Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-30
WHAT CAME OF A KISS

Wu9 AOH4 LILY U&}k1<4s AL tu0 A4OIuAAH
through be had lounged in the dim old
library.
Poor Raoul. be felt himself much to
be pitied IL this his self imposed exile
at his aunt chateau, but certain press
ing and too clamorous creditors had me-
cessitated q hasty, not to say somewhat
undignified. retreat from the festivities
Of the court Of Marie Antoinette to The
chateau de St. Jean in the heart Of Brit
tany.
The old Mafquise de Brillac, his aunt
and sole remaining relative, had lived
here as long as be could remember
Here. too, he had been brought up since,
little fellow Of 6 years. clad in deep
mourning, he had alighted from the
great numbering coach and had been
conducted into the presence Of stately
old lady, who kissed the poor little vi
comte tremendously on both cheeks and
told him that from now be was to con-
slider the chateau as his home, since it
had pleased 'le bon Dieu' to take both
his father and mother to himself
At 22 he had started for Paris to take
up his commission Of captain in the
kings bodyguard, commission he had
held, according to the custom Of the
time. since he had been 10 years old.
Fresh from his Breton home he had
plunged into all the foIlies of the dissi-
pated capital and now, four years after
ward, he had come back to obtain his
aunt's assistance in repairing his shat
tered fortunes
That she was deeply shocked and Of
Tended be knew, but he also knew that
the childless old lady dearly loved his
handsome scapegrace self, womanlike,
perhaps, never more so than when she
had most cause for anger.
He had arrived at the chateau the pre-
vious evening, and his reception had
been anything but cordial, and all this
morning he had awaited an audience
with his much offended relative, who
had at last sent him word that she de-
sired his presence at dinner at o'clock
Thank God, it is almost 4 r ejacu-
lated Raoul as, wearied and bored beyond
expression, he wended his way to the
apartments Of the marquise, from which
she rarely, if ever. stirred.
He reached the antechamber of the
salon and glanced at the Dresden clock
ON gilt console BAIL 1t wanted ten
the old lady's rigid notions of etiquette
and felt sure that the sin of arriving too
soon for dinner was as great in her eyes
as that Of arriving too late.
Well, there was nothing for it but to
wait the prescri bed ten minutes and en-
ter the apartments exactly on the stroke
of 4. So, for the one hundredth time
that day, the yicomte gazed listlessly
out on the court of the chateau, wet and
steaming in the never ceasing rain
A patter of high heeled shoes, a from
frou Of silken skirts, and Raoul turns
from his contemplation of the dreary
courtyard to encounter the daintiest
little waiting maid that ever carried
dish. Her lace cap is perched coquet-
tishly on her soft brown hair; her robe
of pink silk is caught back over petit
coat of paIest green, short enough to re-
veal her feet and ankles and her clocked
stockings and crimson, high heeled shoes;
3 her bodice, cut low, after the fashion
of the day, displays neck for round
ness and whiteness court lady might
envy, while in her hands she carries q
tureen Of soup.
But her faoe-Raoul forgets all else
after one glance at it-like rose in its
fowerlike tints, and lighted up by pair
of hazel eyes, which in passing fash
swiftly for moment at the handsome
hold is talking.
Raoul is seized with a sudden mad
impulse. Quick as thought he springs
from the window and places himself be-
fore the door of the salon in such man
ner as to effectnally bar all further prog
ress of the pretty maid
She stands irresolute, then elancing
timidly at the handsome, hooking face
before her:
will you permit me to pass, mon
eieur?'
Not yet ma BELLE It is not often
such vision of loveliness gladdens my
eyes. You must stay a moment and talk
to me-tell me how it happens that I,
who have been mewed up here nigh two
days, have never discovered you before ?
An angry flush crimsons the girl s fair
face, to be succeeded by sudden gleam
Of mischief in her eyes, as, repressing
the sharp words that rise to her lips, she
says again:
sWill you permit me to pass, mon
sieur? Nine. la Marquise is waiting for
me- .
But he does not quit his position in
front of the door, although the little
feet begin to drum impatiently, and al
ready the clock is on the stroke of 4.
sMadam does not like to be kept
waiting : she began, when Raoul inter-
rupted her:
Let madam wait . Then seeing
look OF genuine distress on the lovely
face: Come, my fair prisoner, on one
condition will let you pass Let me
but kiss those tempting lips. Let me''-
She drew herself up with a stateliness
worthy of q duchess.
Monsieur. you mistake. dhe began
,aughtily, but Raoul S quick ear caught
The sound Of approaching footsteps,
She could offer no resistance, embar-
raised as she was with the turean, and
before she quite realized the fact the
audacious young noble had claimed his
toll and actually kissed her; then,
throwing open the door, stood aside,
bowing to her as deeply as be would to
his aunt herself.
One fash of the hazel eyes, and he
heard hor mutter beneath her breath:
Some day, my fine vicomte, ! will
mako you pay for this, and the pretty
waiting maid passed into he marquise's $
presence, followed closely by the scape-I
grace RaouL
Needless to say he won the old lady 8
full forgiveness before be had been i've
minutes at dinner Only once helmade
an unlucky remark which almost }mperr
lied his hopes.
Madam. you have . little maid here