The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-09
A WOMAN OF STONE.


ing, and again mt night when the radiant
lights along the rivers bank glittcrcd Hike
jewels in long necklace. She had her little
walk through tho gardens of the Tuileries
every morning after sho had crossed the
Pont Royal, but did not return through
the gardens in tho evening, for o park in
the morning is II different thing to park
Mt night. On her return she always walk
ed along tho Rue do Tuileries until she
came to the bridge. Her morning ramblo
through the gardens was u daily delight
to her, for tho Rue dc Lille is narrow and
not particularly bright, SO it was pleasant
to walk beneath the green trees, to feel
the crisp gravel under her feet and to see
tho cleaning white statues in tho sun
light with tho sparkle on the round foun-
tain pond, by the side of which she some
times sat. Her favorito statue was one of
woman that stood or u pedestal near tho
Rue de Rivoli. The arm was thrown
over her head, and there was u smile OH
the marble face which was inscrutable.
1t fascinated tho girl as sho looked up at
1t and seemed to be tho morning greeting
to her busy days work in the city. If no
one was i'll sight, which was often tho case
at O'Clock i'll the morning, tho girl kissed
tho tips of her fingers and tossed tho salute
stone always smiled back ut her the strange,
mystical smile which seemed to express
that it know much more of this world and
It's ways than did the little Parisienne who
daily gazed up at her.
Lurine was happy, as a matter of course
for was not Paris always beautiful Did
not the sun Shine brightly? And was not
tho air always clear? What more then,
could young girl wishS There was one
thing which was perhaps lacking, but that
at last was supplied, and then there was
not happier girl in all Paris than Lurino
She almost cried it aloud to her favorite
statue the next morning, for it seemed to
her that the smilo had broadcned since sho
had passed it the morning before, and sho
felt as If tho woman Of stone guessed tho
secret of the woman of flesh.
Lurine had noticed him for several DAYS
lowering about the pharmacie and looking
In at her now and then. She saw it all,
but pretended not to see. He was a hand
some young fellow, with curly hair, and
shc noticed how white his hands were, rs
If he were not accustomed to doing hard
manual labor
One night he followed her as far as tho
bridge, bnt she walked rapidly on, and he
did not ovcr,lkc her He never entered tho
pharmacic, but fingered about as if wait
ing for chance to speak to her. Lurine
had no ono to confidc i'll but tho woman
of stone, and it seemed by her smile that
sho understood already, and there was no
need to tell her that tho inevitable young
man had come. The next night he fol-
lowed her quite across the bridge and this
time Lurinc did not walk so quickly.
Girls i'll her position are not supposed to
have formal introducitons to their lovers
and are generally dependent upon hap
nj
rins did not know. The young man spoke
to her on the bridge, raising his hat from
his black head as he did so.
Good evening"" was all he said to her
She glanced sideways shyly ut him, but
did not anwscr, and tho young man walk
ed ON beside her.
You como this way every night" he
said II have been watching you Arc
you offended"
NO." she said almost in whisper
"Then may 1 walk with you to your
homer" he asked
You may walk with mo as far as the
corner of the Rue dc Lille, she replied.
"Thank YOU" said tho young fellow.
and together they walked tho short dis.
lance, and there he babe her good night
after asking permission to meet her Mt the
corner of the Rue ST. Honore, and walked
homo with her the next night.
'You must not como to tho shop" she
said.
II understand he replied, nodding his
head in assent to her wishes. He told her
his name was jean Durct, and by the byo
she called him jean, and ho called her
Lurinc. He never haunted the pharmacie
now, but waited for her at the corner. and
one Sunday he took her for n little excur-
sion on tho river, which she enjoyed ex-
ceedingly. Thus time went on, and Lu-
rine was very happy. Tho statue smiled
Ats enigmatcal smile, though, when the
Sky was overcast, there seemed to her
subtle warning in the smile.
Perhaps it was because they had quar-,
relied tho night before. Jean had seemed
to her harsh and unforgiving. Ho had
asked her if she could not bring him some
things from the pharmacic and gave her
list of three chemicals, the names of
which he had written on paper
You can easily get them, - he had said.
'They are in every pharmacie and will
never be missed
But" said the girl in horror "that
would be stealing"
The young man laughed.
How much do they pay you therc?"
he asked And when she told him he
laughed again and said
why, bless you, If I got so little as
that would take something from the
shelves every day and sell it,"
The girl looked at him in amazemcnt.
and he angry ut her. turned upon his heel
and left her. She leaned her arms upon
tho paraiet of the bridge and looked dow I,