The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-21

stood up greenly from the neglected paths,
and daisies flecked the lawn with white.
Two great dogs came bounding toward
her and rubbed themselves affectionately
against her skirts. The countess STOPPED
and caressed them.
Now she was near the house. The front
door stood open, and from some inner
room came the sound of piano. 1t was
being very exquisitely played. She enter
ed the house. There was q big, square
hall, bare and comfortless. and leading
from it were many doors. 1t was from
one of these that the music came, but
something had attracted the notice of the
countess, and she paused. An easel stood
In the middle of the stone floor, and upon
1T picture. 1t was the portrait Of wom-
an Her glowing beauty seemed to live.
Nine. la Comtesse recognized a face more
fair, 1t might be, than her own
Your mistressy" she said to the attend
ant. She spoke in low voice, and with
reverence, as one who speaks before q
shrine
"Yes. madame, my mistress, as she
was five and thirty years ago.
The countess said no more She stood
Tor some moments before the painting in
silence, and then she made n sign that she
was ready. The woman led her to the door,
which she opened, and then she withdrew.
In the last few minutes the countess had
grown deadly pale. She found herself in
large and we'll furnished room, with
three windows that looekd out upon the
flaming sen of mmarigolds. A lady rose
from the piano rs her visitor entered The
countess advanced with "a chill fear at her
heart
Was 1T possible that this thin and with
cred creature had once sat for the portrait
that stood in the hall? Could it be that
the flesh, once so firm and white, was tho
same ns the dry and puckered skin of the
face before her-that those were the cheeks
that had glowed with health and lowell
ness-thnt those dim eyes set I'm network
of lines were the laughing eyes of the pic
ture?
az scarcely know how to explain my Wis.
It," the countess said in an uncertain
voice 81 greatly wished to see you, who
have also been called the Venus of Paris"
"Once," said tho old woman
There WAS pause.
"And my mantle has fallen ON YOU"
she added, half in question. az have heard
of YOU" she went on after n few mo-
ments, land expected you. The Mare
chal Boutigny had written. Look at me-
You are very beautiful, hut not more beau
tiful than was |. See my hands They
were once white and soft ms your own, and
this poor neck was round and full like
yours. Beauty counted for more in nv
day than in yours, and had my lovers by
the score -
There were tears in the old woman's
eyes, and her voice shook
"Iou are believed to- he dead, said the
countess.
That was my wish" replied Aurclie
dc f'rontignnc. "Nly day was over"
The Comtcssc dc Pile dor paused once
more before the picture in the hall and
tried to trace in the exquisite features
some likeness to the face she had just seen.
a film was before her eyes, and she could
see only the haggard face of the old wom-
an. Through the fresh beauty of the paint
ing the withered and faded face seemed to
look out at her. She could see now where
tho lines had been destined to weave their
grim network round the eyes. She could
trace the gradual falling in of the checks,
the puckering Of the fair skin. She turned
away and passed through tho open door
She did not see now the naring blaze Of
tho marigol'ls md peoples She followed
the attendant through their flames us one
who walks in II dream.
The countess stood before her mirror
and looked ut her beautiful face. The
SIicCttT CUUc una SlOOtl DpSlOe her, ana
the reflection underwent n hidcous change.
The freshness seemed slowly to fade from
tho skin, and the mouth fell in n little and
grew hard and set. Then the chin and the
nose seemed o advance, and hOllows form
ed themselves in the cheeks. The fore
head was no longer smooth. The two
faint lines had decpcned to burrows. And
the eyes! Her own eyes, grown eager and
wild, SaZed ont nt her from wrinkled wells
She looked again There was only her
own young face, but could she not trace
even now the beginning OF these horrors?
a shuddering went over her.
She reviewed the miserable weapons with
which she might wage her war against
these grsly focs-the morphia needle, the
rouge pot, the blanc de perle, the golden
dye, and she shuddered again. There re-
manned one other weapon
She chose, of course, according to domcs.
tically inconvenient but time honorcd prec-
edent, the night of Il ball She moved
about among her guests, radiant and the
embodiment of youth and perfect beauty.
Her conversation sparkled with witty re-
tort and ready jest The marechal came
up to her with old fashioned gallantry,
and paid her grim compliment.
She laughed back mt him.
II have seen Aurele de Frontienac."
she said
"Thcn you have seen what remains of
the most beautiful woman of her day"
81 believe YOU said the countess
She did well to bury hcrsclf:" he asked.
"Shc did WELL" replied the countess,
''but shall do better"
The marcchal searched her face
You have discovered the elixir of life?''
he asked.
"Tho secret of eternal youth" she an
swered.
You know the end of this type of story