Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-10-04

Now she was near the house. The
front door stood open. and from some
inner room came the sound of a piano. |
1t was being very eNquiSitely played. |
She entered the house. There was a
big, square hall. bare and comfortless. ,
and leading from it We're many doors. ]
1t was from one of these that the
music came, but something had at
uacted the notice of the countess. and
she paused.
An easel stood in the middle of the
stone floor. and upon it a picture. 1T
was the portrait of a woman. Her
glowing beauty seemed to live. Nine.
Ia COmtesSe recognized a face more
fair, it might be. than her own.
Your miStreSS?" she said to the at
tendant. She spoke in a low voice.
and with reverence, as one who speaks
before a shrine.
YES. madame, my mistress. as she
was tive-andthirty years ago"
The countess said no more. She
stood for some moments before the
painting in silence, and then she made
a sign that she was ready. The woman
led her to the door, which she opened
and then She withdrew
A lady rose from the piano as her
visitor entered The countess adj
vanSed with a chill fear at her heart
Was it possible that this thin and
Withered creature had once sat for the
portrait that stood in the hall? Could
it be that the flesh. once 50 firm and
white. was the same as the dry and
pUckered skin Of the face before her
and those were the cheeks that had
glowed with health and lovelineSs-
that those dim eyes set in a network
of lines were the laughing eyes of the
picture?
Il scarcely know how to explain my
visit" the countess said, in an I'M
certain voice; Il greatly wished to see
you, who have also been called the
Venus of Paris. -
"Once," said the old woman.
There was q pause.
"And my mantle has fallen on you"
she added. half in question. Il have
heard of YOU" she went on. after a
few moments; land I expected you.
The Marechal BCutigny had written.
Look at me. You are very beautiful
But not more beautiful than was !.
See my hands. They We're once white
and soft as your own, and this poor
neck as round and full like yours.
Beauty counted for more in my day
than in yours, and [ had my lovers
by the score"
There were tears in the old woman'S
eyes, and her voice shook.
you are believed to he dead" said
the countess.
"That was my wish" replied Aurelie
de Fontignac; my day was over"
The countess stood before her mirror
and looked at her beautiful face. The
specter came and stood beside her, and
the reflection underwent a hideOus
change.
The freshness seemed to slowly fade
! from the skin, and the mouth fell in a
little and grew hard and set. Then
the chin and the nose seemed to ad-
vance, and hOllOws formed themselves
i'll the cheeks. The forehead was no
longer smooth. The two faint lines
had deepened to burrows.
And the eyes! Her own eyes. grown
eager and wild, gazed out at her from
wTinkled wells.
She reviewed the miserable weapons
with which she might wage her war
against these grisly foes-the morphi-
needle, the rouge pot, the blanc de
perle the golden dye, and she shud-
dered again. There remained one
other weapon.
She chose, of course, according to do
mestically incOnvenient but time hon
Ored precedent, the might of a ball.
She moved about among her guests.
radiant and the embodiment of youth
and perfect beauty. Her conversation
sparkled with witty retort and ready
jest.
The marechal came UP to her with
old-fashioned gallantry, and paid her
a grim compliment. She laughed back
to him
II have seen Aurelie &c Frontgnac,"
she said.
''Then you have seen what remains
of the most beautiful woman of her
day"
81 believe you" said the countess.
'She did well to bury herself?'' he
asked.
"She did WELL" replied the countess.
"but shall do better"
The marechal searched her face.
"You have discovered the Elixer of
life?' he asked.
'The secret of eternal youth" she
answered.
They found her dead the next day,
and the Marechal Boutigny under
stood .-Argonaut.