Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-01

" ihaI NNitttSlf u!jJii thC HSilNtS AIN Hfib
heart, When they quilted the harpsichord,
the conversation had taken quite natural
ly a more sentimental, u more intimate,
turn. While maintaining the reserve I'M
posed upon him by his age, NJ. de Frehaut
had become eager, almost admiring. His
conversation lowered discrectly over tho
theme OF love. His blue eyes had an ex-
preston which became more and more in
sinuating, more and more penetrating.
When he retired at IL o'clock. he linger-
ingly kissed the hands of his hostess and
left Nanine much moved and quite
ashamed Of the emotion produced in her
by this tete "A -tete with a MAJ more than
double her age.
She passed q restless night, recalling
with too much pleasure the trihing Incl
dents of the evening, letting her fancy
wander in singular dreams. Then she
blushed at her own folly.
Her awakening was equally agitating,
but in a very different fashion. Toward
noon the mayor of Ecouyiers arrived at
Eillons by q private road and warned
Nanine that she was suspected Of enter
tanning an emissary of Pitt and Coburg.
Some bad fellows had seen NJ. dc Frehaut
enter her house and he'd hurried to de-
nounce her to the revolutionary commit
tee Of Montmedy. A domiciliary visit was
impending. He came to warn her as a
friend.
"What can be done?" exclaimed the ter
rifled girl.
"You must rid yourself at the earliest
possible moment of this dangerous Wis
itor. - replied the worthy man. SAT the
Toot nf uo,,r ~ ,,y than, ty 81 ,,uyt1tpp hid
den by the trees. Hide this gentleman
there until night. When it grows dark,
my son will come for him and will con-
duct him through the woods to the from
tier. As soon as your man hears the
owlet's cry he has only to step over the
window ledge of the pavilion and he will
find my boy at the foot of the wall"
This was indeed the only means of safe
ty. Nanine, trembling with fear, went
to apprise M. de Frehaut of the peril that
menaced him. She made him breakfast
hastily in his room and herself conducted
him to the pavilion, where she remained
with him, shuddering at the faintest
noise, her ear on the alert and at each
movement fearing some surprise. He, on
the contrary, h%abituated to similar alarms,
showed himself very philosophical and
regretted but one thing-to so suddenly
leave his charming hostess. Seeing her
great terror, he endeayored to reassure her
by his affectionate manners-at first pa
ternal, but gradually more and more ten
der. The hours of the afternoon wore
thus away, with alterations of anxiety
and Of melancholy interest. Despite her
fears, Nanine was surprised and grieved
to note the rapid passage of the hours. At
Candlemas night comes early. Toward 5
o'clock the little octagonal room of the
pavilion grew dark.
"Alas," sighed M. de Frehaut, "the
moment of our separation approaches"
He took Nanine's hands.
Before going away permit me, Mile.
de Leigrealles, to thank you for your kind
reception and to assure you that l will
preserve an unbroken recollection Of it,
While speaking he drew her to him,
kissed her brow and then her eyes. Ma
nine bewildered, her heart contracting, felt
herself dominated by a sudden impulse.
Her head SWAN, but it was a sweet faint
ness, 4 delicious bewilderment. Suddenly
she laid her lips upon the cheek of M. de
Frehaut, who, trembling and with quite
youthful fervor, responded by passionate
caresses. For a moment they forgot every
thing in this transport Of love. Then the
owlet's cry, resounding from the end of
the road, recalled them to the present.
ut is the signal" stammered Nanine.
"Adieu!" He wished to Unfold her again,
but she Withdrew herself firmly.
"Go!" she entreated.
De Frehaut stepped lightly over the
window ledge and disappeared down the
gloomy path.
Recovering herself and deeply agitated,
deeply confused because of her weakness,
Mile. de Leigrealles returned to her house.
1t was time. Officers, armed with search
warrants, were arriving. They got moth
ing for their pains, showed themselves on
the whole sufficiently obliging and went
away after drinking large bumpers to the
health of the "citoyenne."
Nanine shut herself up In her room in
order to avoid the eyes Of old B%astienne.
1t seemed to her that any one could read
in her face her remorse and also her re-
grets. Even while dreaming Of the fugi-
tive she blamed herself for the u%npardon-
able weakness which had thrown her into
the arms Of a man almost as old as her
father.
The following day the mayor came to
reassure her as to the fate of M. de Ere
haut.
"He crossed the frontier, y he told her,
without being disturbed, and my boy
conducted him as far as Verton."
"He must have been faint with ia
tigue,'' sighed Mile. de Leigrealles.
"Think of 1t! So long q stretch OIL foot at
his age