The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-28


An hour later the Countess Lucie
was still in her boudoir dreamily re-
fecting upon the serious negligence
of mothers of families, who did not
arm their daughters against the
shocks they were liable to experience
along the matrimonial road in COM
ing across letters arranging rendez-
votis with their recreRnt hus bands
The door, all at once, few baclSwith
bang.
"Youl" cried Nine. Bernier. with a
surprise wherein was mingled an
equal portion of fear and joy.
Eyes, Ito bore you again, my
darling"
1t was Bertha who had returned.
But with how changed a coun-
tenancel There was her
features now a tranquil calm, not
to say an unmistakable Sc renity, a
satisfaction arising from-what?
Nine Bernier felt her heart sud-
denly contract.
''You have rehe cted? You have
given it up-your mad idea?" she
cried earnestly, running forward to
meet her friend.
You saw me, I think, dearest"
said Bertha, mount into that tram
car. Once in looked about me.
in the least promised an adventure.
At the moment when, very niue put
out, was going to seat myself in the
corner, behold, saw a gentl eman, a
very good-loohing gentleman, as you
may guess. He was seated immedi-
ately against the entrance. 1 had a
little lost my balance as entered the
car, being unaccustomed to these
vehicles, so that had actually passed
without seeing them-the two per-
sons seated just by the door. Which
was why, 1 repeat, I had not seen
him, though truly he was very agree
able to look at. Still young, with "a
heavy moustache, black redingote
and light trousers, evidently an officer
of the Legion of Honor, or some artist
of the Quarter, L supposed, and L re-
traced my steps, without troubling
myself about the thunderous glances
cast at me by the mother of the two
young girls, and took my seat beside
him-my gentleman, you know. He
was my vengeance; 1 felt it, had
decided upon that"
''Well," said Lucie, breathlessly;
''and hen-go on, Berthar'
81 am, of course, but I must tell
you frankly that he appeared to pay
no attention to me whatever, though
Courcel1es boulevard he passed my
sous for me to the conductor; and he
had-my gentleman, L mean, not the
conductors very white and aristo-
cratic hand, slender, muscular and
adorned with big seal ring of
peculiar workmanship.
81 coughed, 1 drew on and off my
gloves-your gloves, rat her; coughed
again and sought to reg ard him
ixedly there just behind the ear with
all my will, having heard it said that
one can SO influence pc ople-"
my dear Bertha" said Nine.
casticalIy. ''these are charming
by the world.''
''Pooh, what does that matter? I
was enraged, L tell you, and he was
growing inpe rtinent, that gentleman
who would not err. Or was it, 1
asked myself, that in spite of his air
of a regular heart breaker, he was
absurdly timid? In that case then,
my faithl strong measures-though
heaven knows L have horror Of
manifestations-must be tried; in
word, the pedal extremitiesl-
ALREADY we were nearing St. Au-
gustine; no time was to be lost.
moved my 1OOt beside MS own.
touched it; he did not stir. pressed
it; nothing whatever. 1 crushed it;
not the slightest signl But II was
all red and so distur bed, and it seemed
TO me that L was going to burst out
crying there, be fore everyone.
Then L reaso ed with myself, and
told myself that it was doubtless
through an extreme reserve, an ex-
luisite delicacy, that he preserved his
air of paying no attention to me, of
not perceiving, in fact, my little adj
zances; but when 1 got out at the
it was very certain that he
would follow me thenl
treasured by this happy thought
Ind secure of my vengeance, contin-
led my discreet little pawings till lol
in front of the Rue de Seze,
he motioned the conductor, who
stopped the vehicle, and my gentle
nan, always without looking at me,
put slowly, lingeringly, as if with re-
yret, my gentlem an, L repeat, got up
ind out of the car.
1.-THE rage that felti My dearest,
10 not speak of it. At the same mo-
nent the conductor, who had signaled
he driver to go on again, said to the
:ook sitting beside me, whom he
eemed to know, and designating the
rentleman just reaching the sidewalk
md disappearing in the crowd:
g "A shame, is it not? Such a hand
ome mani
LAS this voiced in w ords my own
opinion, 1 felt myself becoming posi-
lively purple. But why had the con-
11cfoT said fhiso Had he nv ohanoa