The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-05

oness de Pen-Volloet."
She gave me a knowing look.
I'm wager your client has a SOM"
Not only one, but two"
so much the better; we can take
| our choice"
Tho marchoness lived few leagues
from Redon, on a large farm. very pic
| turesquc, but not productive, as is Of
ten the case in that country of heath
| and moor. l had been told that the
lady was "A great economist, SO was not
surprised to find at the station an old
| omnibus, the inside of which had a
| musty smell. AS we were about to en-
| ter Eliane drew back.
suppose that we go or top? The
weather is fine and it will be delight
! full"
But l see no ladder" | said, some-
what afraid of mounting.
"Pshaw one foot on the wheel, the
other by the coachman and here we are
"a little courage my friend"
You wan me to break my bones?
| As you WILL am at your service"
ut 10 not 50 difficult as it looks"
said the coachmon. do not fear"
He extended his hand and the mo-
ment l took it l felt as though had
wings. What a strong fellow! What
grasp!
"An old soldier" thought I, as 7
gazed with admiration on his broad
| shoulders and his fine appearance,
which made Il striking contrast with
the ugly old carriage and the horses.
two little ponies, which beside the
heavy vehicle, looked like two flies
hitched to packing box.
If the coachman lifted me with ease,
you may imagine that Eliane was but
feather weight in his strong grasp. Be
fore 1 could seat myself she was al
ready by my side as radiant and gay
as warbler.
You will be afraid" I said, meas
| uring with my eye the distance be-
| tween the earth and the seat on which
! we were perChed
| Afraid! You don't know me, You
will have enough of it before do. Pro-
| ceed coachmaE, fast fast. still faster"
The coachmar had slightly turned
| his head. and l saw a moCking half
smile under his mustache
! Not too fast, my boy" | cried in my
| turn. do not heed that foolish girl 1"
The coachman took hold of the reins
and without the use of his whip, start
| ed off the team at once, by a simple
| cluCk OF the tongue. What a race!
| The hair on my head stands on end
when | think OF it. Those ponies were
| real devils. They went up hill and
down hill at full gallop without stumb-
! ling. The heavy omnibus went over
the earth grating and squeakin2 aT
though it would fly all to pieces. 1t was
| III vain | groaned; Eliane clasped her
hands, urging the coachman, who asked
Tor nothing better than to go on.
L finally gave 1t up and kept still,
holding fast to my bench my only anx-
iety being to know on which side it
would be better to be overturned and
what to do in such a case.
After thirty minutes of anguish, dur
Ing which time I must have groWJ sew
eral months older the carriage abrupt
ly turned to the right. and going up a
narrow lane without realizing it's speed
1t suddenly stopped at the end Of a
paved court before the door.
| The precision of those little ponies.
| which would have done credit to circus
! racers, did not appease my anger for
l was really provoked.
You have been more than ten times
! on the point OF breaking our necks!" I
| said to the coachman.
With his aggravating haughtiness he
replied:
Everyone to his trade. sir know
mine"
pretty young man of medium
height and elegant bearing advanced
and helped us descend. Nine. de Pen
Nolloet awaited us in the cold parlor,
which was ornamented with the por-
traits of ancestors, each of which was
uglier and more grabbed looking than
the preceding one: she too, in a toll
ette somewhat antiquated, naughty,
stiff and withered, resembled a family
portrait, stepped down from the frame
She gave us a hearty welcome how
ever, and conducted us to the apart
ments that had been prepared for us.
MY son. Rene" she said, Indicating
the young man who had received us
has awited YOUR arrival with great
tmpaterce. We lead a very quiet life
here-few visitors and neighbors Of my
aSe-it is very quiet, In fact, your
coming is for us a greaG rejoicing, a
vcritahle holiday, and we have but
one wish: that your stay may be a
long one"
The lady's stern gray eyes seemed tc
rest kindly on my little ward.
Dinner was ready and we had but a
few minutes in which to change oul
travelling costumes for more suitable
ones When Elaine re-entered the par,
lnr, where | had preceded her. | was
struck by her beauty and the brilliancN
of her pure complexion and her beauti.
ful soft black eyes. She looked like a
queen In her simple white gown. Rene
started forward as though daz2led anc
made some insipid compliment. which
did not seem TO displease her.
Good" thought l, "all is we'll and
we will succeed
In the dining-room five covers wert
laid As we We're but four the place
opposite the mistress remained vacant
but no one seemed to notice il, and
dinner was served,
The dinner I must say, was VERY
good. and the wines well selected bur
the service very poor. The little ser.
want seemed inexperienced and not ac
Customed to handling the fragile
dishes. He dropped a plate, breakina
It in a thousand pieces, for which hC
received Il black look from his mis-
! tTeSs.
At this moment the door opened and
there entered "A young man Of about 30
of large stature and possessing an en-.
ergetic face, He came forward with
out embarrassment, and after bowing
took the place opposite Nine. de Pen,
Nolloet
MY oldest son, the Marquis Horac,
de Pen-Volloet," she said, presenting
him to us.
And she added:
| "a lWaVS latp-onp nf his bahita