Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-02-21
TWO KISSES.

Comfortably cnScOnccd in an easy
chair, her pretty brunette head
pressed lightly AGAINST the lace cu~E-
ion. tn" young Countess Eva dc Val
rev sat mutionl"ss before the fire.
gazing dr"amily into the kissing
flames. One of her little hands held
dainty gauZc screen before her
face, while the other hung listlcsslv
at her side. its Wilderness enhanced
by her long black gown. and the
open letter. which had Slipped from
her fingers To the floor, looked like
a white bird with outStretchcd
wings.
This letter. from her Aunt Nseult,
annoyed the young widow excessive
~ with its reiterated cntrCaties for
her 10 marry again. Her aged and
only r"latlv" assured her that the
position of II widow of - years was
an impossible one, but Eva de Valrey
acknowledged down. very far down.
In the depths of her own heart that
sh" had never been so happy as now
Free, independent, with a beautiful
boy years old, she had all the pleas
ur"N of matrimony and none of its
drawbacks.
Husbands arc n great trouble"
she thOught-"that i. Judging by
the one | had AUNT YScult pre-
tends that hc was an exception, but
she seems Ia forget that She herself
introduced her nephew 10 me and
assured IN" at the time that he DOS.
seSscd every good quality under the
sun. | cannot place much reliance
on her now when she declares that
She has SuitOr> for me who are abso.
Int" pcrfcCtiur. Thanks, dear aunt,
one experience is quite enough for
me
She got up languldly and took a
few steps through the room. The
air WAS fragrant with the scent of
Parma violcts, of which great bunch.
eS filled every nook, their soft tints
blending tremendously with the
mauvc silk which covered the walls
and making the whole room seem
like an enormous violet SaChct.
Shall ! 90 and visit her at the
Chateau Grillon, AZ she cntrcats:"
she said thoughtfully. "Why should
not: suppose l need not be afraid
of her marrying me off against NV
will! Besides il will be good op.
portunity to tell her, once for all.
that intend 10 remain n widow for.
ever.
She sat down at u diminutive eb.
ony secretary, and the light, falling
from under the mauvc silk shade of
the tall lamp near her. cast soft
aurcUlc round her lovely face. with
its large brown eyes. its delicatrlv
chisclcd nose and its pouting lips.
and rendered still more dazzling the
pearly tint of her skin.
Taking out sheet of note paper.
She wrote Il few lines thanking her
dear aunt for the invitation which
she had 50 much pleasure in accept.
ing. Then che lapScd into rrvery
again.
Eva had married the old Count de
Nalrcy, not for love, but in order 10
atone for what >h" considered grave
offensr. II" had led gay life. and
having arrived AZ an age when his
joints wcr" Stiff and his gallant
speeches called forth only smiles of
contempt from their fair hearers he
realized that il was time for him 10
settle down. Accordingly he applied
for assistance 10 his AUNT YSrult
who. being SplnStcr. was vigor
ouS and enthusiastic matchmaker,
and two days later he WAS presented
10 Eva Young orphan. who had re-
comfy returned home from her con.
Vent school and was still studyin"
under II mtOr. The count had no
sooner laid eyes on the lovely girl
than he mounted the hobby of love
and set out for the conquest of bean.
ty. The attentions of the old bach
elo, did not trouble their recipient
in the least. Indeed. she found him
rather amusing, and although his
gallant speeches sometimes brought
n momcntary flush to her satin
check that was their only effect,
and if any one had said to her, Be.
hold your husband. she would have
exclaimed with a ripple of laughter,
Il do not care for old relics" One
evening, when torrents of rain were
falling, Aunt ISrult and the tutor
We're seated in a corner OF the draw
ing room playing hrNquc, and at tho
other end of the room Eva was at
the piano, with thu Commit dc Valrcy
beside her turning tEr leaves Of the
music. The allurinc strains of
Brahms walt2cs and the lutte white
hands flying over the keys affected
the elderly lover to such n degree
that he exclaimed in II huShCd wills
per rs he bent over her:
"Since have known You, have
beauty, grace, lowell
ness
And you did not do so before?"
ia asked marrilv