The Portland daily press., 1894-05-30
The BEAUTY SPOT.

played about her forehead like swarm of
butterflies. Her manner was trifle pet
ulant. His eyes looked down; his express
sion was solemn; the pink of his cheeks
colored to carnation and purple at the
lightest jest.
She had just finished her studies at the
Abbaye-aux- -Bois. She knew enough of
history not to ask if the then reigning
king, Louis XVI, were the son of his pred
ecessor, Louis XIV; enough of geography
not to place the Seine at Lyons, as Mime.
de Talleyrand had done.
He, destined at first for the priesthood,
was just fresh from the college of the Jes-
uits, his head muddled with scholasticisn
and crammed with theology. Comment
ing on the fathers of the church, digging
into Ecclesiastes, he was insensible to ev-
cry other pleasure. In fact, he was awk-
ward, timid, embarrassed, as little an ex-
pert in the art of music as he was in the
art of dancing.
The grandparents had decided to unite
this young couple, and the old marquis
was severely scolding his offspring for the
lack of ardor he manifested in fulfilling
his wishes.
Remember, sir, that by the death of
your elder brother the preservation of our
race develves on you. Rid yourself of this
humble manner that you should have put
off with your cassock and comport your
self as worthy scion of race that never
WINGED perole plade, glass or cotllIon.
"Oh, sirl' said the young man modestly.
Now you are as red as cherryl
Zounds sir, you are no longer in the semi
nary. What will you choose! The swords"
"N-no, sir!''
''W1ne?'
mo, slr!'
Pretty girls?"
"Oh, no, STRIP
"Really? And why not, beg OF your
because my confessor has told me
many times they are the devils snares
that drag men to destruction, and would
seek salvation, if you please, sir.
"Tut, tut! 1t pleases me to have you do
my will. have chosen f1ancee for you
who is worthy of you by her birth, her
youth, her mind and her beauty. What
more do you want!"
Much less, sir. -
"Nonsensel My word is given. You
must honor it. The presentation will take
place this evening at the ball. You will
see Mile. d d'Estournel at her best. Endeav-
or not to displease her.
But, sir'-
Enough. You will find costume in
your room more suitable than this funer-
al garb Jasmin will help you dress. Go,
my son."
A fathers orders were not to be disput-
ed, and the would be abbe, heaving deep
sigh, followed the valet de chambre, into
whose hands he meekly abandoned HIM
self Jasmin powdered and curled his hair,
replaced his coarse pumps with fine slip
pers with silver buckles, his common lin
en- with a SHIFT of fine fabric with lace
frill. Sylvandre endured these attentions
with good enough grace, but when he
saw the coquettish suit prepared for his
use he gave sudden start. What he,
the grave theologian, the fluent philoso-
pher, the pride of the Jesuit college, to be
clothed in such profane costume! What
would the Rev. Father Damase say, whose
threadbare cassock seemed to the young
neophyte the emblem of all the virtuess
No, never, never, neverl
leave me, Jasmin. shall finish my
toilet myself"
Left alone, he threw glance that be-
trayed something of regret upon the hello
trope coat, with it's silver embroideries. 1t
might have been tempting. Tt might have
been Irresistible. But resisting the temp
tations Of the evil one he pondered over a
plan that HAD germinated in his brain un-
der the skiilfu1ly manipulated comb of
Jasnin-a plan that would have greatly
rejoiced his pious director and exceedingly
disgusted the author of his being.
"This young woman, whom they are de-
termined to make me marry, must have
some Christian feeling, since she has just
left the convent. If could succeed in per-
suading her to return there by praising
the charms Of a monastio life, should
thus retain lamb in the Lords fold, and
should regain my independence and be
able to follow my own way freely"
He prepared discourse full of ele-
quence. But deliver it dressed in hello
trope coat! She would laugh at sermon
and serrnonizer. No; for this solemn occa-
sion decent but austere dress was the
thing He then chose from his wardrobe
an appropriate suit of immaculate black,
a noble setting for his lace frill and hand
Soma nnyudappd head