Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-07-18
LISETTE's MISTAKE
BY Helen Forest Graves.

vi course l snail not marry him.
said Lisette Norman, haughtily.
Lisette was just the kind of girl
upon whom a hauteur sits with not
unbecoming grace; tall, we'll develop
ed. and featured like Greek statue.
Ernestine Grey, blue-eyed and soft
voiced, was as unlike her as possible,
as she sat there, her delicate cheeks
blushed and her hestless fingers work
ing nervously at the fringe of her
scarlet cashmere shawl.
But why not, Lisette?" she asked,
timidly. "He is noble, refined, we'll
educated-all that a man should be
in this exacting age of the world.'
In short, laughed Lisette, mockingly,
is perfect gentleman. Why don't
you say so, Ernestine, and IT. done
with it. do believe you're in love
with Henry March yourself"
Ernestine's face grew scarlet as her
shawl.
81 respect and admire him, I.isette,' -
she said; "a woman may do that with
reference to any man.
$50 do respect and admire him.
laughed Lisette, mockingly.
"Then why do you refuse him?"
"Ernestine," said Lisette, proudly,
"do you think I would marry car
penter? Are you mad enough to i'm
agine for q single instant that would
become the wife of common me-
'chanie? No, indeed When 1 marry, it
will be to elevate myself in the social
scale. not to sink into the Dlebeian
herd"
Lisette," pleaded Ernestine. II
think you are wrong. 1t is the man
you marry, not his social position or
rank"
"They can hardly be ASSOCIATED"
"But, Lisette," went on Ernestine,
II have not given credence to the re-
port up to this time, but people say
you are receiving the addresses of Mr..
st. Armand
"Well, and supposing that 1 am;
what thenY
ooh, Lisette, he is a bold, bad man.
"Nonsense, child; he's no worse than
other people," said Lisette, sharply.
"He drinks, and he CANDLES. know
it, for 1 have brothers"
every one takes social glass now
a-days, and as for gambling, why I've
none of the stiff, starched New Eng.
lands prejudices against an occasional
game of cards. He is a younger son
of the st. Armands of Worcestershire
in England-Sir Grey st. Armand's
younger son; and if his elder brother,
Leon st. Armand, should die, Hubert
succeeds to the property; and" she
added, with conscious smile, and q
slight deepening of the carmine color
on her cheek, II shall be Lady st. Ar
mand. of Armand's Hope"
"Lisette, has it gone so far as that?'
Gas what, you tiresome little lectur-
err"
care you really engaged to that sin
ister-faced MANI"
II really am" answered Lisette, de-
murely.
"Then it is of no use for me to argue
further with you"
''Of no use in the world. My mind
is fully made up on the subject; and
no amount of argument will move me.
I have some ambition in the world.''
Ernestine Grey went home, sad and
thoughtful. True, she had seen but
little of Hubert St. Armand, but that
little she disliked with almost instinc-
tive antipathy, and the idea of her
lovely, willful friend casting her lot
with his dark fate was repulsive ia
her in the highest degree.
She was sitting alone at her sewing
when Harry March was announced
the young carpenter whcm Lisette Nor
man regarded with such inveterate
scorn.
He was tall and handsome, with a
face whose frank, pleasant expression
seemed in itself letter of introduce
ton to the world around him.
Ernestine's welcoming smile and
blush were an earnest of her pleasure
in seeing him. He sat down beside
her workable, and began to play
corelcssly with the scissors.
II suppose YOU have been to see
your friend, Miss Norman, to-day?''
he said.
YES"
'You have heard, of course. then,
what a fool I've made Of myself" he
said, with slightly contracting brows.
81 have heard that she refused your
offer of marriage, Harry" she answer
ed. with gentle rcinonstrance in her
tone.
81 was a fool, Ernestine." lie said.
,gravely. II can see it now. myself.
as look back over the course of
events. Lisette is lovely and fascin-
ating, but she would have made no
fitting wife for me. think must
have been under a spell for the last
few weeks. and the glamour has Mt
last passed away 1t was severe
lesson, but am thankful for it, never
theless, and shall profit by it, Ernes-
tine If Won will allow ma
IF will allow you, Harry?'
ut is all In your power, Ernestine.
Will you accept second hand lover?
Lisette has rejected me-will you do
the sameY'
But, Harry" began Ernestine, pale
and breathless. do You really love
meY
II was fascinated with Lisette Nor
man. but love you. Ernestine. Can
you return the feeling, even In the
slightest degrse"