The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-01-25
CHAPTER Ii.

Whv should he give her a second
thought: She was not his ideal. She
was not the heavenly creature he had
been searching for tor SO many years.
She wa, too tall, too robust, too broad
shouldered, too rcd-cheeked. She set
her feet ON the ground like self-re-
liant Minerva. rather than Il timid,
trembling Psyche, startled at the rustic
of Il leaf, or atfrighted by the cry of a
bird.
But, although unwilling to admit it.
Marius felt that the next look which
that young girl gave him on the day
following went still deeper than the
first. He was troubled. He thought
of returning to his regiment. How
could he while still SO weak, SO help
less. No, he must face his arch-enemy,
Fate. Escape was impossible. and on
the Third day he was presented to NJ.
Daniel Daveluy and his daughter Claire,
and the look of those two wonderful eyes
went deepe: yet into his soul. Marius
trembled. Can it be possible" he
asked himself, that this fair child. so
young, and, apparently, SO guilteless,
is really trying her powers upon me?
Oh, horrible. HORRIBLE.
Nj. Daveluy, a man about IS, was
rich manufacturer and inhabited
neighboring villa with his only child.
Mile. Claire, and. SO far as the world
knew, he was a widower. From the mo.
ment of introduction Daveluy had man
ifested a particular graciousness to-
ward the interesting invalid. The old
gentleman was fond of society. liked
to see his salon crowded, and above all
did he take the keenest pleasure in
giving dinner parties. They were al
ways exQuisitely ordered entertain
ments. and the wines served at them
were Of the finest growths. To the
close oh server there might have been
| apparent at times a slight suggestion
of the commonar in Daveluy's manner.
! but it was very slight. and, take him
all in all. he was man OF big heart
and fine feeling. 1t was evident that
| he had conceived a real friendship for
| Marius, for invitation followed invita-
ton at short intervals, and it was not
F.. long before Capt. Dulac began to feel
| quite at home in this quiet and refined
interior, the walls Of which were hung
with so many genuine masterpieces OF
art, and whose atmosphere was Tiled
with nameless charm very comforting
and soothing to the tired body and
gloomy mind of Marius Dulac. who
was really too ill to halt and question
| himself as to whether he should Weld
to this delightful fascination. or draw
back from it and continue to divide up
his time as equally As possible among
the different salons at St. German.
But one question he did put himself.
It was: What about Mile Claire? Bah.
What ridiculous idea. Why, the girl
was removed whole heavens width
from his ideal! She was a female
Proteus, never one moment the same.
1t would be like crowding a whole gal
lery of statuary into one niche for him
| to think of setting his affections upon
such a being. His ideal would save
him. He need not be afraid of Claire.
She would simply take her place among
the specifics which his physician had
so generously prescribed for him.
At this time Claire was barely L.
years of age, but SO keen was her in
telligence, so exquisitely developed hel
figure. that she might easily pass for
20. She was not beautiful girl. al
least not in Marius eyes: there was toe
much of the English type about her
she was too tall too robust. too vital
in fact. her superabundance of vitality
kept her continually on the move. She
was apt to tire Marius little. He
often wondered when she slept. for Nc
matter how early he might go out fol
| his sun bath she always seemed to be
coming home from somewhere. But. il
spite of Care nervous Temperament
| and lack of repose, she made !
!, delightful hostess, SO bright. 5,