The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-07-19

Blank was going abroad for the summer
and had decided to take six of her girls for
a three-months tour of the Continent
and six only.
Frances Ray was one of the first who
wanted to go, but, when not less than
twenty girls begged to be allowed to join
the party, Miss Blank, in despair, appealed
to NJ. de Marceau.
(Which of these young ladies are the
six the most capable of protiting by the
voyage, with regard to their studies?" she
asked him; and NJ. de Marceau made Sc
lection.
"But Miss Ray! My dear Frances
surely she will learn her French in Eu-
rope.' Miss Blank exclaimed for Frances
Ray was not one of the chosen six.
pardon, mademoiselle. Mees Ray, who
cannot learn re first of re rules wiz me,
could she zen speak wiz strangiars?' an
swered the Frenchman, with a shrug
And Frances Ray, bitterly disappointed,
flashed an indignant glance at her tormen-
tor, and left the room.
The night before the sailing of the
steamer La Bretagne, on which accommo-
dations for the party had been secured,
Miss Blank passed with Mrs Barber, Fran
ces Rays aunt.
In the afternoon, during last CONVEX
sation with NJ de Marceau, Miss Blank had
partially promised to attend that evening a
| I 7 e ~
which was to be held at Delmonicos, where
NJ. de Marceau and several of his literary
friends were expected to speak.
Now, Miss Blank was decidedly interest
ed both in the debate and in the young
Frenchman himself, but how could she at
tend such a meeting alone?
'Mees Ray, would she not come also, .
de Marceau questioned; "she would not
understand, but Meez Blank could zen
come
Frances demurred at first II hate that
man sor' she exclaimed; II can't bear to
be near him.
Then, as a little sigh of resignation es-
capped Miss Blank, the girl turned quickly,
and, flinging her arms around her teachers
neck, declared that they would go.
Accordingly that evening found them
listening to various able speakers, and it
occurred to Frances Ray that she under
stand far more of the French than she
had expected to understand
NJ. de Marceau and his friend, NJ Char
| %I,o Ia I. Mt
de Marceau walked to the car with Miss
Blank, and his friend with Frances RAY.
The car was crowded, and Miss Blank
found some difficulty even with NJ Char
bouniers assistance in forcing her way in
side. And not until they were several
blocks nearer home did they discover that
the others of their party were not in the
| car.
Frances Ray had been standing on the
| first step of the street car, waiting for Il
chance to follow Miss Blank, when sud
denly hand caught her arm and pulled
her backwards, and in another moment the
| alone with the man she dreaded and loath-
ed who whispered hoarsely:
"You shall not go, Mees Ray, until haf
told you-that | luf you-yes, even r
seeing her shrink from him as be bent to-
wards her the better to sean her face in the
lamp-light. "Why did treat you so cruel
ly, and make you hate me, when l was, all
re time, longing to take you in my arms
fn iSS fnars or h,l
brought to zose dear eyes? Why? Because
l had promised Miss Blank on my honor
that to not one of her pupils would |
breathe word of luf But now am free,
free. tomorrow leaf for France, for my
home Gif me but one leetle word of hope,
and soon l will come back for you, ma
cherie, mon amour. Frances, ma petite
refine, tell me Eat you luf me. An. CONNIE
je t adorer'
Half after eleven had chimed from the
great oak time piece in Mr. BARRIERS libra
ry, when, as if in answer to her uncle's
VOWS of vengeance, and to the tears of both
her teacher and her aunt, the door opened
to admit Frances Ray, pale, trembling,
and fearful. Under bond of secrecy, she
told them all that had passed, imploring
her uncle to let the matter rest, as NJ. de
morning, probably never to return; then
she denounced him as the most deteStable
of men.
As she stood for moment on the gang
plank next morning, after bidding Miss
Blank goodbye Frances Ray selected two
red sebuds from a bunch she wore and
threw them, with a pretty gesture, at her
teachers feet. Scarcely had they touched
the deck when Paul de M;.rceau, stepping
quickly forward, raised them gently-aye,
tenderly-and with infinite grace, present
ed one sweet token to Miss Blank: the
other he pressed to his lips, unhecding the
crowd who saw him do it, and murmured
in Miss Blanks l-sympathizing ear: For
gif me. | luf her, and | must 90
Before La. Bretagne had reached Havre,
Miss Blank knew of Nj. de Marceau's love
for Frances Ray, and tie story of his life
Il am IN France a man of arts and let
ters; statesman he told her. Il am
rich, very rich, but a quarrel with my father
"a political quarrel-sent me to America
Now, all is WELL and you will see how |
am received
And surely enough, on the evening of
landing, as they dropped anchor in the
beautiful harbor, Il tender, gay with flags,
Illuminated with many y-colored lights, and
alive with people who chcered Justify to
the accompaniment of the "Marseillase,"
which sounded from on deck, steamed up
alongside of the great ship, when a shout
arose from a hundred voices of