Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-12-13
MISS DEMAR'S STORY.


did L? Well, 1 didn't know it myself
ut first, for she had none Of that flush
and animation that makes you think
men and women handsome when they
are not But her face was just like
one cut out of n cameo, with all the
lines smooth and graceful. Her skin
was dark. hut fine and shining like
satin, and her eyes were steel blue,
steady and bright, with curled black
lashcs and wide 5rows / remember
that she wore black and white, with
pink coral ornaments, great deal,
and she was very fond of roses IN her
hair.
Sometimes size would Seem to think
much of these things, and then she
would be quite Indifferent, "Or mind
mHat l put her III. in the least. Absent
and sorrOwful-like she would be. And
she would have these spells often when
there were gay gentlemen in love with
her, as was plain to be seen. How
she managed it, or why it was, 1 pever
could see, but she never encouraged
any of her admirers.
She was fond of the place-of the
beach and the rocks and the sea. There
was a place called Red Cliff that she
washed it's base and swept away, so
wild and free She used often to take
me with her, "to take care Of her."
she said; for she was apt to grow alb
sent-minded in such places, and to
come away and forget a sha wi or book
or glove and once she came near being
cut off from the shore by the tide.
The hotel was the only house in sight,
except q stone one which stood upon
the rocks, mile up the beach, with
three cedar trees before 1t. I've heard
something about the master of it, but
not much.
Miss Demar was fond of the beach
while there were few persons upon it,
and would find her way to Red Cliff
quite early i'll the morning, as she sat
there, she commenced singing an old
song.
I recall the old song very well, and
she sang it very low and sweet. But
ct frightened me half out of my wits
10 see that there was IL man seated just
below us on the cliff and that he turn
ed and looked at her. He was n large
man, with a beard half gray, and would
havC been very handsome but for a
scar from his temple to his lips.
She did not see him at ali, and | was
afraid of terrifying her too much. 1t
was such Il lonesome spot, you see.
But pretty soon he got up and went
down the cliff; and when he was below
on the sands she spied him.
"Clotilde, who is that?" she said
wOnderingly.
II don't know, Miss Demar, but 1
fancy it must be the master Of the Ce-
Hars-a lone kind of man, who lives
there with one servant"
Her mind seemed to wander again,
and | was very glad, for it gave me
a diSagreeable feeling to see how he
looked at her-not fierce or evil like,
but with his eyes dilated, and his lips
twitching, so that it was quite startling
to see him, / dreamed of him that
might, and resolved that in the morning
IL would beg Miss Dcmar never to go
about the beach alone.
The next day was rainy, and she did
not go out, but sat all the morning in
her room with an old letter in her hand.
The sheet was quite yellow and there
was a little picture of ivory on 1T, l
saw. for she laid it down at last, and,
wrapping a shawl about her, went out
on the long, covered porch to walk,
las she sometimes did when a kind OF
EpSIipSSIlpSS SepIllcu W lDOSScSS hIl'
peeped-I could not help i'll was so
curious to see that picture.
[ just caught a glimpse Of hand
some man with blue eyes and blond
beard. and then the words of the letter
caught my eye for it was written as
clear as print. and one might have
read it running:
"Since my accident I am horribly dis
figured give you up. Tie your
blooming life to the sicllly wreck Of
mine, Elinor, my beautiful one! Fare
well! God bless and keep you!
Gerard"
I caught sight of those words here
aud there. for Miss Demar was just
across the hall, and likely to come in
at any instant; and it was very wrong
of me, anyway, to be peeping at her
secrets and she was so good to me-!
But curiosity causes many a wicked
sin. sir
Having found out so much, / broke
away from the temptation and ran
downstairs. sorry to know what L did,
since I'd no right to it. and satisfied in
my mind why Mr.. Alcester got such
cool bows, and why she never would
drive out with Colonel Grafton. When
j went up to dress her for dinner l saw
that she had been crying, and yet she
danced that night till II o'clock.
1t was less than week after that
that there came Il cold. rainy time, and
the people at the Surf House were
thrown more together and got more IA
miliar; and Mr. Alcester and Colonel
Grafton both offered themselves to
Miss Demar and were refused.
She was playing upon the piano one
evening, when the Colonel was talking
and walking with Mr.. Ray upon the
long porch. just outside the window,
and she saw, as l did, the queer figure
of an old Frenchman in n velvet coat
come running across the sands and up
the hotel steps. Mr.. Ray went to
meet him.
What is it, Varai?'' he said.
Miss Demar started from her seat
and went to the door.
"SOme help. monsieur. NJ. Auxerre
dies very ill-he has the fever. / leave
him all alone while / come to you
VIII you bring one doctor to us? NJ
AuXerre is near to death-very, very
ill"
The little Frenchman was the picture
of distress. To my surprise Miss De
mar pushed through the gentlemen an(
Ia