The Yale expositor., 1898-07-08

rection a moment, until Lucille, laugh
Eng, said something, and, as II by one
impulse, they wheeled with the grace
of startled deer and went toward the
marquee.
II wish I could do that!" said mad
anne, referring to the gesture of one
who had passed her slim arm across
her back and had caught the other at
the bend of the elbow.
you can afford to say So" OBJ
served.
"A Frenchman would have dono bet
ter" she remarked.
But am English. you know" re-
piled. "Veracity is the badge OF all
our tribe. We rarely taste the high
joy Of being truthful and compliment
airy at the same time"
But you thrive well on the priva-
tion," she laughed, rising. Now take
me to the SHOW" and she slipped her
arm within mine. you really ought
to think of getting married" she con-
tinued. Marriage supplies a raison
d'etre. Did you ever map out ca
reer?"
Frequently" replied, 'but always
failed at reducing the plan of my i'm
agination to the scale Of my brains"
"A common fault" observed mad
anne; but a wife would show you
how. A good wife is"-she paused as
If listening.
"A crown to her husband" said I.
wishing to keep the ball rolling.
Madame raised her finger and drew
me into the shadow of the clematis.
Approaching footsteps sounded on the
gravel. moment later Chedderstow
and Nine. de Belleville appeared. His
arm was round her, his iron gray head
bent toward her own. still black as
midnight. They passed slowly, utterly
oblivious Of our presence; nor did my
companion move until they had disap-
peared beyond a noble specimen OF
Glastonbury thorn masking another
path.
The first chapter in a middle-aged
romance" said /. 20, woman!"
The last. If you please" replied
madame; "a suivre was written near
ly twenty-seven years ago by that
great shufiler of destinies, circum-
stance, and now 1t will run on smooth
ly to the end"
Then, you mean to say"
Madame lifted her graceful should
ers. did you ever read La Proven
cale'?" she asked.
Il skinned through 1t once" said I,
impatiently.
Then. peruse 1t again." continued
madame. "but substitute for the he
roine an English girl. When she was
IL her family sold her in the usual way
to a Major de Beleville. He spent her
money as well as his own and took
himself off on active service to Africa.
News OF his death in Egypt reached
her year later. She returned to Eng
land and married our host. who had
known her in childhood. They were
happy one year and a son was born.
Well, OF course, the superfluous Belle
vile was not dead. He reappeared
presently, unchanged and unchange-
able-she went back to him: it was
her duty. Monsieur married again, his
family urging him; you can guess the
rest. They tried the thorny track of
honor, and-well, you see it sometimes
leads to happiness, even here"
Rather melodramatic," I observed.
What else is life?" asked madame.
And rather late in the day, too"
BAH" cried the vivacious little la
dy, pressing my arm, what of that?
Are we sure of moment? God knows
what an ugly world we make of this,
but oh! what sorry world it would
be II love were only for the youngp
Nevertheless, 1t might be more COM
Portable could the heart grow gray
with the Sead." said l, remembering
the two gray hairs had found on my
left temple that morning.
Madame laughed gayly, twirling her
parasol. Shame on you" she cried
DO you forget your own English pro-
verb, kissing is out Of season when
the gorse is out of bloom?'"
AND as We were Just then turning
the corner OF the lily-bordered walk
leading to the marquee, could not an
swer fectively.-William Buckley in
Black and White.
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