Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-03


Diane-Well?
Maid (asideJ-I am nothing but a
fool. (Aloud He may have been
Diane with annoyance)-You have
certainly a very short memory, made
mOiSelle. Go get the cards. Maid
goes out) 1t was hardly worth while
to close my door to everybody in order
to secure his tete-a-tete. Judging by
the way he takes advantage of it.
(The clock strikes g.
Maid bringing the cards)-Monsieur
lie Marquis has not called. l con-
founded him with Monsieur de Prag-
ME
Diane struggling her shoulders)-A
fine resemblance! What hour has just
struck? Six? aside I shall not see
him this evening.
Maid (softening)-Oh! that clock is
twenty minutes fast
Diane-Do you think so? affirmative
sign.) Well, l will rest a little. That
is all.
while-wa meA-;v- H
Maid (aside)-GOod. she is reconciled.
provided Monsiuer de Lustrac comes.
| Goes out)
Diane (she seats herself in the arm
chair and pokes the fire in Silence)-
Am | quite ridiculous? (She rises and
leans on the mantel) But, really, every
man who comes near me is more or
less interested in me, and even to
| count carefully (she counts on her fin
gers), [ might find three or four who
are a little more than interested-one
even who has an insuppOrtable mania
for wishing to marry me, in spite OF
wind and tide. One single man pays
me no attention, or at least he treats
me us 4 good comrade," which is
wOrse-and precisely that man-(she
stamps her foot angrily)-I cannot help
it-1 think only of him! It is the
spirit Of contradiction women. More
softly, with feeling.) If I could only
be sure that the spirit of contradic-
ton alone is responsible! (She leans
her forehead on her hand and sighs.)
Scene II.-Diane. the Maid, then Guy.
Maid-Monsieur lie Marquis de LUIS
trac asks if madame lie comtesse will
receive him?
Diane-You told him 1 have a head
ache?
Maid-Yes, madame.
Diane with i'll concealed satisfac-
tion)-And monsieur lie marquis in
sisted?
Maid-Insisted very hard, madame,
SO 1 thought 1 might
Diane (quickly)-Very well-let him
come in. (The maid goes out Diane
arrangeS her hair, returns to the sofa
and takes a position indicative of
suffering.)
Guy (entering)-You have a head
ache?
Diane-Ah! I am suffering martyr
dom!
GUY ought not to have come in
then 1t is not my fault was going
away-but your maid offered to in
quire if you were better and
Diane (much veXed)-In short, that
simpleton made you come in against
your will. Say so at once.
Guy-Well, you seem to be in fine
humor this evening
D1ane-I would like to give you my
headache to see for a while what sort
of humor you would be in.
GUy-Oh. as to that-you will give
ME your headache. Gle consults the
thermomcter) Twenty degrees Reau-
muir; and such violent perfumes! Gle
gasps for breath)
Diane (holding out one of her gloves
to hini)-Ycu don't like this odor?
M. de Iustrac; having assured himself
that he is not observed, kisses the
glove with passionate tenderness.)
Guy returning the glove very colby
No.
Diane Tather sadly)-And yet you
brought it to me from the Orient You
don't remember it2 Gle makes a sign
that he does not) Well, my poor
friend, go away if you fear being i'll.
Guy Iseating himself In the arm
chair)-My dear nlaJlame, when I was
visiting the Indies three years ago, the
cholera was carrying off several thou
sands Of persons every day-that did
not make me leave one hour sooner.
Diane GrOnically)-Indeed you are
decidedly not to be frightened by
scourges. Only as you are going to
stay, please ring for a lamp. This
half-obscurity is not entirely proper
Guy-Oh! not prOper-with any one
else perhaps. But with a good COM
rade such as [ am-(Madame de Linn
eull makes a gesture of annoyance
Come! you don't agree with me- At
any rate, know no hour for talking
to be compared with the one called
Between dog and WOLF
Diane-That depends very much on
the subject of the conversation Gen
orally, / like to see the faces of people
who are talking to me. And then
Between dog and wolf'-(she shud-
ders slightly)-these sinister words al
ways give me a chill [ seem to see
a great beast with pointed ears and
long teeth and eyes glittering in the
ObScurity.
Guy forgetting himself a little
Yes, that does for the wolf But the
dog-the dog, so vigilant so faithful,
ready to die for the protection of her
whom he loves, asking nothing but a
poor little careSs from time to time!
Madame de Limeuil, slightly moved
extends her hand to him, which he
presses, resisting the desire to kiss it,