The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-25

was a small white-draped table with
fruits, cups and glasses and two or three
chairs. As he gazed curiously at these
new signs Of life and occupation, he be-
came aware of q regular and monoto-
nous tap upon the stone flags OF the ter
race. Suddenly he saw three hgures
slowly turn from tine corner or the ter
race at the further end of the building,
and walk toward the table. The central
figure was that of an elderly woman,
yet tall and stately of carriage, walk
ing with a stick, whose regular tap ne
| had heard supported on the one slde
| by an elderly cure in black soutalne,
and on the other by tall and slender
girl in white. They walked leisurely to
the other end of the terrace, as II per-
forming a regular exercise and returned,
stopping before the open French VIII
dow. where after remaining IN CONVEX
sation a few moments the elderly lady
and her ecclesiastical companion en-
tered. The young girl sauntered Slowly
to the steps of the terrace and leaning
against a huge vase as she looked over
the garden. seemed LOST in contemplation
/ Her face was turned toward the Wood
Int in another direction from where he
stood.
There was something so gentle, rehned
and graceful in her figure, yet doml-
mated by girlish youthfulness OF move
ment and gesture that Alkali Dick was
singularIy interested. He had probably
never seen an ingenue before ne hau
certainly never come in contact WIN II
girl of that caste and secluslon Ill ms
brief Partisan experience. lie was sore
w temnted to leave his hedge and try
TO obtain a nearer view of her. Sere
was fringe of lilac bushes running
from the garden up the SLOPE IL ne
could gain their shadows, he couldS de
scend into the garden. What he should
do after his arrival, he had not thought.
hut he had one dea-he knew not why
taat if he ventured to speak to her ne
would not be met with the abrupt rustic
terror he had experienced at the hands
! of the servants, She was not of that
kindl He crept through the hedge,
reached the lilacs and began the descent
softly and securely in the shadow. But
ot thn same moment she arose. called III
n Youthful voice toward the open WIN
dow and began to descend the steps: Il
half expostuating reply came from liie
window: but the young girl answered. II
in the laughing capricious commence OF
n spoiled child and continued her way
into the garden. Here she paused Il mo-
mont and hung over rose tree from
which she gathered n flower which she
thrust into her belt. Dick paused TOO
half crouching. half leaning over Il
Hcben stained cracked stone pedestal
from which the statute had long peen
overthrow and forgotten. To his sur
rs1,ise however. the young girl following
the nath TO the lilacs began cautiously
r. ascend the hill. swaying from side to
side with youthful movement, ana
swinging the long stick of lily at hef
side. In a few moments she would be AT
his side. Dick was frightened: his conil-
dence of the moment before had ali
gone: he would ty-and yet-an eX-
ouisite and fearful joy kept him notion
less. She was approaching nm, run
and clear in the moonlight. lie could
500 tbe grace of her delicate figure IN
the simple white frOck drawn at the
waist with broad satin ribbon, and It's
love knots of pale blue ribbons on her
shoulders: he could see the coils of her
brown hair. the delicate swelling nostrll
Of her straight clear cut nose: he could
even smell the lily she carried in her
little hand. Then suddenly she lifted
her long lashes, and her large gray eyes
met his.
| Alas, the same look of vacant horror
came into her eyes and fixed and di-
lated their clear pupils. But she uttered
no outcry-there was something in her
blood that checked it-something that
even gave dignity to her recoiling tg-
ure-and made Dick flush with admira-
ton. She put her hand to her side, as
| If the shock of the eXertion of her as
cent had set her heart to beating, but
she did not faint. Then her fixed look
gave way to one of infinite sadness, pity
and pathetic appeal. Her lips were
parted-they seemed to be moving, APP
parently in prayer. At last her voice
came wonderingly, timidly, tenderly:
| ,.Mon Dieu! c'est done vous! Cest vous
Que Marie a cru voir! Que venez vous
faire lei. Armand de Fontonelles? Re
spondezr'
| Alas. not a word was comprehensive
r. Dick: nor could he think of a word to
say in reply. He made an uncouth, half
irritated. half-despairing gesture to-
wards the wood he had quilted. as II to
Indicate his helpless horse, but he knew
1 if was meaningless to the frightened
vet exalted girl before him. Her little
hand crept to her breast and clutched "a
rosary within the folds of her dress, as
her soft voice again rose low but APP
pealingly:
"Vous souffrez! All, mon Dieu! Peut
ON vous secourir? Je supplierai lie clel de
prendre en- pitie Fame de mon ancetre'
Monster lie Cure est la. Je lui parlerai
Ma mere ct lui vous viendront en- aide.
She clasped her hands appeahngly be-
fore him.
Dick stood bewildered, hopeless, mys-
tifad. he had not understood word; he
could not say a word. For an instant he
had wild idea of Selling her hand ana
leading her to his helpless horse, ana
then came what he believed was his sal
| walton a sudden flash of recollection
that he had seen the word he wanted
the one word that would explain all! IN
n placarded notice at the Cirque OF a
bracelet that had been "lost'-yes!- tine
single word 'perdu." He made step
Towards her. and in voice almost as falnt
as her own, stammered:
"Perdu."
With q little crp-that was more IKE
sigh than an outcry-the girls arms
fell to her side, she took a step back
wards, reeled and tainted away.
Dick caught her as she fell. WHAT had
10 ea;ds lint more than all-What should