The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-10-25
eyes Dy cnance sne saw
six o'clock? 1t was o'clock"

eyes Dy cnance sne saw
six o'clock? 1t was o'clock"
~Half-past, at the outside"
Earnet drew long breath of relief.
He began to laugh.
Pardon me. Sir" he said, ~you have
made a mistake and / have been stupid.
1t is not | who am the culprit. though
| believe the guilty one IS here. One
moment please" and he hurried 10 the
door, opened it and babe Avette enter.
She strutted into the studio. The
sight of the visitor even, whom she had
thought gone, did not trouble her. She
was calmly mounting the models table
when Varnet stopped her.
"Avette." said he, sharply, what did
you do here yesterday after l left vou?"
"What-ditl- do, monsieur?" she
lowered her eyes in affected shame; Il
resumed my sex, monsieur"
"Pshaw! mean at the Window"
"Ah-hi | have it, | sent kiss to
madame, your wife, monsieur. A kiss
is no affront TO pretty woman, and,
coming from me- no affront to the most
Jealous husband"
NJ. de Lesney laughed-how could he
help it?-and picked up his hat.
1T was my daughter, not Nine. de
Lesney, that YOU saw" said he. Still,
mademoiselle must ask you not to re-
peat that kissing business. Sir, I regret
that | disturbed you but / am charmed
with the little adventure that has given
me the pleasure of making your ac-
quaintance. You viii allow me, trust.
to call occasionally to admire your
paintings?"
You will meet distinguished people
here, monsieur" !" called Ayette "Only
two days ago NJ. de Rothschild came
-n
fAvette" Varnet interpOsed sternly.
"Oh, do not be too modest, monsieur,
with 4 saucy curtsey to her employer.
Il assure YOU, NJ. de Lesney, that my
dear employer is far too modest If he
would but tell half that he could he
would be trebly more famous than he
is.
"Avette!"
M de Lesney, l can tell you a great
deal about my dear employer that will
cause you to open your eyes wide with
surprise"
"Avette."
monsieur, when | get to singing your
praises ! can not stop even at your COM
mand.
"She is inco1rigible-charmingly so, ="
laughed NJ. de Lesney. as he departed.
Three months rolled by. One even
inc Earnet, crossing The Boulevard st.
Michel, met young woman who whis-
pered in his ear as She passed:
a kiss is never lost, monsieur"
He wheeled and saw Ayette. She
held out her hand
Good morning bold bridegroom that
is to be-
Yes true it was your kiss that did
the business"
Good: You are done with it, then?
In that case, return it, please; | may
need it again"
"ParbIeu, so | will, said Varnet, ION
the spot with interest added"
And before she could stop him he
gave Avette two rousin@ kisses on either
cheek.
Knowing her to be joking, Varnet ex-
pected 4 tap for his levity, or, at least
that she would turn the affair of with
one of her usual gay speeches. Instead
she started as if stung, caught her
breath sharply, with a queer choking
sound in her voice, cried out:
"You-you love her so much as that
thcda"
How do you know how much love
her?7
She tried to 90 on, stopped, her dark
eyes filed and suddenly Avette-the
gay, CHEEKY, sharp-tongHed Avette, with
her linnet brain and thistle-doWn heart,
the little model who was going TO laugh
so joyously at Varnets wedding =
Avette was crying.
Tit was that kiss of mine" she
stammered; that kiss come back to me,
doubled and changed. 1t saddens. it
hurts me; it makes me think Of how we
poor girls are like so many bundles left
TO be called for-some are taken, some
forgotten in the shop"
And Avette flew off, throwing a kiss
over her shoulder at the staring Farnet,
but he had read her trouble: Avette
was in love, and-with him.-N. J.
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