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

NJ LdcOrdalfe SO stupid, ana Lillian lOld
her sister on the first safe opportunity that
occurred that it seemed very much as
though they were all going 10 church.
And do any of the Polinac people ever
live at this placer" asked Mrs. Thompson,
by way of making conversation; in answer
to which NJ. Lacordaire informed madame
that the place was at present only ruin;
and then there was again silence till they
found themselves under the rock, and
were informed by the driver that the rest
OF the ascent must be made on foot.
The rock now stood abrupt and pre-
cipitous above their heads. II was larger
in it's circumference and with much larger
space on its summit than those other
volcanic rocks in and close to the town;
but then at the same time IL was higher
from the ground and quite as inaccessible
except by the single path which led up
to the chateau
NJ. Lacordaire, with conspicuous gal
lantry, first assisted Mrs. Thompson from
the carriage, and then handed down the
two young ladies. No lady could have
been so difficult to please as to complain
of him, ana yet Mrs. Thompson thought
that he was not as agreeable as usual.
Those horrid boots and those horrid gloves
gave him such an air of holiday finery
that neither could he be at his ease wear
ing them nor could she in seeing them.
They were soon taken in hand by the
poor woman whose privilege it was to
show the ruins. For a little distance they
walked up the path in single file; not that
ii was too narrow to accommodate two,
but NJ. Lecordaire's courage had not yet
been screwed to a point which admitted
of his offering his arm to the widow. For
in France ii must be remembered that
this means more than it does in some
other countries.
Mrs. Thompson felt that all this was
silly and useless. If they were not to be
dear friends this coming out feting to-
gether, those boots and gloves and new
hat were all very foolish; and if they
were the sooner that they understood
each other the better. So Mrs. Thompson,
finding that the path was steep and the
weather warm, stood still for a while
leaning against the wall, with a look of
considerable fatigue in the face.
will madame permit me the honor of
offering her my arm?'' said NJ. Lecordaire.
THE road is so extraordinarily steep for
madame to climb"
Mrs. Thompson did permit him the
honor, and so they went on till they
reached the top.
extensive and grand. but neither Lillian
nor Mimmy were much pleased with the
place. The elder sister. who had talked
over the matter with her school COM
panions expected a fine castle with tur-
rctS, battements, and romance; and the
other expected a pretty. smiling house,
such as princes, in her mind, ought TO in
habit.
Instead of this they found an old tur-
ret with steps so broken that NJ. Lacor-
daire did not care to ascend them, and
the ruined walls of a mansion in which
nothing was TO be seen but the remains
Of an enormous kitchen chimney.
1t was the kitchen Of the family" said
the guide.
oh" said Mrs Thompson.
And this. said the woman, taking
them into the next ruined compartment
was the kitchen of monsieur ct mad
anne
What! two kitchens?" exclaimed Liz
ian. upon which NJ. Lacordaire explained
that the ancestors of the Prince de PO-
lignac had been very great people, and
had therefore required culinary per-
fOrmances on great scale.
And then the woman began to chatter
something about an oracle of Apollo
There was, she said, hole in the rock,
from which in past times, perhaps more
than a hundred years ago, the oracle
used to speak forth mysterious words.
There she said, pointing to part
of the rock at some distance, was the
hole. And if the ladies would follow her
to a little Clubhouse which was just be-
yond she would show them the huge
stone mouth out Of which the oracle used
to speak,
Lillian and Mimmy both declared at
once for seeing the oracle, but Mrs
Thompson expressed her determination
10 remain sitting where she was upon
the turf. So the guide started off with
the young ladies'; and will it be thought
surprising that NJ. Lacordaire should
have remained alone by the side of Mrs.
Thompson?
1t must be now or never. Mrs Thomp-
son felt; and as regarded NJ. Lacordaire
he probably entertained some idea of
the same kind. Mrs Thompson's incli-
nations, though they had never been
very strong in the matter, were certainly
,f,-sefe
incHnations were stronger. He had fully
and firmly made up his mind in favor
Of matrimOny: but then he was not so
absolutely in favor of the now" Mrs.
Thompsons mind, If one could have
read il. would have shown a great objec-
ton to shilly-shallying, as she was ac-
customed to call it. But NJ. Lacordaire,
were it not for the danger which might
thence arise, would have seen no objec-
ton to some slight further procrasina-
ton. His courage was beginning, per-
haps, to OOZe out from his fingers ends.
Il declare that those girls have scam
pered away ever so far" said Mrs.
Thompson.
Would madame wish that 1 should
call them back?" said NJ. Lacordaire in
nOcently.
''Oh. no. dear children! let them enjoy
themselves; it VIII be pleasure to them
to run about the rock, and | suppose
they will be safe with that woman?"
''Oh, yes, quite SAFE said Nj. LacOr-
daire; and then there was another little
pause.
Mrs. Thompson was sitting on a brok-
en- fragment of a stone just outside the
entrance to the old family kitchen, and
NJ. Lacordaire was standing Immediately
before her. He had in his hand a little
cane with which he sometimes slapped
his boots and sometimes polxed about
among the rubbish. His hat was not
quite straight on his head, having a
little jaunty twist to one side, with ref
erence to which, by-the-by, Mrs Thomp-
son then resolved that she would make
a change, should ever the gentleman be-
come her own property. He still wore
his gloves and was very smart; but it
was clear to see that he was not at his
ease.
II hope the heat does not incommode
you.' he said, after a few moments 81
did not, that she liked a good deal of
very we'll where she was She was
afraid, however that she was OBTAINING
NJ Lacordaire, who might probably wish
to be moving about upon the rock In
answer to which Nj. Lacordaire declared
that he never could be so happy any,
where as in her close vicinity.
You are too good to me- said Mrs.
Thompson. almost signing IT don't
know what my stay here would have been
without your great kindness"
1T is madame that has been kind to
me-" said NJ. Lacordaire, pressing the
handle of his cane against his heart.
There was another pause, after which
Mrs Thomson said that that was all