Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1894-08-11
THE BEAUTY SPOT.

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played about her forehead like swarm Of
butterflies. Her manner was trifle pet
ulant. His eyes looked down; his express
sion was solemn; the pink of his cheeks
colored to carnation and purple at the
lightest jest.
She had just finished her studies at the
Abbaye- aux Bois She knew enough OF
history not to ask if the then reigning
king, Louis XVI, were the son of his pred
eccssor, Louis XIV; enough of geography
not to place the Seine at Lyons, as Nine.
de Talleyrand had done.
He, destined at first for the priesthood,
was Just fresh from the college of the Jes-
uits, his head muddled with scholasticism
and crammed with theology. Comment
ing OH the fathers Of the church, digging
into Ecclesiastes, he was insensible to ev-
cry other pleasure. In fact, he was awk-
ward, timid, embarrassed, as little an ex-
pert in the art Of music as he was in the
art of dancing.
The grandparents had decided to unite
this young couple, and the old marquis
was severely scolding his offspring for the
lack of ardor he manifested in fulfilling
his wishes.
Remember, sir, that by the death Of
your elder brother the preservation of our
race devolves on you. Rid yourself of this
humble manner that you should have put
off with your cassock and comport your
self as worthy scion Of q race that never
WINGED before blade, glass or cotillon."
"Oh, sir!" said the young man modestly.
"Now you are as red as cherry
Zounds, sir, you are no longer in the semi
nary. What will you choose? The sword?"
"N-no STRIP
"Winep"
"No, sir!"
Pretty girls9"
ooh, no, sir!''
Really? And why not, beg Of you'"
because my confessor has told Inc
many times they are the DEVILS snares
that drag men to destruction, and would
seek salvation, if you please, sir"
Tut, tut! 1t plcases me to have you do
my will. have chosen a flancee for you
who is worthy of you by her birth, her
youth, her mind and her beauty What
more do you wantS"
Much less, sir. +"
Nonsense! My word is given. You
must honor it, The presentation will take
place this evening at Tho ball ye- iii
see Mile d d'Estournel at her best. Endeav-
or not to displcase her"
"But, sir"-
Enough. You will find q costume in
your room more suitable than this funer-
al garb. Jasmin will help you dress Go,
my son."
A fathers orders were not to be disput-
ed, and the would be abbe, heaving deep
sigh, followed the valet dc chambre, into
whose hands he meekly abandoned HIM
self. Jasmin powdered and curled his hair,
replaced his coarse pumps with fine slip
pers with silver buckles, his common lin
en- with shirt of fine fabric with a lace
frill. Sylvandre endured these attentions
with a good enough grace, but when no
saw the coquettish suit prepared for his
use he gave a sudden start What, he,
the grave theologian, the fluent philoso-
pher, the pride Of the Jesuit college, to be
clothed in such profane costume! What
would the Rev. Father Damase say, whose
threadbare cassock seemed to the young
neophyte the emblem of all the virtuesp
No, never, never, never!
Leave me, Jasnin. shall finish my
toilet myself.
Left alone, he threw glance that be-
trayed something of regret upon the hello
trope coat, with It's silver embroideries. 1t
might have been tempting. 1t might have
been irresistible. But resisting the temp
tations of tho evil one he pondered over a
plan that had germinated in his brain un-
der the skillfully manipulated comb OF
Jasmin--a plan that would have greatly
reioiced his pious director and exceedingly
disgusted the. author of his being.
"This young woman, whom they are de-
termined to make me marry, must have
some Christian feeling, since she has just
left the convent. If T'could succeed in per-
suading her to return there by praising
the charms of q monastic life, should
thus retain lamb in the Lords fold, and
1 should regain my independence and be
able to follow my own way freely"
He prepared discourse full of clo-
quence. But deliver it dressed in hello
trope coat! She would laugh at sermon
and sermonizer. No. for this solemn occa-
sion decent but austere dress was the
thing. He then chose from his wardrobe
IN appropriate suit of immaculate black,
noble setting for his lace frill and hand
some powdered head.
His toilet finished, he was troubled with
some doubt as to whether his appearance
was too imposing. He did not wish to
frighten that young soul. He cast fur
tive glance in his mirror. No; there was
surely nothing to fear from the somber
parsonage reflected in his dressing glass;
However, there were many expressions Of
surprise when he made his entrance into
the drawing room.
''He Is not bridegroom. He is petit
abbe, y whispered the Dowager d Estour-
mel into the car of the marquis.
REALLY, this is unseemly conduct" and
the old gentleman threw whitening look
upon his grandson.
1t was wasted strength, however The
chevalier passed Indifferent before the fu-
rious countenances Of his grandparents and
smothered gigglings and taunts Of his
young cousins. He bowed before Mile
Solange, who, with dropping eyes, was
studying him from under her long lashes,
and with voice vibrating with religious
fervor he asked the favor Of a minuet
"Hc is thawing out at last, muttered
the marquis, flicking of bit of snuff
that had fallen on his frill. "But such a
figure and such minueti'
With oil the solemnity of the prophet
king, and with exasperating GOODNESS, Syl.
vandre confused the figures of the dance
and stepped ON the train of his partner
In spite Of his affected inpassibility he
commenced to feel somewhat annoyed and
ashamed Of the part he had taken. Under
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