Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-04-18
\ STORY OF TWO KISSES.
From Romance.l


~ oMFoRTABLY ensconced in al
easy-chair, her pretty brunette
head pressed lightly against the
lace cushion, the young Countess
Eva de Valrey sat motionless be-
fore the fire, gazing dreamily into
E kissing flames. One of her little
nds held dainty gauze screen before
II face, while the other hung listlessly
her side, it's whiteness enhanced by
er long black gown, and the open let
r, which had slipped from her fingers
the floor, looked like white bird
it'll outspread wings.
This letter, from her Aunt Yseult, an
Dyed the young widow excessively
nth its reiterated entreaties for her to
harry again. Her aged and only rela-
We assured her that the position of a
Fidow of % years was an impossible
pe, but Eva de Valrey acknowledged,
own, very far down, in the depths OF
er own heart, that she had never been
happy as now. Free, independent,
nth beautiful boy four years old
be had all the pleasures of matrimony,
nd none of it's drawbacks!
Husbands are great trouble" she
bought, "that is, judging by the one 1
ad. Aunt Yseult pretends that he
Fas an exception, but she seems t for
let that she herself introduced her
Eephew to me, and assured me at the
lme that he possessed every good quail
ty under the sun. l cannot place much
eliance on her now when she declares
hat she has suitors for me who are alb
dilute perfection. Thanks, dear aunt;
ne experience is quite enough for me. !"
She got up languidly aid took few
Iteps through the room. The air was
Fragrant with the scent of Parma vio-
let's, of which great punches filled every
hook, their soft tints blending harmo-
hiously with the mauve silk which
covered the walls, and making the
whole room seem like an enormous
"Shall 1 go and visit her at the Chat
eau Grillon, as she entreats?n she said
"Why should / not? l
suppose l need not be afraid ot her
marrying me off against my will! Be-
sides, it will be a good opportunity to
tell her, once for all, that i intend to
remain widow forever
She sat down at diminutive ebony
secretary, and the light, falling from
under the mauve silk shade of the tall
lamp near her, cast soft aureole round
her lovely face, with its large brown
eyes, it's delicately chiselled nose, and
its pou ing lips, and rendered still more
the rearly tint of her skin.
Taking out sheet of note-paper, she
wrote few lines thanking her dear
aunt for the invitation which she had
SO much pleasure in accepting. Then
she lapsed into revery again.
Eva had married the old Connt de
Valrey, not for love, but in order to
atone for what she considered a grave
offence. He had led gay life, and
having arrived at an age when his
joints were stiff, and his gallant speech
es called forth only smiles of contempt
from their fair hearers, he realized that
it was time for him to settle down. Ac-
cordingly, he applied for assistance to
his Aunt Yseult, who, being spinster,
was vigorous and enthusiastic match
maker, and two days later he was pre-
scented to Eva, a young orphan who
had recently returned home from her
convent school and was still studying
under tutor. The count had no SOON
er laid eyes on the lovely girl than he
mounted the hobby of love and set out
for the conquest of beauty. The atten-
tons of the old bachelor did not trouble
their recipient in the least. Indeed,
she found him rather amusing, and al
though his gallant speeches sometimes
brought momentary flush to her satin
cheek, that was their only effect, and
if any one had said to her, "Behold
your husband,n she would have ex-
claimed with a ripple of laughter, II
do not care for old relics" One even
ing, when torrents of rain were falling,
Aunt Yseult and the tutor were seated
in a corner of the drawing-roOm play
ing bezique, and at the other end of the
room Eva was at the piano, with the
Count de Valrey beside her turning the
leaves of the music. The alluring
strains of Brahms waltzes, and the lit
tie white hands flying over the keys,
affected the elderly lover to such de-
gree that he exclaimed in hushed
whisper, as he bent over her:
"Since / have known you, have ap-
preciated beauty, grace, loveliness-'
"And you did not do SO before?" she
asked merrily.
~ did not believe in Them" he an
swered. 81 thought that love was 8
delusive song invented by poets"
She laughed mockingly as she said
but you KNOW DeIteI HOW, sup
pose, COUNT"
eyes, know too well, +" he whispered
passionately 81 feel the reality of the
pangs, for love your; and, carried
away by the earnestness of his declare
ton, he stopped over her and stole
kiss
A loud, harsh discord on the piano
which made the card-players look rouno
in wonder, was the only response to
this act of temerity, and Eva, offended
and indignant, closed the piano
without a word and left the room.
That kiss was cataclysm, for, &C
cording to the girls cOnventual ideas
to be kissed 10y a man constituted {
crime for which marriage alone could
atone. The next day, therefore, in
spite of her hearts protestations, il
spite of her lovers age and unattrac
tfveness, she announced her willingness:
to marry the Count de Valrey, without