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

you. ueT !rltHu luest'Oueu, Will
| cynically y compassionate smile.
She answered softly, 81 am sure q
his fidelity. Work, walt, ana trust,
that is my motto"
AS she crossed the Pont Nenf mex
day Renee paused for u moment t
dropa contribution into the leather
wallet Of IN old, wooden legged tid
dler, lamiliariy known to Parisians b.
the soubriqnet OF Pere Joveux. Fo
more years than any one cared t
count he had haunted the same shel
tered corner near the end OF the bridge
Coins of any sort We're not very plen
tiful with Renee.
"My little lady, yon have given NJ
q silver piece; did you know
"Yes. 1 have no coppers. Is it no
a good one?" she asked.
"Quite good, and new one, too
shall keep 1t Tor luck, he replied
and he broke into the tune o! mon
sieur ct Madame Denis"
Renee found herself humming tn
refrain OF the foolish old song rs sh,
went her way. Hor heart thrilled will
the longing to see Maurice again; t
hear once more the dear, familiar voic
which to her was the sweetest musi
the world could give.
"Renee!"
Sho paused with start ut the speak
er. it was Maurice himself.
"Renee, don't you know me?' h'
questioned.
"Oh, Maurice, is it really you?" wa
all she could lind TO say. 81 had NJ
idea You were in Paris"
"Nor has anyone else," he replied
"And how has the world been usine
you, sweetheart, since we parted ,
year ago?" he went OH.
Fairly we'll, though, to tell the
truth, ] find the ruad to success steep
er than I expected"
"Why will you not give me the right
to help you, Renoe?'
81 have put my hand to the plow
and | must not look back" she re
joined, with q serious smile.
"Is it no hardship that you should
be wearing out your youth in toll and
poverty to atone for yonr fnther''
fault?"
Then the sound oil church clock
striking the hour made Renee start.
"Twelve o'clock! You have beguiled
me into forgetting all my pupils, she
exclaimed. II must 90 now"
"I intend to spend New Years Day
with you" said Maurice. "Till then,
goodbye. sweet love. leave my
heart in your keeping"
"As mine is in yours" she whis.
pered as they parted.
1t was the last day of the old year.
For the first time on record NJ. Silvain
so far departed from his usual habits
as not to leave home till afternoon.
"And he was dressed like Prince,
Ma"hMe' " L.~.a now overcoat with
a fur collar, and NAT you rUuiu sec
yourself in. 1 was to give his compli-
ments and say that he would have the
honor of waiting upon you ut 4
o'clock. when he hoped to find Mile.
Renee also at home" said Marthe,
Nine. Everard's maid.
Meanwhile, her fellow lodger, walk.
ing with his most juvenile step.
crossed the river, along the Boulevard
to the Palace Royal, where he entered
a florists shop and purchased, at a
fancy price, superb bouquet of hot
house roses.
After a stroll through the brilliant.
ly lighted arcades OF the Palais, he
turned toward home, which he reached
shortly before o'clock.
"The ladies are in the salon." Mar.
the told him; 'there is visitor with
them, n friend Of Mademoiselle, who
has just arrived"
Every good," he answered absently.
The old bachelors cheeks were
and his heart beat fast as he
the door of the sitting
room. 1t was partly open, and as he
paused, furtively adjusting his collar
and cravat, he heard sound of laugh.
ter within-Renee's musical voice
with the deeper tones of a
man.
On the hearth, opposite to him,
stood Renee, flushed and radiant,
looking up into tho handsome,
bronzed face Of a tall, dark eyed
young fellow OF three or four and
twenty, who had imprisoned both her
hands in his own, while his other arm,
rom which she was laughingly en-.
1eavoring to disengage herself, cncir.
,led her waist.
''Let me go, sir; don't you see that
Mme. Everard looks quite scandal.
zed?' she exclaimed, glsncing at
Nine. Eyerard, whose face expressed
the most unqualified disapproval.
'It is at you, then, not at mel" he
declared. MADAME is naturally as.
tonished that you should object to be
respectfully saluted by your fance-
'o" and suiting the action to the
word, he bent and kissed her.
NJ. Silvain started as If he had been
struck, and hastily drawing back, be.
'ore any one had perceived his pres
,nce, turned from the door.
make my compliments to the
aides, and say that as they have
'isitor l will not intrude this even.
ns," he said, and walked away.
Safely locked in his own rooms, he
tood for moment looking vaguely
ound. like one waking LON dream,
hen. becoming conscious Of the roses
II his hand, ne flung them from him
With passionate ejaculation, and
itting down at the table. let his head
all on his folded arms and cried like Il
hild.
Then there came gentle knock at
lis door, and he opened it.
III an come to scold you, NJ.
,ilvain." said Renee, with her sweet
mile. "Marthe tells us that you re.
used to come in because We had n
'isitor. Surely you did not think you
vould be iptruding? NJ. Delaunay
wishes to be introduced to you.
ught to tell you,' she added shyly, |
that we-that We are engaged,