Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-27

4
unbound, fell in its ruddy waves to the
floor, while her maid drew through 1t
an ivory brush, monogrammed and
crested, as. in fact, was every article
strewn upon .ae table before her.
a subtle perfume filed the air. The
hangings Of the room were Of palest
rose satin; the carpet. a white ground
with moss-roses trailing in luxurlance
over Ii. Ones foot almost shrank from
contact with the thorns, which yet
We're softest velvet.
1t was n room into which a princess
might have stepped. and felt at home;
but as we sean more closely the cx-
qnsite face reflected in the mirror we
recognize the girl who. one year be.
fore, in the old English parsonage gar
den, made her decision and her choice
The form has rounded into more per.
feet lines; the complexion is more daz-
zlngiy-radiant, inasmuch as the fault
lessly-Oval cheek has lost tinge of its
ripe color: the lips burn with more
ruddy scarlet; her eyes blaze with new
and imperlOus tire; her beauty has de-
veloped into ripper perfection; the gem
whose brilliancy could not be hid in
I, its simple setting, now fairly daZZied
| by its lumnance. And yet. with all
gained. something has fed, something
been lost, for which, perchance, all
else Is not worth the gain.
! "Monsieur-has he returned. Marie? O..
she asked at last breaking the silence
which had lasted long.
mo, madame" replied the girl: and
one might detect tone of pity In her
| voice
Pity. AS If that young and beauti-
| full woman could have need of pity
| from one paid to do her service!
"And the hour?" she questioned. too
listless to raise her own eyes to the
| tiny. enameled clock upon the mantle.
lust twelve. madame. Doubtless
monsieur will return TO breakfast.
| Shall | not arrange madames hair.
| that she may be ready when he re-
turnsF"
''Yes; and as simply as possible, my
good Marie"
lit is so beautiful it never can look
simple madame" replied the girl. as
size twisted 1t with deft fingers, into
an artistic coil. through which she
stuck golden dagger. ''All Paris
raves over madame's hair; but no one
In Paris can initiate it.
"All Parisr' echoed her mistress, and
sighed.
But at that instant a mans step
sounded In the outer room. With a
quick breath of relief, and an instant
lifting of the cloud which had settled
On her brow. she sprang from her
chair and stood waiting. lovely Wis
ion 70 greet the eyes of any man. with
| that smile of expectancy on lips and
eyes, and that long, flowing robe of
white cashmere tied carelessly at the
| throat with creamy ribbon. and falling
in graceful curves about the slender,
undulating form.
Noiselessly and swiftly Marie held
open the door for the master to pass in
then herself passed out-leaving the
| two alone.
With low cry Of joy the girl-wi,e
| took one little step forward
Louis" she murmured Sat last!
| Oh, where have you been?"
The mans face darkened. He care
| lessly approached and held out his
hand in greeting, but his wife already
clasped hers about his neck and hid
her face upon his breast.
| Questions again. FlOrenceT he said.
"Have l not already convinced you Of
their uselessness? l am not a child in
leading-strings, and you must forget
your English notions"
"But all night, Louis, l lay awake,
looking for you, and wondering what
terrible thing had happened. Why
| should you subject me to this cruel
torture? And when at last, l fell
asleep this morning, l dreamed
strange dream. 1t was Of home. Lott
is. / saw the dear old home, the dear
old garden, and Dorothy and the dear
father; but he was so changed /
scarcely knew him. He was thin and
pale, and looked very i'll. l am sure
my dream meant something. oh, IL l
could but see him again, and gain his
forgiveness for my fault!'
so you consider II faultT' replied
the man. PITY, then you ever COM
mitted it. But, look here, Florence,
will have no more of this nonsense.
When am not at home, you go to bed
and go to sleep. Haven't you every
thing you want-everything that mon
ey can buy you? What more does
woman In the height Of her unreason-
ableness. demandY'
| Naut your rove, Luuls plNe lne
that, and YOU may take all the rest
my loveY' he sneered. And a years
devotion has not tired you? Really,
ma belle, you are more exigeante than
had deemed possible. A years reign
should be sufficient for any pretty wo-
man. A month-a week-suffices most
of them"
But, Louis. you did not talk thus in
the old garden. What did you tell me
That your life hung on my words. If I
had refused your prayer you would
have killed yourself"
The man .laughed-a harsh, discord-
ant laugh. wholly different from the
low, musical melody which once had
fallen so softly on her listening ear.
And you believed that. ma cherie
Really believed that would put a bull
let through my brain? No, no! Be,
lieve me, had no such intention. But
1t was necessary to frighten you into
ac,luiescence, and so could not pause