Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-09-10
THE MAGIC SKIN.
Continued.

tween her mansion and the Rue des
Cordiers. but the distance seemed
short in spite of the cold. And was
to lay siege to Fedoras heart IN WIN
ter. and bitter winter, Win only
thirty francs in my possession, ana
such a distance as that lay between us!
"Once when she had promised TO go
to the theater with me she took 1t sud
denly into her head to refuse TO go out
and begged me to leave her alone. l
was In such despair over the peryersity
which cost me days work, ana VI l
must confess IT. my last shilling as
we'll. that | went alone where she was
10 have been, desiring to see the play
she had wished to see, | mad hardiy
seated myself when an electric shock
went through me A voice tod me:
She Is herep looked round and saw
the countess hidden in the shadow at
the back OF her box in the first tier,
"Will YOU come home with meE sne
said, when the play was over.
When we reached her house we seat
ed ourselves by the hearth, and when
the servant had stirred the hre ana
left us alone the countess turne to me
with an inexplicable expression and
spoke. Her manner was almost SOL
emn.
Since my return to France more
than one young man, tempted by my
money, has made proposals to me
which would have satisfied my pride
| have come across men, too, whose al
tachment was 80 deep and sincere that
they might have married me even IL
they had found me the penniless girl
used TO be Besides these, M. de
Valentn, you must know that new
titles and newly acquired wealth have
been also offered to me. and that
have never received again any OF those
who were SO ill-advised as TO mention
love to me II my regard for you was
but slight would not give you this
warning. which is dictated by friend
ship rather than by pride. woman
LAYS herself open to a rebuff Of some
kind II she lmagines herself to be
loved and declines, before 1t is uttered,
70 listen to language which in its ma
ture implies compliment.
"She spoke with the cool self-posses-
ston of some attorney or solicitor ex-
planning the nature Of contract or
the conduct OF lawsuit to a client.
There was not the least sign of feeling
In the clear tones Of her voice. Her
STEADY face and dignlfied bearing
seemed to me now full of diplomatic re-
serve and GOODNESS. She had planned
this scene, no doubt, and carefully cho-
sen her words beforehand Oh, my
friend, there are women who take
pleasure in piercing hearts and delib-
erately plunge the dagger back again
into the wound; such women as these
cannot but be worshipped, for such
women love or would fain be loved
Good-by, said. proudly.
q 'Good-by, till tomorrow, she an
sw erred, with little friendly bow.
"As ! passed under the gateway Of
the Institute feyered thrill ran
through me | remembered that | was
fasting, and that / had not Il penny, To
complete the measure OF my misfor-
tune, my hat was spoiled by the rain
How was to appear in the drawing
room OF woman of fashion with an
unpresentable hat? had always
cursed the inane and stupid custom
that compes lis 10 exhibit the lining
OF our hats and to keep them always in
our hands, but with anxious care
had SO far kept mine in a precarions
state OF efficiency
Il thought would so to Rastignac
on the morrow to confde Fedora 5
strange resolution to him. and With
that | slept.
All, ha! cried Rastiguac, as he saw
me enter his lodging al o'clock in
the morning know what brings you
here Fedora has dismissed you
Yesterday evening. he reiolned
luck ran against me. and that carried
of all my available cash But for that
trivial mshap ! would gladly have
shared my purse with YOU
Tie dressed and had his tlbury
brought round We went to the Cafe
dc Paris like d couple DC milltonaires
Here's Your man as he hcckoned
to this gentleman with a wonderful
crayat, who seemed 10 he looking for
a table thai suited lis IDEAS
THAT rogue has been decorated for
bringing out books that be doesn't
understand i word IF whispered Ras-
tignac he's a chemist a historian A
novelist and a political writer: he has
gone halves thirds or quarters Ill the
authorship On | don't know bow many
PLAYS and he is as ignorant as Dom
Miguefs mule
This III " M Nalentn. one of INV
friends whom ! must introduce 10 yau
as one OF our future literary cclehr.
ties He had Formerly an aunt mar
quise much h favor once III court. ana
for about two years he has been writ
ing Royalist history Of the Royol-
ton
Then bending over Ills singular
man 81 business lie went 6a