Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-03-17

so bright and cheerful was the sum
shine. The room ia which she was
seated was bare of ali Injuries. a
polished floor, stove, and the neces-
sary chairs and tables sound cold
enough in description, nevertheless,
there was an air Of freshness and
grace in the arrangement of the whole
which il often wanting ia better fur
nished rooms
EspcranCe was thoroughly French
and had all a French womaa's deli.
cate tact and taste Her mother hal
beeA Of English birth, but had appar-
emily bequeathed little Of her nation
atty to her child perhaps, rather to
NJ. de NaDilloa's disappointment; he
would have been pleased to have some
likeness to his fair little English wife,
but both Esperance and Gaspard were
Enthusiastically De Mabillons. Esper-
ance was not, strictly speaking, pretty,
but there was freshness and glow
about her complexion which made up
for any want of actual beauty Her
| low, smooth brow and regular features
were not in the least striking, but
the power Of the face lay in her eyes,
which, though not large, were wonder
/ fully bright and Of the richest brown
color, soft and velvety in the shade,
and clear as amber in the light. Her
dark hair fell like a cloud round her
pretty sloping shoulders. and her
slight figure and little round waist
might have been the envy Of many a
belle
The afternoon was somewhat ad-
yanced, and Esperance neglecting her
work, stationed herself at the window
to watch for her brothers return.
Gaspard was now studying for the
! bar Notwithstanding that his fathers
fallen fortunes would have made some
less uphill profession far more ad-
visable
To be an advocate, however. had
long been his wish, and NJ, de Mabil-
Ion, despite his poverty, would not
gainsay him, and even went 50 far
as to seek work himself in order to
meet their expenses.
This, however, was not to be had
he was too completely the country
gentleman, and too ignorant In bust
ness matters to meet with any suitable
employment
From her window au quatrieme, Es-
perance soon deserted her brother in
the distance, accompanied, much TO
her surprise, by stranger, long-leg-
ged and stalwart, and on nearer view,
decidedly Engligh. Visitors were so
rare in the little salon that Esperance
was in fiutter Of excitement at the
very idea, she listened eagerly for
footsteps-yes. there Were assuredly
two people mounting the flight of
stairs.
The door was opened by Gaspard.
Il have brought you visitor.
cherie. Is my father not at homer"
/ Then as Esperance bowed to The
stranger
NO, no, this is our cousin, Mr..
George Palgrave; you must give him
an English hand-shake We met each
other most UNEXPECTEDLY at Galig-
nani's, each recognizing the others
name"
Esperance looked up full of curl
oslty, for the English relations had
always been enyeloped in a cloud of
mystery, She was not particularly
struck with the specimen before her
George Palgrave, might, perhaps, have
been ye-and-twenty, he was tall,
latg made, falr-complexioned. and in
Esperance's eyes, awkward-lookIng as
complete a contrast 70 the slght
dark-eyed Gaspard as could have been
found
She shook hands with him as d.
rected, and noticing that his French
was decidedly embarrassi ing to him
began to display her small stock of
English with some pride.
You have made a good voyage, I
nope, my cousin?"
A fairly good crossing thank vou.
lhere was an ugly SOU western when
we started, but 1t soon went down"
Esperance had not the faintest ide,
OF the meaning of IAN ugly SOU
western" but she went on bravelv
Ana you are arrived at Paris to-
aay! ! hope you will pass some time
/ here!"
4 wish ! could, but unfortunately I
must leave this evening, l am merely
passing through, on my way to Swift
erIand, II vas most fortunate that I
ohanced to meet your brother: | had
no idea you We're 'i;ing at Paris"
since the last four months. Do
you know. monsieur, you are the first
4 OF our English relations that | have
seen? Tell us Of our cousins; we do not
even know their names. is it not so.
Gaspard?"
/ Mr., Palgraye looked amused.
And have not yet had the honor
OF hearing yours"
For me, | am Esperance, now,
l please orr E'nplfSb .Anueip.