The Portland daily press., 1894-05-30
raise his eyes to divine the ironical smiles,
tha cuttinsy satires directed at him

Ill,
with his curling musatche and conquer
or's bearing, troubled him exceedingly, es-
pecially when he intercepted the sienifi-
can't glances interchanged between him
and Nile. Solange.
Oh, but he would have his revenge be-
fore longA y
''Where is my niece?"
ssWith her cavalier, baroness" "
| ''I declare, your petit able is getting
rather rtsn bold" p"
''Do not worry, aunt" said the young
officer, laughing heartily. During the
minuet he seemed to be preparing a SER
mon, and he is doubtless delivering it to
| poor Solange. 1t must be very edifying
for my sister"
Very edifying indeed. Once alone with
the young girl, the chevalier attempted to
commence his discourse; but, whether it
| was the excitement of the ball or the mu-
sic of the orchestra still ringing in his
ears he could not find the words to pref
ace his thoughts.
''Barbaric Misunderstanding their holy
calling" He spoke in the plural as a ten
tative. 1.-THE Lord alone is worthy of such
an angelic spouse, who-that" -
lie essayed to warm himself up to the
occasion, to pick up the lost thread of his
oration, but he found himself more and
more entangled-hypnotized by little
black velvet beauty spot coquettishly plac-
ed so as to produce the most delightful eff
feet on the glowing check of Mile. So
! lange. 1t seemed to mock the disconcert-
ed orator.
"Other duties called them. In new
life she would grow in grace in virtue, in
holiness. Her piety, ner mind, her match
less mildness, would be admired by all.
| She looked at him, astonished, tapping
with her little foot in quick, nervous mo-
tions, biting her rosy lips, while the little
black beauty spot continued it's mischief.
1.-The church would not lose a servant.
| Philosophy would not be widowed by his
| genius, which-that -
The poor wretch was utterly at a loss
| what to say when a burst of laughter in
| terrupted him. Solange laughed and
laughed-every dimple in her face laughed.
Even the little black beauty spot was
seized with sudden mirthfulness It
| frisked about in convulsive merriment
! Blushing, disconnected, his arms swing
ing, his mouth gaping, he waited for this
hilarity to pass.
| 'Mademoiselle''- he starnmered.
IT beg your pardon, sir, but it is too lu-
| chief to her mouth to stop another burst
| of mirth.
'Mademoiselle, I do not like to be
laughed at"
'eThen, sir, do not be so ridiculous, 4" she
replied
| Ridiculous! 1t was in vain to pose as
| philosopher, stoic or even scholar There
| are words that cause ones self love to furl
its sails, even the self love of a petit abbe.
| With terrible look he overwhelmed this
| audacious young person who had shown
| SO little respect to his eloquence. That
| look was his destruction. If all women
were monsters, as Father Damase had pre-
| tended, then Solange d. Estournel was as
! suredly one of the prettiest monsters one
| could meet.
Besides, sir, your frankness releases
me. have decided preference myself,
| not for the convent, but for one of my
cousins, who will be very much obliged to
| you for the course''-
All, that was another matter! The
| chevalier scowled. He had no intention
| of serving another PERSONS interest Could
| it be that young officer who had forced his
| presence upon them few moments beforea
| Perhaps.
my compliments, - he said in an offend
| ed tone. Really, the handsome lieuten-
ant was to be congratulated. Queer ideas
| chased each other through the mind Of
| the young neophyte. His brain whirled;
| he began to feel a sensation of ridicule be-
fore this charming young girl, to whom he
had just made such a strange speech. All,
how he was wishing that sermon had nev-
er come out of his mouth
She was watching him slyly, and the
| little black beauty spot began to dance.
''Will you please take me back to my aunt,
sir?"
GAS you desire, mademoiselle
But instead of offering his hand to as
sist her to rise he sat down near her.
eff we must remain strangers, made
moiselle, may we not at least be friends?'
eyes, sir"
"Give me sisters confidence, and per-
haps with my larger experience can be Of
service to you. Between you and me, this
| soldier-your cousin-whom I know.-by
| reputation-is not the man for you"
'sReally?"
'No," soberly insisted the petit abbe.
"He is a gambler, debauche, man with
out principle-he would make you very
| unhappy"
''Do you think so?''
Il am certain OF III. lie would capt1vdte
you by honeyed words, but the finest lam
| guage often conceals the true thought
! II suspected as much myself and the
little beauty spot was getting beyond con.
| troll.
IA few moments ago you thought per-
haps I was cold, Indifferent, while, on
the contrary, my heart was beating. just
see, it is beating now"
It was true. The heart of the unhappy
chevalier was beating like drum call un-
| der the white hand of his companion.
"If you could know how am suffer-
| ing; if you could feel what I am feeling;
| if could tell you"--
Sylvandre was really eloquent. But
now his flowery rhetoric was not thrown
away. His tender words were gently sooth-
ing to the ears of Solange. He spoke very
low, leaning toward her, SO near-so very
near.
| POUNDS, abbe! A fly is biting you!'
Red as peony he jumped up. ''Sirl I
am not churchman, but swordsman, as
much as yourself, sir, % he dryly returned,
recognizing the handsome ieutepant who
had offended him in the early part of the