Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-24

prehend! Mademoiselle has no dot-the
property Is nothing-the brother has every
thing. Mile. De Fontonelles cannot
marry out Of her class, and the noblesse
are all poor. Mademoiselle Is Young
pretty. they say. of her kind II is an In
.olera6Ie life at the old chateau. Made
moiselle consoles herself"
NJ. Rfband never knew how near he MAS
10 the white road below the railing at that
particular moment, Luckily, Dick con-
thoited himsef, and wisely. as NJ. Riband's
next sentence showed him.
"A romance,-an innocent foolish liai-
son, II you like. but all the same IL known
OF Mile. De Fontonelles-a compromising
"a fatal enlargement! There you are
look! For this, then. all this story of cock
and bulls and spirits, Mademoiselle has
been discovered with her lover by some
one! This pretty story shall stop their
r7o uthsr
But wot." said Dick. brusquely. "wot
II the girl was really skeert at something
shed seen and tainted dead away, as she
said she did-and-and-'' he hesitated-
up?'
NJ. Riband looked at him pityingly. "A
Mile. De Fontonelles is picked up by her
servants. by her family-but not by the
young man in the woods, alone. II is even
more compromising
DO you mean to say" said Dick furi-
ously, that the ragpickers and sneaks
that wade around in the slumgallion of
this country would dare TO spatter that
young gal?"
Il mean to say yes-assuredly. positively
yes.' said Riband. rubbing his hands with
certain satisfaction at Dicks fury. 'tor
you comprehend not-the position of In
teune file In all France, All, in America
the young lady she go everywhere alone:
1 have seen her-pretty, charming, fasci-
natfng-alone with the young man, but
here; no! never! Regard me- my friend.
The French mother she say to her daugh-
ters fiance: Look, there is my daughter
hnan oil xr,sTt
man for five minutes-not even with you,
Take her for your wife, 1t is monstrous,
1t is fmpossible!-it is so"'
There vas silence Of a few minutes
and Dick looked b,ankly at the iron gates
OF the park of Fontonelles Then he said:
Give me cigar!'
NJ. Riband instantly produced his cigar
case. Dick took cigar, but waved aside
the proffered match. and. entering the cafe.
took from his pocket the letter to Mile de
Fontonell-. twisted 1t In a spiral lighted 1t
at a candle, lit his cigar with 1t. and re-
turning to the veranda held It in his hand
until the last ashes dropped on the floor.
Then he said gravely to Ritand:
you've treated me like a white man,
Frenchy. and I amt goin' back on yer
tho your ways amt my ways allez and
reckon In this yer matter at the shot
to you're little too previous. For, though
don't as a gfnrul thing take stock In
ghosts, 1 believe every word that them
folk said up thar. And" he added, leaning
shoulder. If you're the man take you for
you'll believe IT, too. And II that chap.
Armand de Fontonelles, hadn't hev picked
up that gal at that moment he hev deserve
to roast in hell another 300 years. That's
why l believe her story. So youll let these
yer Fontonelles keep their ghosts for all
they're worth, and when you next feel
inclined to talk about that girls lover
you'll think Of me and shut your head
You hear me, Frenchy, I'm shoutin', And
don't you forget itr'
Nevertheless, early the next morning NJ
Riband accompanied his guest to the rail-
way station and parted from him with
great effusion. On his way back an old
fashioned carriage with position passed
MIN. AT sign from it's occupant the pos
tillion pulled up and NJ. Riband. turning to
the door, approached the window and the
pale, stern face of dignified. white haired
woman of sixty which looked from it.
Has he gomez" asked the lady.
Assuredly, madame; / was with him at
the station
And you think no one saw him."
mo one madame but myself
And-what kind of a man was hep
NJ Riband lifted his shoulders threw
out his hands despairingly. yet with a
world of significance. and said:
IAN American"
"Ahw
The carriage drove on and entered the
gates of the chateau. And NJ. Riband.
cafe proprietor and social democrat
Strengthened himself in the dust and shook
his fist after In