The herald., 1894-08-12
ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL.


distance from Belles-F ontaines, can be
seen an elegant little chateau of modern
construction, rooted with slate Stand
ing on the hillside, in the midst OF
grassy lawns and surrounded by low
trees, the house attracts the attention
Of the few rowers who from time to
time descend the Orge to Juvisy. Occa-
sionally fisherman in search Of good
place to throw his hook has perceived
on the heights above woman, her face
covered with thick veil, and young
man who walked slowly beside her,
leaning on her arm. At the slightest
sound Of an oar both disappeared
around the bend of q path or behind
clump of shrubs. The people of Juvisy
had vainly employed every effort to
penetrate the mystery.
After having exhausted all imagina-
BILE suggestions the innkeeper and the
grocer Of Juvisy had decided that the
young man was maniac, whom his
family had imprisoned in that property,
bounded by high wall on the side to-
ward the road and by river on that to-
ward the fields. AS for the woman, she
was a relative or hireling, and when a
painter, returning from Belles-Fon-
taines, asked who was the owner Of
that sheltered, mysterious looking park,
without the slightest hesitation they
replied, sit is a mailman who lives
there.
On July 10, 1884, during one OF
those periods of heat which Senegambia
envies us the viscount de Montbrun left
his small hotel in the Rue Varnet at 8
in the morning and walked down the
Champs Elysees. M. de Montbrun was
one of those Parisians who never leave
Paris. 'The sea- said he, twas made
for fishermen and sailors. 1t has its
beauties Of course, but it is agreeable
only one hour each day. AS soon as il
begins to ebb it uncoyers a lot Of pesti.
for the country, it is always just as hot
there as in Paris, with this difference
you never know what to do with your
evenings there. On all sides he saw
hacks loaded with trunks
The preparations for the approaching
14th of July festivities saddened his
heart, for the true Partisan is the invet-
crate enemy of public holidays and of
all manifestations which disturb his re-
pose.
where can take refuge for three
days?" thought M. de Montbrun. The
year previous he had gone to st. Ger
main, and they had made just as much
racket and shot Off quite as many bombs
there as at Paris. Montbrun then re.
membered that he had promised himself
an excursion into Brittany before the
pick of the demolisher had finished
transforming that old corner of his
country. To see again Wire Fougeres,
pass day at st. Malo and then return
would be just the thing. He would thus
avoid the crowd and noise.
On the morrow Montbrun arrived at
Vitre. 1t was Saturday evening. In
provincial towns to fairly judge the
beauty Of their women it is necessary to
take ones post on Sunday at the door
of a church. That is why Montbrun
stood as early as in the morning be-
fore the splendid ediflce dedicated to St
Martin waiting for mass to be over.
Before leaving Paris he had thrown into
postbox few words addressed to Mile.
Paula Salimberi, all artistic dancer at
the Eden theater. Paula was a superb
girl, q native Of southern Italy, with
all the ardor Of that cline beaming
from her large, dark eyes. She had
made her debut at Naples, and after
season at tho Italian theater at Nice
had displayed to the Parisians her ire
proachable shape and varied graces.
Montbrun was then 20 years of age, a
handsome man, well versed in theatrical
doings, whose personal charms were
augmented by an income of 10000
francs year. His admiration for the
charming ballet dancer was at once re-
ciprocated, and they were soon launched |!
upon the waves Of desperate Irritation.
But the young mans fancy was short |
lived. 1t was not long before the shall
low attractions of tho Italian beauty |
ceased to please him, and he longed to
escape from her altogether. But Otlel-
los jealousy was puerile compared to
hers. Montbrun was fairly afraid of
her. He dared not tell her outright what
the gradual decline of his attentions
portended. He had simply dropped a
note to her upon his departure fer Wire
bidding her long farewell and intimat-
ing that he might never see her again.
As she believed that he had no means of
procuring his address, he thought him
self now we'll out Of her way
Mass was over, and people were be-
ginning to come out Of the church.
Suddenly Montbrun was seized with ad.
miration. Amid tho crowd he had
caught sight of the face of young girl.
Never in his most ardent dreams had hu
imagined aught SO lovely as that face,
with its ideal lines it's more than earth.
ly beauty-beauty SO calm, SO serene,
80 radiantly pure that it seemed that Of
one OF Gods angels. He wondered if il
were possible that such a creature exist.
ed. He held his breath as he gazed OH
her descending the church steps, snail.
ing at an older woman who acconlpa.
MED her. her mother doubtless. Instinc.
lively Montbrun followed them from
afar and saw them enter small house