Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-12-26

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silent, but one day NJ. Silvaip, as h,
mounted the stairs, heard the voice o
fine soprano singing 'La Norman
die" The gentleman rang at the dool
of the etage. His curiosity wa
awakened. Nine. sEverard received
him.
81 fancy that the unusual has moi
escaped your notice." said the lady.
"Tho singer is the daughter of an old
friend of mine. Then there was ar
introduction, and NJ. Silvain paid hii
respects to beautiful young woman.
Madame said, "She is very adven.
turous and independent young lady,
NJ. Sllvain. When her father died
three years ago, leaving her to face
the world alone, she adopted music at
her profession, and, not being appre.
ciated iii her native place, Rouen,
came up to Paris"
"And she will be famous some day.
remarked NJ. Silvain, "and maybe she
will find a surer road to happiness
through marriage"
"If You consider marriage equival.
ent to happiness, NJ. Silvsin. pardon
me for asking how it is you are still a
bachelor"
"Mademoiselle, I must plead that j.
is not my fault, but my misfortune.
Constantly occupied in my-shem -
official duties, I have had no leisure
to think of matrimony, but l hope
"Your official duties?" the widow
interrupted quickly. "Then you have
post under Government, NJ. Sill
vain?"
"I-hm-have occupied my present
position for number of years, Ma
dame. Do not let my presence pre-.
vent you from finishing that charming
song, Mademoiselle.
trienadf.ss aaaaid aaef Mad Madame, when the two
were chatting aside.
"She is sdorablel such union of
grace. beauty. and sweetness 1 have
never seen."
"You must be very acute observer
to discover her angelic qualities after
being only five minutes in her COM
pany. But perhaps you have heard
something of her history-though ]
don't know who can have told you. +"
He shook his head with a smile.
"Renee is the daughter of Raymond
Duvillers of Rouen."
81 have heard OF him, Madame"
"You have heard nothing to his
credit, I fear" she remarked, shak-
ing her head significantly. "He be.
gan life with every advantage, but
after squandering his fortune, lie re.
trieved his fortune bya rich marriage,
though, of course, he soon ran through
half his wife's money. After her
fathers death, Renee found among
papers memorandum concerning a
certain NJ. Matthew, an EXCHANGING
master of Paris, whom the Captain
had-swindled. Duvilliers had man.
aged to keep on tho cate side OF the
code. WE'LL" she continued, ''you
may think how shocked his daughter
was by the discovery. She never
rested till, by means OF advertisements
In Partisan papers, she had discovered
her fathers victim and made restitu.
tion. She at once refunded the great
er part of the money, and undertook
to pay the rest in annual installments
out of the pittance she had left her.
self, which she proposed to increase
by teaching"
NJ. Silvain coughed, and changed
his sposition abruptly. "And this per.
son-Mathieu.-how could he accept
the reparation, knowing that she had
reduced herself to poverty in order
to-"
"He did not know it, The money
was refunded through her lawyer,
Maitre Delaunay, of Rouen, in her
fathers name. Delaunay was her
agent in the matter-solely against
his will, as it deprived his son of n
fortune for Renee was engaged to be
married to Maurice Delaunay, whom
she had known from chirdhood, but
when she insisted on beggaring her
self, the notary and his wife peremp.
torily broke off the match"
Her companion shut his snuifbox
with an indignant snap. "You must
have poor opinion of my sex,
Madame, if you think that beauty and
goodness such as hers
'Eh, my good Sir, you are sadly
behind the times But, hush," she
broke in, "Renee is coming back.
ut is strange" said Renee, slowly (;
"yOur face seems familiar to me.
can't think of whom it is You remind
me-"
NJ. Silvain presently took his leave.
When the little gentleman had bowed
himself ont, Nine. Everard turned t.
her companion and demanded ab.
ruptly: "Well. what do you think OF
my neighbour"
II think he is Charming, charm.
ing." she replied, with droll imitn-
tion of his manner"
sin fact, Renee, you have made a
conquest. He can't be much over
fifty. 1t is the prime of life for man. /
He is rich, good natured, and good /
occupying, it appears, n |
post under the Govern.
me tell you, Renee, that
such q match is not to be despisod by
q girl in your position.
perhaps not" she continued |
mildly; "but as happen to be already
engaged to Maurice Delaunay-"
did you not tell mo that the en-.
gagement had been broken off by his
people three years ago?'
'Ies-but not by himself He |