The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-04
The CHATEAU OF PRINCE POLIGNAC.

ambassadors
Mrs. Thompson. holding Mimmy by the
hand. walked into the room some few
minutes after the last bell had been rung
and took the place which was now hers
by custom. The gentlemen who constant
~ frequented the house all bowed 10 her.
but NJ. Lacordaire rose from his seat and
offered her his hand.
And how is Mees Meemy this morn
ing?" said he; for twas thus he always
pronounced her name.
Miss Mimmy. answering for herself. de-
clared that she was very well, and sug-
gested that NJ. Lacordalre should give
her fig from off a dish that was placed
Immediately before him on the table. This
NJ. Lacordaire did, presenting 1t very ele-
gantly between his two fingers. and max
ing bow 10 the little lady as he did So
''Fie, AIimmyr' said her mother: why
do you ask for the things before the
waiter brings them around?"
But mamma said Mimmy, speaking
English, M. Lacordaire always gives me
fig every morning"
IN. Lacordaire always spoils you, I
Think" answered Mrs. Thompson, in
French. And then they went thoroughly
TO work at their breakfast During the
whole meal NJ. Lacordaire attended as
siduously to his neighbor; and did so with
out any evil result, except that one
Frenchman with a black mOustache at the
head of the table trod on the toe Of an
other Frenchman with another black
just as NJ. Lacordaire. having selected
a bunch of grapes, put it on Mrs. Thomp-
sons plate with infinite grace. But who
among us all is free from such i'm
pertinences as these?
But madame really must see the
chateau of Prince Polignac before she
leaves lie Puy," said NJ. Lacordaire.
1.-THE chateau of who?" asked Mimmy,
to whose young ears the French words
were already becoming fSmiliar.
Dali Vii
really don't know, NJ. Lacordaire; have
seen a great deal of the place already,
and l shall be going now very soon; prob
ably in a day or two" said Mrs. Thomp-
son.
But madame must positively see the
chateau" said NJ. Lacordaire, very i'm
pressively: and then after a pause he
added. IF madame will have the COM
plaisance 10 commission me to procure
a carriage for this afternoon and will
allow me the honor to be her guide. 1
shall consider myself one of the most
fortunate of men,
oh yes, mamma. do 60" said Mimmy,
clapping her hands. And it is Thurs
day. and Lillian can go with us"
BE quiet, Mimmy, do Thank you,
no. NJ. Lacordaire. 1 could not go today
but l am extremely obliged for your
politeness.'
NJ. Lacordaire still pressed the matter
and Mrs. Thompson still declined, till
it was time to rise from the table. She
then declared that she did not think il
possible that she should visit the chateau
before she left lie Puy: but that she
would give him an answer at dinner.
The most tedious time in the day 10
Mrs. Thompson were the two hours after
breakfast. At l o'clock she daily went 10
the school, taking Mimmy. who for an
hour or two shared her sisters lessons.
This and her little excursions about the
place, and her shopping. managed TO
la -tr-fth hor of in,
the evening she generally saw something
of VI. LacOrdaire. But those two hours
after breakfast were hard Of killing.
on this occasion. when she gained her
own room, she, as usual placed MmmY
on the sofa with a needle. Her custom
then was to take up novel; but on this
morning she sat herself down in her arm
chair and resting her head upon her
hand and elbow, began to turn over Ger
tain circumstances in her mind.
Mamma" said Mimmy why don't
you go with NJ. Lacordaire to that place
belonging TO The prince? Prince-Polly
something, wasn't it?''
Mind your work, my dear" said Mrs.
But do so wish you'd go, mamma
What was the princes name?"
"Polignac.'
Mamma, amt princes very great peo-
ple?"
YES. my dear sometimes"
rs Prince Polly-nac like our Prince
Alfred"
NO. my dear; not at all. At least,
SUPPOSE not
Us his mother a queen?"
NO. my dear"
Then his father must be a king?"
NO, my dear 1t is quite a different
thing here. Here in France they have
= great many princes"
well, at any rate l should like to see
a princes cha teau; SO 1 do hope you'll
60" And then there was a pause
Mamma, could it come to pass. here in
France, that NJ Lacordaire should ever
be a prince
M Lacordaire a prince, No: don't
talk such nonsense, but mind your
work.
Isn't NJ. Lacordaire a very nice man?
Amt YOU very fond of him.
To this question Mrs. Thompson made
no answer.
Mamma" continued Mimmy, after
moments pause, won't you tell me
whether you are fond Of NJ. Lacordaire?
I'm quite sure of this-that he's very
fond Of you"
What makes you think that?" asked
| Mrs Thompson. who could not bring
! herself TO refrain from the question.
Because he looks at you in that way,
mamma. and and squeezes your hand"
Nonsense child said Mrs. Thomps IN;
hold your tongue. | don't know what
can have put such stuff into your head"
But he does, mamma" said Mimuy,
who rarely allowed her mother to put
her down
Mrs Thompson made no further an
swer, but again sat with her head rest
ing on her hand She also, if the truth
must be told. was thinking of NJ LacOr-
daire and his fOndness for herself. He
had squeezed her hand and he had looked
into her face. However much ii may
have been nonsense on Mimny's part to
talk Of such things, they had not the less
absolutely occurred. Was il really the
fact that NJ. LacOrdaire was in love with
her?
And if so, what return should She or
could she, make 10 such a passion? He
had looked at her yesterday and
squeezed her hand today. Might it not
be probable that he would advance a
step further tomorrow? If so, what an
swer would be she be prepared to make
to him?
She did not think-so she said to her
self-that she had any particular objec-
ton to marrying again. Thompson had
been dead now for four years, and neith-
er his friends nor her friends, nor the
score. And to marrying a French
within herself any absolute repugnance
to doing that OF her own country,
speaking of England as such, she, in
truth, knew but little, and perhaps
cared less. She had gone TO India al
most as a child, and England had not
been specially kind to her on her return.
She had found it dull and cold, stiff, and
almost ill-natured. People there had not