The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-09

little old one with the bent shoulders
and the ugly face? Ugh! Whata horrid
face! 1t is like bird of prey p
ellis face is not handsome" said
Constance, "but M. Desmoulins wrote
me this afternoon in little note he
sent me asking if he might bring him;
that his friend De Lacaze belongs to
one of the Oldest families in France and
is real nobleman.' %
Priscilla drew long breath
go and seat yourself by your aunt,
quick, said Constance, land will
bring them both over and introduce
them.
Introduce them here"
ooh, no." objected Constance in
quite shocked voice. SIT would not do
at all. In France girl must always be
seated by her chaperon. When man
dances with a girl, he returns her to
her chaperon just as soon as he has fin
ished.'
What a bore!' said Priscilla. "Fan-
cy any such nonsense in our dear old
America" and then she burst out
laughing. The laugh was SO fresh and
full, it held so rich suggestion OF real
fun, and Priscilla looked so bcwitch-
ingly pretty giving vent to it, her state
ly head thrown back a little, showing
all her lovely, pearly teeth, her hand
raised to adjust flower which nestled
in the coils of her hair, that the Count
de I.acaze, who was not far from her,
priclSed up his ears suddenly and cast a
swift, piercing glance in her direction.
els that she?" he whispered to Des-
mouths. "Sapristi! You We're right.
She is a beauty. Present me. ;"
Desmoulins smiled quietly. "Make
it $4,000 francs, and I will do it, he
said.
There had been a stormy interview
that afternoon in the little room at the
left of the Figaro office. The Count de
Lacaze had exhibited stubbornness his
managers had not expected from him
in the drawing up of the agreement.
He had absolutely declined adding his
signature to any paper which would
hold him responsible for larger sum
than 1000 francs were the transaction
his tempters proposed carried out to his
satisfaction. He had totally denied the
dukes right to demand his dues until
his-De Lacaze' s-fsh was landed.
Desmoulins had finally appeared to
acquiesce that half loaf was better
than none and had accepted the decree,
viciously determining to get the best of
this willy adversary did that parsonage
nibble bigger bait than Desmoulins
had bargained for
"Twenty," scowled De Lacaze, with
a ferocious expression. present me or
l will present myself :"
Priscilla, said Constance, "allow
me to introduce my friend M. Charles
Desmoulins of the Eclair and his friend
the Count Baradat de Lacaze'
Priscilla bowed. Aunt Mildred had
already gone through the introduction
and withdrawn with flying colors, with
the assistance of Constance, from the
painful experience of exchanging COM
pliments with Frenchman who spoke
the vilest English imaginable, but who
politely pretended to make up for def
ciencies by a knowing smile which his
new acquaintance designated afterwarCi
as perfectly detestable."
Mademoiselle will dance?'' said the
count to Priscilla in French
"With pleasure
And then that unwise young woman
was swept into the vortex of lifting fig
ures, mercilessly pirouetting in what
they fondly imagined to be the measures
of the waltz, instead Of which it was
whirl in one spot, with no reversing,
which is considered bad form in France.
An arm like an iron wise around her
yielding waist, and an olive skinned,
horrid little countenance, lighted by
strangely congested orbs which seemed
to be devouring her inch by inch, burn
ed out Of Priscilla any natural power Of
enjoyment and rendered her very mis-
cradle instead.
"Oh, stop'' cried Priscilla.
"Why, mademoiselle?"
"You go SO fast, and it is all so funny,
and am SO dizzy"
THAT will soon vanish, mademoi-
selle.
'Let me CO." said Priscilla in a
strange, breathless voice. 81 wish to
stop. Let me CO."
The count stopped violently, nearly
losing his equilibrium i'll the process
Putting stertorously, he leaned up
against the back of sofa and mopped
his face.
Priscilla was crimson. Her eyes were
full of tears
"shall 1 take mademoiselle to her
aunt?''
If you please"
They found the way back in stern
silence through the whirling couples to
her seat.
"Mademoiselle is as beautiful as an
angel" whispered the count in Pris-
cilla's ear as he seated her. Then. with
a bland smile, he Withdrew.
whats the matter?" asked Aunt
Mildred.
Nothing" returned Priscilla def
antly.
eyes, there is, /" said Aunt Mildred.
Don't attempt to deny it. You look
I