Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-17

I thought 1 was doing right. When
viscount de La Roche came last week
didn't you keep him to dinner? 1t
seemed only right to do the same thing
with this young a You've always
told me to be h%ospitable above all
things she added gravely.
There was nothing for the Marquis
to do but submit. The welcome, how
ever, which he accorded to Andre was
not of the most cordial nature.
Andre Lacombe had never been so
deeply in love with his profession as to
look upon the study of art as an act of
faithlessness. He had devoted much
time to literature, he had a good knowl-
edge of sculpture and painting, he al
~passionately fond of music. Then,
thank heaven, he was not one Of your
handsome men. The Immediately
combed. brushed, shaven, curled. glow
ed, shod and cravated young man, stiff
and affected in the utter perfection Of
his attire, Is one of the Affections of
good society. Tall, slender, with an
open and intelligent countenance,
Andre had an air of distinction about
him without any admiXture of exagger-
alton or ~pretension. He looked to be
what he was-a man of ideas and orig
inality.
At table they had talked of every
thing. carefully eschewing politics and
railways. when someone happened
casually to mention the name of Mo-
Fart. This was Valmenier's favorite
master. His devotion to the composer
of Don Juan took on the dignity of
Il cult. Andre made the same pro-
fession of faith. The ice was broken.
The French Revolution had not made
any change in the laws of music, the
marquis and the engineer were broth
ers in this realm. Andre displayed
real eloquence in a delightfully."- impas-
stoned analysis Of the Marriage of
Figaro" Nalmenier was charmed:
Marguerite deeply moved. They had
W listened to anything so artist
cally and admirably put. Andre felt
himself inspired; no wonder with a
pair of such glorious blue eyes fixed
full upon him.
They left the table for the music
room and some Of Mozart's music was
taken from the rack and Marguerite
sat down at the piano. Each selection
called forth one of those charming
discussions in which every opinion
has value on account of the sincerity
Of the conviction. At times Andre and
Marguerite continued the
ton quite alone on some particular
point, and these little bouts seemed
only to increase their good opinion of
each other.
Towards ten Andre rose to take his
leave. The Marquis thanked him for
having accepted their invitation. and
pressed him to come again, that they
might get better acquainted. Andre
excused himself, saying he was ex-
pected back in Paris. They separated
the best Of friends. OF the course Of
the projected railway or the sequestra-
ton Of any part or parcel of the Val
menier estate there had been no men
ton.
When Andre had reached his room
in the village hostelry he lighted a
cigar and threw himself down in an
easy chair, and Marguerite's fair girl
ish face, enwreathed in it's wealth of
soft, yellow hair, rose before him like
a beautiful vision. In vain did he
strive to explain the meaning of the
strange words which she had ad-
dressed to him in the park. If it was
all a jest. what could have been the
object of it? Surely she was not a
girl to amuse herself at the eX-
pense Of her maidenly dignity.
Could it be a case Of disordered imagi-
nation: Impossible! for how charming
had been the a and ready the wit
with which she met all the difficulties
and overcame all the perils Of the con-
%versation while at dinner. Suddenly it
occurred to him that he must finish and
mail his report to the department that
night. And then that grand old wall
with it's heavy coping browning like
a royal structure, as it bent away to
the north and south with a magnificent
sweep, pushed the gentler vision aside.
Did he hesitate? Did Marguerite's
fair face and sweet voice restrain
him? Read and see.
"As for this WALL" he wrote. "in or
der to avoid it, TIN. road must make a
considerable detour, and the construc-
ton Of a viaduct would be necessi-
tated. We must pass through the
property. 1t belongs to the Marquis de
Valmenier, and there is no hope of an
amicable arrangement. This old
lordling will yield to nothing save a
decree of sequestration."
Andre signed and sealed the report,
and sent it out to intercept the
midnight express. Then he quietly I'M
dressed and went to bed, and il the
beautiful Marguerite troubled his
dreams, the spirit who was tempting
him set up his scenery all for naught.
At daybreak the dream slipped quite
out of his memory.
CHAPTER II.
Marguerite was not SO fortunate as
Andre. She had a bad night of it,
and arose at daybreak to write to her
friend Marceline de Valensay. 1t be-
comes absolutely necessary to repro
duce her letter here. in part. Mt least.