the silver glittered. and
The wine shore like ruby in the glasses 1t
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 nv elbows on the table
ann to hnd tnat after ali, thanks to my
large French serviette, l had not made Il
single spot on my new gown.
When we had finished our little cups of
black coffee, venturcd TO ask Taras what
he usually did in the evening.
"Wcll, usually | saunter along the en-
bankmrnt for half an hour or So" he re-
piled.
Would you mind me a-goin along with
you Jest for once" | asked.
He glanced at my dress with moments
hesitation, and then, overcoming his
qualms, said chat he should be very happy
to take me.
Jest you wait bit - said l, jumping up.
"I'll be down III 2 jiiy."
The "Jidy," | fear, must have been
rather tedious one to Iaras, but at length
lcame down in my Clark skirt, my scalskin
jacket and toque and a pair of pale kid
gloves.
"What dye think Of me now?" I asked
In eXultGton.
Taras purposely restrained himself from
saying all Le felt, for fear that praise might
do Iaore harm than good at this time. and
felt little disappointment when he said
( very quietly that my dress was lad ylil;e and
graceful.
We walked over Westminster bridge and
along the cmbankmcut TO the temple and
thea back Ny walking boots were tight
and pinched my feet cruelly, bat had the
pain been 10 times sharper l could have
borne it cheerlully and without n murmur.
Indeed almost eXjltod in this suffering
and in the effort to conceal the slightest
trace Of it from TaraS. with the feeling in
minor degree of a martyr enduring torture
Tor a great cause Inc gam to me was moth
in& less than Tremendous But yesterday
E!iIS stopped 70 iauSn in my ince and Jeer
Z. my Eio'esquc mistress; now they glanced
a0 me- WIN LOOKS O. envy. there was moth
''l8 l"ulcfou' III my appearance. nothing
.I'''''",o"S III my waking beside Wen
u'esscu gentleman appeared 10 be his
| e4r''
4; ~
iaraS himself seemed pleased to have a
companion totalN to-not that said much,
'or was unused TO taxing any part in con
Fer''lloh' my powers OF forming ideas and
''s"-llS Iae'A were "hoA! 'ihoeVcloped,
ana my chie, ANXIETY wa I" hold my shoul-
uefS p''cS ike MISS liop"nlS ana to ma a
Eo4t winch was neither snu!hlng nor 1crky.
ne ANe" my lhanIl'y TO tax, ana 80 kept
up an easy running chat which called for
no'h'hS BEYOND yes or no on my part.
remember he told me the history Of Mere
LuG%S mellow Years ago she had starved
with h'F husband IN heSieged Paris, when
even the ricn could not get food how she
mao fought BESIDE nm on the barbados
where he was Killed; how she herself mar
roWly escaped DelnB shot with other com
fnuhlsts only TO De transported to an island
lAous!hNs or E!lIcs from Eer country and
lr4eh"', ana now, on her return to Paris,
she found her chlldr2ndcad and not a friend
to help her.
she don't look Ike as II she'd gone
through al mat, SAD l.
NO; TINE brings iorgetfulness' thank
Got. he replied. But 1t struck me even
tAon that the Old woman owed more to his
humanity than TO time.
n gentleman stood with his hand on the
knocker as we reached our door