The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-03-24
Jf53a page t@o.)

JfJR page t@o.)
crows, Wtifa ~ ttled only too easily into
4 sGowl, had 1T attractions for her, and
she resented his half carosaing, half ia.
nlllar manner. Madame, taking for
granted her will would be law in this
natter, had not consulted her, but Elise
moro than suspected the programme laid
out for her, aud. be the consequences
What they might, resolved never to ac-
sept it.
Armand oane and went at the cha.
teea 40, madame, who was a good
49,. 100 a&d temporarily hired,
and presently he began to take on airs
Of possession, almost of proprietorship,
in Elise herself, which that littlo lady
highly resented.
Elsie, you are barely civil to Ar
mand, P" madame said sharply enc day.
Let him, then, withdraw himself
a word to the wise is gu ficient,' - the
girl answered.
but l will not have it. You shall
be polite to my nephew in my house,"
the elder woman replied, stamping her
HUI alRrlly.
Elise was silent, but her little mouth
set in rebellious curves which BODIED no
good to tho cause of the dispute.
Armand st. Faure, however, had too
much confidence in himself to give full
credit to these rebuffs. LET me con
vince her that her future in madame's
favor depends upon her yielding and Ii
will be all right. After that"-with q
CLEAN in his eye that was not attractive
I'VE ran tame the little tigresa at our
leisure
But there was no hesitancy in Elise's
response when at last he brought the
matter before her. ;
"No, no." she said positively. II will
neye marry yeu, not if T. have to choose
between that and beggary. You are a
bad man. ] see it in your face, and You
do not love me any more han / love
you" st
"Mademoiselle pays but scant COM
pliment to her own attractions, " no re-
joined in a cold, sarcastic tone, and
vowed to himself that she should rue
her insolence.
Then gradually a change came over
Elise. She grew uneasy in his presence
and turned away from the fixed look of
the black eyes which steadily regarded
her. Now and then she would rise aud
go toward the door as il to leave the
and then turn and seat herself
again, and when she did so a CLEAN Of
triumph broke over Armand's face, a
look not good to see. :
Two pairs Of eyes watched her with
anxious solioitude. The undeclared low
er. Francois du Pre-, was Allied with de.
spair when what he rightly judged to
be a powerful rival first appeared. But
a short time convinced him that, how
ever small might be his own chances,
madame's nephew was still less in favor,
and ono more he took courage.
Other anxious and loving looks fol-
lowed Elise in her daily path Nannette.
the little maid who waited on madame
and fulfilled many a task neglected by
the other servants, was Elise's secret
adorer. The child had come from IN
orphan asylum, whose good sisters testi-
fed to her virtues. But, lacking beauty
and grace, save for a pair of honest eyes,
she had not found favor with madame,
and, being shy and holding aloof from the
other servants, had neither won their
liking.
Elise alone pitied the little girl.
whose lot bore some resemblance to her
own, and had treated her with much
kindness, to which Nannette returned a
passionate and adoring love.
when l marry, you shall come and
be my little maid. Nannette." jested
Elise, and on this the child built all
her hopes for a happier future. I
"Ah, if the beautiful mademoiselle
would but marry the good M. du Pre-
ami go far away. all would be welll'
she said to herself. Hence it is easy to
see who had obtained favor in her eyes,
for Francois, too. had now and again
given her q kind word and look and had
even added trifling remembrances which
had pleased her, albeit his motive may
not have been altogether single.
One morning madame awcke and rang
her bell with violence. A strange thing
had happt ned. From the finger where
she usually wore it day and night the
emerald ring had disappeared. She woke
with a disaRreeable feeling aud a head
ache, and she woke also in the worst Of
humors. Her emerald ring was one of
her most cherished possessions, and 10
fnd it had thus unaccountably disap-
peared angered her sorely.
Elise and Nannette flew at her call,
and 10th searched unsuccessfully for the
missing ring. So cross was madame that
she slapped Nannette OH the cheek,
which she had never done before, when
I---- I'LL.