The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-05

And so il proved. Christmas passed
and found him still dancing attendance
He was harder hit than ever at the end
of January; the matter seemed to come
to a head in March, when he began, all
of sudden, 10 order clothes enough TO
stock a tailors shop, and to make prep
arations for leaving Paris.
Now, during all these weeks he had
never said a word TO me of the woman,
or of his own intentions about her.
Whether he remembered cur bit OF
difference at the Care de PEst; or
whether he had something in his mind
which he did not want me TO know. l
never found out. And though did my
best to get an inkling of what was going
on in the Rue de Lisbonne, L never sue
ceeded. You might as well have tried
20 pump an east-end waterworks as the
concierge of that hotel. The only
servant Mime. Pauline had was saucy
bit of goods, who could roll lies like an
auctioneer. Watch the place as did
and my eyes were rarely off il in my
leisure hours-I never learnt more than
common sense had told me at home,
Twice week he dined with her, or she
dined with him. For the rest, they
went 10 the theater but always with a
third party; they skated together; they
were seen in public places; yet so care.
full was she of her reputation that q
bishop could not have found fault with
her. thought at the start that she
might be trying 10 get his money over
the card-tablc--but here I was right
down wrong, and don't believe he staked
threepence the whole winter through.
And It's fair to say that she led him into
no other extravagances. He spent less
money that quarter than he had done
for years--drank less, and was better
tempered.
This is how the thing went on until
March; and when that month came
had given il up as mystery. 1t seemed
TO me that he was just in love with the
creatures pretty face and pretty ways,
and that was all you could say about IL.
] concluded that he would end by mar
rying her; and that l should find my
self compelled either 10 serve n mis-
tress-which could never door to be-
gin life afresh with what capital had
made in his service. And | was just
looking about TO see what sort of n fu-
ture / could make for myself when he
burst upon me with the news that we
were going into the country, and that
our destination was Brittany.
"It's not the time I'd be choosing to
leave Paris" said he, ''but we won't be
1..,,
we return. Ye must know that she's
n great place In Brittany, at the woods
of Folgoet il is, and we're to take the
night train to Chnteaulin on Monday.
VIII ] be wanting clothes, do you
think?'
told him that he had suits enough TO
last him ten years, for was never one
that hungered after old coats; but he
was not to be put off that way.
"'Tis true enough" said he, yet l
doubt the shape of them entirely.
There's great folks TO meet-Duc de
Marmontel-he's coming"
"Oh," said /, "is that the one they
wouldn't have at the Jockey club last
year?"
devil for the play, they tell me. Then
there's Prince Paul, the Russian, and
Lord Beyton, son of the earl of Lomond,
you'll remember. Bedad! it's pleasant
company altogether, though man
would do well not to finger the cards
with them"
you're right there, sir" said I,
"a n x,ytlI
cards in Brittany"
"Not at ALL" said he; "shell have
nothing to ciowitls them. Her brother,
Comte de Faugere, told me so yester.
day. They say that he's going for the
church, though have my doubts. Ye
must remember that she herself is the
widow of an artist and fond of gay
folks. l make sure she'll amuse us
finely"
IL was no good arguing with him,
for he was set upon il, and, 10 cut a
long story short, we were in Brittany
and at madame's chateau on the follow
ing Tuesday morning. ] said at once
that n prettier place never was; nor one
with such green hills and sweeping for
ests. Mile after mile we drove from
the station through woods which man
never seemed TO tread. There were
may paths and leafy groves, turn
where you would. The house itself
was like an old shire mansion, low and
gabled, with white spire at the north
end Of IL. and lawns smooth as billiard
tables before its windows. The com
pany, 50 far as names went, was beyond
falkland by far the best ornament
10 be found the whole house through
was Nine. Pauline, who looked for all
the world like a pretty schoolgirl
broken out OF bounds 20 enjoy herself.
Think as / would, could find no fair
reason 20 quarrel with my quarters or
the woman who found them for me-
nevertheless, ] had my doubts about
the journey from the start; could make
nothing OF IL. In fact, and was the more
suspicious on thnt account.
whats her gomez I kept asking
myself what is she doing down here