Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-10-04

about him as one who seeks land.
marks, and finally drew up before the
gates of the old house.
Here the occupant OF the carriage,
lady closely yelled and in a long
cloak alighted. She sought the little
door in the wall ard rang, and after
an interval she was admitted.
1t was the eomtesse de Tile dor who
followed the attendant up through the
burning .marigolds TO the house. Two
great dogs came bounding toward her
and rubbed themselves affectionatcly
against her skirts The comtesse
stopped and caressed them.
Now she was near the house. The
front door stood open, and from some
inner room came the sound of piano.
1t was being very exquisitely played.
big, square hall, bare and comfortlcss,
and leading from it We're many doors.
1t was from one of these that the
music came, but something had at
tiacted the notice of the countess, and
she paused.
An easel stood in the middle of the
stone floor and upon it a picture. Ii
was the portrait of a woman. Her
glowing beauty seemed to live. Nine.
In Comtesse recognized face more
fair, ii might be, than her own.
Your mistress;" She said to the at
tendant. She spoke in low voice,
and with reverence, as one who speaks
before shrine.
Yes, madame. my mistress, as she
was fiSe-and- thirty 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
yansed- with chill fear at her heart.
Was it possible that this thin and
withered creature had once sat for the
portrait that stood in the hail? Could
It be that the flesh, once so 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 We're the laughing eyes Of the
picture?
II scarcely know how to explain my
visit" the countess said, in an I'M
certain voice; u greatly wished to see
you, who have also been called the
Venus OF Paris"
"Once," said the old woman.
There was parse.
And my mantle has fallen on you,'
she added. half in question. Il have
heard of YOU" she went on. after q
few moments; land / expected you.
The Marechal Bcutigny had written
Look at me. You are very beautiful
But not more beautiful than was /
See my hands. They were 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" saill
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 adj
vance. and hollows formed themselves
in 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
wrinkled wells
She reviewed the miserable weapons
with which she might wage her war
against these grfsly 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 night of 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 hirn
81 have seen Aurelie &c Frontignac."
she said.
'Then you have seen what remains
OF the most beautiful woman of her
day"
II believe you," said the countess.
"She did we'll to bury herselfT' he
asked.
"She did WELL" replied the countess
'sbut I shall do better"
The marechal searched her face