The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-02-05
TWO KISSES

| SOullOIIdUly SllSCOuSSu III al easy
chair, her pretty brunette head
pressed lightly against the lace cush-
ion, the young Countess Eva de VAL
rey sat motionless before the fire,
gazing dreamily into the kissing
flames. One of her little hands held
q dainty gauze screen before her
face, while the other hung listlessly
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 outstretched
wings.
This letter, from her Aunt Yseult,
annoyed the young widow excessive
ly with its reiterated entreaties for
her to marry again. Her aged and
only relative assured her that the
position of a widow of % years was
an impossible one, but Eva de Valrey
acknowledged down, very far down,
in the depths of her own heart that
she had never been so happy as now.
Free, independent, with beautiful
boy years old, she had all the pleas
ures of matrimony and none of it's
drawbacks.
Husbands arc a great trouble, "
she thought-"that is, judging by
the one l had. Aunt Yseult pre-
tends that he was an exception, but
she seems to forget that she herself
introduced her nephew to me and
assured me at the time that he pos
sessed every good quality under the
sun. cannot place much reliance
on her now when she declares that
she has suitors for me who are abso-
lutte perfection. Thanks, dear aunt,
one experience is quite enough for
me-"
She got up languidly and took a
few steps through the room. The
air was fragrant with the scent of
Parma violets, of which great bunch
es filled every nook, their soft tints
blending tremendously with the
mauve silk which covered the walls
and making the whole room seem
like an enormous violet sachet.
Shall l go and visit her at the
Chateau Grillon, as she entreats?"
she said thoughtfully. why should
l not? I suppose need not be afraid
of her marrying me off against my
will! Besides it will be a good OPP,
portunity to tell her, once for all,
that l intend to remain a widow for,
ever.
She sat down at q diminutive eb.
ony 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, its delicately
chiseled nose and it's pouting lips,
and rendered still more dazzling the
pearly tint of her skin.
Taking out sheet of note paper,
she wrote a few lines thanking hel
dear aunt for the invitation which
she had so much pleasure in accept
ing. Then she lapsed into revery
again.
Eva had married the old Count dc
Valrey, not for love, but in order tt
atone for what she considered a grave
offense. He had led a gay life, AND
having arrived at an age when his
joints were stiff and his gallant
speeches called forth only smiles d
contempt from their fair hearers hi
realized that it was time for him tx
settle down. Accordingly he applied
for assistance to his Aunt Yseult
who, being a spinster, was a vigor
GUS and enthusiastic matchmaker
and two days later he was presented
to Eva, young orphan, who had re
Gently returned home from her con
vent school and was still studyinl
under tutor. The count had nj
sooner laid eyes on the lovely CIR
than he mounted the hobby Of Low
' And at os,t for tha ooy,n,a cat ri bean