The times., 1897-03-28
Copyright, 1897 by Clinton Ross
PART L.

NOW, 10 tApldiU now Il D6td1lle INV thN vi
with the great Arnold treason. must 20
back TO France at the time when L was lis
honored
on my twenty-third birthday was dis
missed from the regiment GatenoiS, then
about u depart for the American service on
the Chevaier dc TernayS fleet; for had
brought uho naIn- ny father gayeme lower
than in all its history; l had been branded
cheat. and hadfought foolish duel which
had come TO the queens notice: and now
could see her majestys flashing eyes as
she forbade me the court before all; had
debts OF honor To meet-money borrowed
from friends who needed; with, indeed, not
even the gold for my lodgings. much lrss To
so TO the one house in Auver;sne which was
desolate withnanymortgages Everywhere
L turned WAS a money-lendcr. No one WAS
left save pe Vitry, whom l hated.
The sun lay low over the treetops as
L walked along the path of the fountains
eager 20 be away, knew not where.
had no one To blame. Yet L had inten-
tions, honorable enough at the start Who,
indeed, has not?
Walking on, / passed a honlely-faced
Old man, who looked ut me out of shrewd,
inquisitive eyes-DT. Franklin, the minis
ter of the American Congress. lie, too,
cast his eyes down, though only lately,
as last resort, / had asked him chance
10 enlist in the cause over the sea-a fools
errand; he was besieged by sorry adven-
turers, while many others II honest name
and fame he could not encourage at all
Now he, too. as l say passed without
recognition; 1 smiled bitterly 10 myself
Every door WAS closed; no chance re
maine1,
SO | wandered on, hugging despair
waruish day of chirping birds, il was
hut added mocEery. l hated the world:
its very brightness was naGdening to
all my ChaErin that would nave the sly
dark, with the rain pattering and cold.
despairful wind. Aud then. everything
being intulerahIe. threw me down .n a
green bank ana lay there chcerless uiI
sheer exhaustion took my sense
a little sleep viii carry from despair
sometimes, Go hope; from YOUR present
life. with ali its dssatisfactious TO the
past which has slipped 50 FAR from YOU,
or TO the cha1se of the future: and after all
I was not entirely worn down.
OF h0yhoOd / thought AS | lay with
face to the sky. and against the blue some
sky seeking bird lowered / lay there Us
peacefully rs if l were ON my own ter
race in AuyeTEne ana lie Bells. the black
hounds muZzle in my hand: and as if l
were rejecting Of what Father Sylvester
my tutor. declared OF the saints of the
simplicity that counts for rue manliness
l forgot ali that had been since, and even
Thought / could hear the swish of my
mothers skirt and should see her dear face
bending over me. All, me, that face. long
since wus under the tomb in the parish |
church, where the sieurs de la Renne.
honorable and yet not any very distin. |
guished gentlemen, have slept. generation |
after generation. Yet, surely, heard her |
voice
Raising myself, I saw beyond the glade
stretch of bride path, and the woman's |
voice, after all, was not delusion, for She |
was there n the glade
a black groom stood at the heads of two |
horses ] rubbed my eyes. Then spring
ing to my feet ] shook illusions and delu-
sions away.
She heard me, for she turned about,
sho wing young lady who could have
been no more than eighteen; neither tall
nor yet short: thin, dark face, framed
with black hair, and now expressed by /
blue eyes
= Il beg your pardon, mademOiselle,"
said, howing as pest / might. could do
little less 4 did not intend to disturb
you"
But She stared with questioning eyes, and
remembers where Observation-Disclosures
her unConsCiously. when all the court had |
been tittering at my disgrace.
You were there / asked. hrusquely,
wiring my hat.
She looked at me again and strangely
ans wered:
II was there. monsieur"
'tAb, I cannot hide it, ] cried Il am
The Sieur de la Renne"
She stood there strangely. this English |
girl Suddenly her face frightened, and |
The advanced. extending her hand
Monsieur de la Rennc. she said in
her sweetest voice, Il ana LnUise Mon
Crieff. OF ViTgiuia, daughter Of one OF the
American commissioners.
Yes, InadamoiseHe. said Stupidly.
"Their majesties have graciouSy re-
,eived us She bent a little silver
stick she held and lowered her eyes. and
then, blue, challenging, they were turned
to me:
Il hate to have even he fox cornrrcd
BY the dogs; I hate 10 see any man
when all turn against him. bclievc--"
he blushed. Monsieur. its but Chris
nnity for us to be kind to those in
rouhle. People tell me bitter things /
u YOU. These may be 30. But you
ook no ol Ter Than my brother. who might
'e In your trouble With your temptations"
She said this so impulsivcIy that luDi; Il
Il her as il she was some saint out Of
r,t1- l,fttarnpSS rs-ort ,.-., /
Ike pain under the healing hand.
IN ademOiselIe Moncrierf." said.
ow humhIy. II deserve no pity OF yours:
'ut thank you for it. and it may he that
ONE day I may deserve it OF you, heaven
elpng me-
at helps" said this strange young lady,
Ike nun, ''those who help themselves. -
'You are very beautiful. madenois selle.r
said, not thinking
She stamped her foot impatientlv
''My mother was French woman. but | ,
ke not at all the manner of you French
1en. Silasl" she called to the groom
I advanced. remembering my manners
'May 1 have the privilege of helping
ou to the saddle?'
THANK Won, no. monsieur"
She pulled on her glove impatiently
am so sorry spoke to you, monsieur - L
"And ] am glad" cried. b
She then looked at me long and earnestly L
It is not you, monsieur: It's your plight,
lat made me speak to you against every s
ile of etiquette. You are young" |
T'older than I appear said smiling, 1
twenty-three, ] chance to know well, for t
his is my birthday" II
Then she said taking her seat from | Ia