The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-07
SISTERS THREE
CHAPTER I.

The gardens of one Of the largest hotels in
Mentone, on balmly February night, with a
moonlight silvering the spraying fountains,
the soft air full of the scent of golden laden
orange-trees, and vibrating with the sweet
strains from the far-off band to which hun
dreds OF feet were dancing in the ballroom
1t was very natural that little Rose Rus
sells senses should quicken into delicious life
under such influences
She was only IS, and this was her first ball
and as her partner led her from the fairy
like gardens into a palm-house, where velvet
coucheS were lost among wonderful tropical
shrubs, her whole being was in state of
ecstatic disQuet.
Her partner was a tall, good looking French
man, to whom she had been explaining that
she had never been abroad before till Sir
John and Lady Fanshawe brought Decima
and here here week ago.
Decima is Elizabeth Fanshawe's great
friend, you know she had wound up, hap
PLY, and they asked me because they are
so fond of Decima-''
However much her ingenious chatter
might amuse her companion, it, apparently
did not displease him. for he gave some re-
turn condolences, among others telling her Of
the old chateau at Rennes that his family
had lost during the Revolution, and only re-
gained when it had been robbed of many of
its chiefest treasures and much of the land
that furnished its rent-toll.
MY family has been much beggared in
consequence" he told her, his naturally
musical voice sounding more musical because
of it's slight accent when 1 inherit 1 shall
have but little to go to-
Rose was full of sympathy.
ct is not agreeable" he acquesced. eve
are not quite penniless, however" he added,
observing her plying face: there is still
enough to permit me to live"
She blushed warmly under the SMILE a shy
flush of shame.
What impertinence to have pitied him.
81 almost regret it when I see your sweet
sympathy, and think you would have given
me more if 1 had been poorer he went an,
geration. But why do we speak of such
materialties when there is so much else to
talk of? The moon hangs like silver lamp
! in the heavens, and breathes flower
scent, and we talk of money! You like your
flowers. 1t was SO good of you to wear
! them
"They are exquisite Rose said, stretching
her little nose down to the pink roses that
adorned her corsage.
Il wonder if l dare tell YOU the hone thai
left my buttonhole empty
Startled by the softness in his voice. Rose
lifted pair of shining eyes to find his fixed
on a rose that had strayed from it's sken
resting place and lay on the soft white neck
Please he pleaded, this one"
Aristide de la Monneraye or, to give him
his title, the Comte de la Monneraye might
have been the model Of the schoolgirl idea
of a lover, and Rose, to whom this sort OF
cOulC
Y hardly keep her hand from trembling as she
detached the coveted flower
And her heart beat fast, almost violently
when he took her hand as well as the rose
and bent his graceful head to kiss the glove
that covered it.
You are fond of roses?" she murnured
her eyes on her FAM with which she began t,
toy.
They are to me, the emblem of all tina
is" he was beginning tenderly, when the
M the music gliding off MT
waltz, and the ballroom wards movement o.
the occupants of the other couches, broke the
the spell.
I'VE have other Dances he murmured a:
he offered his arm.
The glances that were bestowed on in
going pretty Rose and her distinguished
looking partner, rested oftener, and dwell
longer on couple who nodded to them will
easy familiarity as they passed out into tn,
on-silvered garden, evidently intent or
n sitting the dance out.
The girl was Decima Roses 22-year-olt