The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-02-13

what they might. resolved never to &C.
cept it.
Armand came and went at the cha
team which madame, who was q good
deal CT q rover, had temporarily hired,
and presently be began to take on airs
of possession, almost Of proprietorship,
in Elise herself, which that little lady
highly resented.
Elsie, you are barely civil to Ar
mand,' madame said sharply one day.
Let him then, withdraw himself
. word to the wise il sufficient the
girl answered
"Bnt | will not have it. You shall
BE- polite to my nephew in my house."
the cider woman replied, stamping her
foot angrily.
Elise was silent, bEt her little mouth
set il rebel,ious curves which Doied no
good TO the cause Of tho dispute.
Armand st. Faurc, however, had too
much confidence i'll himself to give full
credit 10 these rcbutfs. LET me con-
vince her that her future in madame's
favor depends upon her yielding and it
will be all right. After that,-with a
gieam III his eye that was not attractive
1--WE car tame the little tigress at our
leisure
But there was no hesitancv in Elise's
response when at last he brought the
matter before her.
mo. no." she said positively. II will
never many you, net If | have to choose
between that and ~beggary. You are a
bad man. | see it IN your face, and you
do rot love :ne any more than I Love
you"
"Maaefloiselle pays but scant com
plilueEt - her own attract. ons, " lie re-
Joined in q col::, sarcastic tone and
vowed TO himself that Size should rue
her inselence.
Then gradually a change came over
Elise. She grew uneasy III his presence
and turned away from the fixed look Of
the black eyes which steadily regarded
her. Now and then she would rise and
60 toward the door as il to leave the
room and then turn and seat herself
again, and when she did SO a CLEAN Of
triumph broke over Armald's face, a
lcok not good to see.
Two pairs Of eyes watched her with
anxious solieitrle. The undeclared low
er, Francois du Pre-, was filled with de-
spair when what he rightly judged to
he o powerful rival first appeared. But
4 short time convinced hin. that, how
ever small might be his own chances,
madame nephew was still less in favor,
and once more be took courage.
Other anxious and loving looks fol-
lowed Elise III her daily path. Nannotte,
the ilstle maid who waited on madame
and fnlhilcd many a task neglected by
tic other servants, was EliEe's secret
adorer. The child had come from an
orphan asylum, whose good sisters testi-
fed % her virtues. But. lacking beauty
aud grace. save fer a pair Of honest eyes.
she had not found favor with madame,
ard, being shy and holding aloof from the
other servants, lad neither won their
liking.
Elise alone pitied the little gari.
whose lot lore snme resemblance to her
OWL. ami had treated her with much
kindness. % which Nannette returned d
E.A9EtJ4t1-t1 III AUX liz lDSC.
when marry, you shall come and
be my little maid, Nannette," jestcd
Elise, and on this tie child built all
her hopes for a happier future.
aAi,, if the beautiful mademoiselle
would 6rt marry the rood N. du Pre-
ami 90 far away, al wouii be wclli'
She said 80 herself. Hence it is easy to-
cfn ,rtC t4,1 cb+ri,aa Farcr =, ~, o~es
for Francois. tee, had now and again
given .,Gr g kind word and look and had
even added trifilg rsfnembranCes which
hid pleased her, albeit his motive may
not have been altogether single.
One morning madame awoke and rang
her bell with violence. A strange thing
had haprsred. From the finger where
she usually wore it day and night the
emerald ring had disappeared. She woke
with 4 disaereeable feeling and a head
ache, and she woke also in the worst Of
hasnors. Her emerald ring was one of
her most cherished possessions. and TO
find it had thus ~nnaccountably disap-
peared angered her soreIy.
Elise ard NMnnette flew ct her call,
and both searched unsuceessfnIly for the
missing ring. So cross was madame that
she slapped Nannette on tho check, !,
which size had never done before, when
fiie stumbled against her, and Elise
said sharply, Madame. yea forget your
self"
All tic servants were called up and
questioned, while NaIuet;e vociferated
with tears again and again that she
knew nothing about it. And she repeat-
ed it, c!inging TO Elise and looking up
into her face with Drumming eyes.
"Of course not, cillld,'' said Elise
sootiingiy. mo enc knows anything
ahmlt II