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

Madame always wore it upon the
third finger Of her right hand-a large
emerald set round with pearls. Elise
used to cay it had a snaky lock, and she
hated it. The stone had onco be oneed
to scne member Of a royal house and
was we'll Known to cCnnaisseurs. 1t had
peculiar depth of color and brilliancy
anti was of great value. But it was al
most too large to be IN ornament to tho
small, shrunkcn hand where it held its
constant place.
Frenci,, Irish and American combined
in madame's ancestry. Elise de Vann
was a poor relative, entirely dependent
upon madanie's bounty. None knew the
connection between them. Elise herself
was ignorant OF the whole story-how
madame il her early widowkoci had be-
come enanlored Of q young cousin much
her junior; how the young man, pre-
tending an amount Of admiration he did
not feel, had finally Tilted her for a
younger and rretticr rival; how in his
dying hours, his wife having preceded
him. he, confident in a feeling still cx-
listing fer him and himself almost pen
n;less, left his young daughter to her
care and provision. Elise only knew
that madame was her fathers cousin
and accepted, as in q measure her right,
the new homo provided for her. She
Was very small, fair, with golden hair,
blue eyes and a rose leaf complexion and
a tiny little mouth which expressed
clearly her varying hunors. Madame
alternately petted and snlbbed her.
treated her with tenderness succeeded
by GOODNESS. Elise had no clew to the
secret motive OF these changes.
When madame thought Of her as the
child Of the maj she had loved. sine was
filled with kindness for the charming
girl, but when she regarded her as the
daughter of q hated rival she grew harsh
again. As the mood took her, Elise bore
this with patience or resented it. She
was not herself Of the meek of the earth,
and madame really liked her none the
less for her independence Of spirit. Sur
Il for years chiefly with servants
who dared D.t dispute her bidding, it
was not altogether adisagreeabIc scnsa-
ton to find herself occasionally with
stood by this dainty and spirited little
creature.
And Elise was not ignorant Ct her
own value. She knew that madame,
wealthy and childless, found pleasure III
her eompaniorship. She knew that she
read agreeably and sang and played,
when III the vein, with grace and charm,
and there were few things her tiny I'm
gers and skillful needle conld not ac-
complish. So, although she tried honest
~ to make some return fer her luxurious
home, she was conscious, so to speak. of
her money value. It was impossible,
too. that SO pretty q girl should pass m
noticed, and she was well accustomed
to admiring glances and well convinced
In her W mind that she had made d
more serious impression on the young
lawyer who attended TO madame's at
airs. But, though she herself was by no
means go indifferent to him as she an
peared, it pleased her within to treat him
with a distance, almost haughtiness, ct
am thai was NOT Inspiring ard
kept the young mar where she inteud-
ed him to remain for the prosent-in al
almost AFFECT state of horelessn.ss.
Madame herself had different plans.
She had no wish 10 give Up Elise for an
indefinite period, but she had mentally
elected a suitable party for her in the
person of her nephew, tie only son Of
her brother. The young man, not him
self wealthy, kept on terms Ct friend
ship with his only near relative and felt
sure Of being her heir. The introduce
ton. therefore, Of a new element, q pos
sible disputant Of his claims. in the
shape Of an attractive girl, was by no
means agreeable to him. Armand st.
Faure liked his liberty and had 10 de-
sire to enter the bonds Of the married
state. But a man might DO verse than
marry SO pretty . girl, he said to him
self, shrugged his shoulders and accent
cd his aunt's programme.
Not SO Elise. With the appearance Of
this new actor upon the boards her fan.
cies and feelings took more definite
shape. and she would none OF him. His
6ne figure, dark complexion and heavy
erows, which settled only too easily into
. scowi, had no attractions for her, and
~ resented his half caressins. half ia