Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-27

velously beautiful woman. Her hair,
unbound, fell in it's ruddy waves to the
floor, while her maid drew through it
an ivory brush, monogrammed and
crested, as, in fact, was every article
| strewn upon the table before her.
\ subtle perfume filed the air. The
hangings Of the room were of palest
rose-satin; the carpet, white ground
with moss-roses trailing in lu&uriance
over it. Ones foot almost shrank from
contact with the thorns, which yet
were softest velvet.
1t was a room into which a princess
might have stepped, and felt at home;
but as we scan more closely the eX-
Quisite 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-
Zlingly-radiant. inasmuch as the fault
lessly-oval cheek has lost tinge of it's
ripe color: the lips burn with more
ruddy scarlet: her eyes blaze with new
and imperious fire; her beauty has de-
veloped into ripper perfection: the gem
whose brilliancy could not be hid in
it's simple setting, now fairly dazZled
by it's luminance. 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?'
| g l-n1 Ine,% l. ,1,s, 81,
which had lasted long.
NO 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.
Just twelve, madame. Doubtless
monsieur will return to breakfast.
Shall l not arrange madame's hair,
that she may be ready when he re-
turns%'
Yes; and as simply as possible, my
good AIare.'
ut is so beautiful it never can look
simple madame" replied the girl, as
sic twisted it with deft fingers, into
an artistic coil. through which she
stuck golden dagger Cali Paris
raves over madame's hair; but no one
in Paris can initiate it,
"All Paris.' 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. a lovely Wis
ion to 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 a low cry of JOY the girl-wife
took one little step forward
''Louis"' she murmured cat last!
Oh. where have you becn?'
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, Florence?" he said
'Have 1 not already convinced you Of
their uselessness? 1 am not child in
leading-strings, and you must forget
your English notions"
But all night, Louis. 1 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, I fell
asleep this morning, 1 dreamed
strange dream. 1t was of home, Lou
is. 1 saw the dear old home, the dear
old garden, and Dorothy and the dear
father; but he was so changed l
scarcely knew him. He was thin and
pale. and looked very ill. l am sure
my dream meant something. Oh. if l
could but see him again. and gain his
forgiveness for my fault!!'
80 you consider it a fault?" replied
the man. 'Pity, then you ever COM
mitted it. But, look here. Florence, 1
will have no more of this nonsense
When l 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 a
woman. in the height Of her unreason-
ableness, demand?'
81 want your love- Louis. Give me
that, and you may take all the rest
My love?" he sneered. And a years
devotion has not tired you? Really,
ma belle, you are more exigeante than
1 had deemed possible. A years reign
should be sufficient for any pretty wo-
man. A month"; week-suttices 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
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 bull
! lat th,OIph nv hrain2 No no. Re-