Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1896-02-20

descended when she married her late
husband: and that her great object in
life is to get the title of her family
years since extinct in the male line)
settled on her SOM"
Yes" replied Trudaine: 4 remem-
Der to have heard something of this,
and to have paid no great attention to
1t at the time, having little sympathy
with such aspirations as you describe
You have lived many years in Danvilles
| service, Monsieur Lomaque; have you"
he hesitated for moment, then con-
tinued, looking the land-steward full
in the face, have you found him a good
and kind master?"
LomaQue's thin lips seemed to close
instinctively at the question, as If he
were never, going to speak again. He
bowed-Trudaine waited-he only
bowed again. Trudaine waited a third
time. Lomaque looked at his host with
perfect steadiness for an instant, then
his eyes began to get weak again.
You seem to have some special inter-
est" he quietly remarked, IF l may
say so without offense, in asking me
that question:"
Il deal frankly, at all hazard, with
every one," returned Trudaine; "and,
stranger as you are, l will deal frank
ly with you. I acknowledge that l
have an interest in asking that ques-
tion-the dearest, the tenderest of all
interests" At those last words his
voice trembled for moment, but he
went on firmly: From the beginning
of my sisters engagement with DAN
vile, | made it my duty not to conceal
my own feelings; my conscience and
my affection for Rose counseled me to
be candid to the last, even though my
candor should distress or offend 9TH
ers. When we first made the acquaint-
ance of Madame Danville, and when l
first discovered that her sons atten-
lions to Rose were not unfavorably re-
ceiVed, felt astonished, and though
it cost me hard effort, did not con-
ceal that establishment from my sis
ter
Lomaque, who had hitherto been all |
attention, started here, and threw up
his hands in amazement. "Astonish- |
ed, did l hear you say? Astonished,
Monsieur Trudaine, that the attentions |
OF young gentleman possessed of all !
the graces and accomplishments of a
Frenchman should be IA |
vorably received by young lady! AS
tonished that such dancer, such a
singer, such talker, such a notorious
ly fascinating ladies' man as Monsieur
Danville should, by dint of respectful
succeed in making some i'm
on the heart of Mademoiselle
Rose! Oh! Monsieur Trudaine, vener-
ated Monsieur Trudaine, this is almost
too much to credit" Lomaque's eyes
grew weaker than ever and winked in
as he uttered this apostro-
phe. At the end he threw up his hands
again, and blinked inquiringly all
round him, in mute appeal to universal
nature.
When, in the course of time, mat !
ters were farther advanced contin-
ned Trudaine, without paying any at
.ention to the interruption; when
ne offer of marriage was made, and
when knew that Rose had in her own
leart accepted it, | objected, and l did
lot conceal my objections" !
Heavens" interrupted Lomaque
gain, clasping his hands this time with
! look of bewilderment; what objec-
ions? what possible objections to
pan, young and well-bred, with an i'm
nense fortune and an uncompromised
haraeter? have heard of these OBJ {
ections. know they have made bad ]
''""d' and / ask myself again and