Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-03-09

MsNSSyZ/ struggle 20 ensue,
~ but an hours ride
from Grcnoble, on
the highway leading TO that city, stood
young man leaning against huge
chestnut trunk. and gazing silently up
on the picturesque scene spread out be-
tYre him
The sparkling waves OF the Isire
danced along merrily through vine
covered valley, lying like an emerald
between two precipitons hills, closely
wooded with chestnut trees, interspers-
ed here and there with birch or larch.
Beyond him lay smiling tract Of cul-
tivated lanG, showing the rare mingling
of orange and lemon with apple and
cherry trees: and crowning a gentle
slope was tho oddly shaped Chateau OF
the noble proprietor, Count Beauvais.
Still further across the unduhting
country rose the stately towers and
high parapet walls of another chateau,
and scattered here and there, between
humble daisies in the greensward, were
the low walled dwellings OF the peas
ant dependents of these warm friends
and close neighbors, Counts Beauvais
and Germain.
But 1t was on neither lordly dwelling
the fine dark eye of the solitary gazer
turned 50 eagerly, but upon the point
directly between him and the river,
where the highway came out into the
sunshine again, after its cool and shad-
owy passage through the chestnut
woods. From this his attention was
scarcely for a moment diverted, and
presently his perseverance was well re-
warded, judging from the glow that
mantled his cheek and lit his dark eye.
A cavalcade OF some dozen persons,
ladies and gentlemen. came sweeping
out gaily from the dark green arch
way of the woods, their gay dresses,
flying plumes. and sparkling equip
ments lighting up the scene in just the
way to suit an artists picture or a
poets fancy.
The youth drew closer before him the
1eafy screen of down-reach.ng boughs--
but peered through them eagerly as the
train drew nearer so that the silvery
laughter of the ladies came distinctly
TO his ears.
Foremost, side by side, on pair Of
spirited Jet black horses rode a youth
ful pair chatting merrily, and now and
then leaning toward each other to give
an earnest gesture to add spirit to Jest
or tender talk. whichever II might be.
On these the wild. dark eyes Of the hid
den gazer seemed to flame now with
tenderest love, and anon with the fierc-
est ire; and as they approached still
nearer, he set his teeth against his lip,
till the receding blood left white line
around each indenture. while his
breath came laboringly. Even when
they passed on, and the remainder of
the party came opposite to him. his
glance still followed the graceful fig
ure of the maiden, with a wistful, de-
spairing tenderness that seemed impos-
sible from the same eyes that moment
before had glared so angrily upon the
youth who rode beside her.
But the face of Lady Violante Beau
vais was enough to explain away much
madness upon a lovers part. Such a
face as we meet often In pictures. but
SO seldom in reality. All the sweet
ioveliness of childhood In the rose-tint-
ed cheeks, and lips moulded In loves
own type--the lilies and dimples of in
fancy, but In the large. dreamy and un-
fathomable dark eyes-womanhoods
shy reserve and tender mysteries.
She carried her beautiful head
haughtily. so that the snowy plumes of
her blue velvet riding cap swept the
sloping shoulder; and yet 1t seemed a
pride more than cultivated sentiment,
albeit none knew better than she the
most effectual way of keeping presump-
tion al bay.
Not even the young Count Germain.
her friend and warm admirer, had
dared SO much as touch familiarly the
white little hand, that, released from
the gauntlet glove. stroked the silky
name OF the horse. And now as he rode
gaily beside her, drinking IN. with
greedy delight. the charming grace and
sparkling changes on her expressive
conference.-the dared not, for the life
of him, breathe word of the soft fat
teries that rose to his lips-because she
had checked, with queenly dignity, his
first attempt at compliment.
And while he listened to her sweet
Joyous tones. the young Count was
wondering what was going on at Beau
yais Chateau, and IL, as he had nrom-
ised. his stately father was lay a be-
fore the Corat his long cherished plan
OF uniting the two houses by the mar
riage Of the beautiful violante to his
son. That SON looked over shyly to
the fair equestrian and queried what
new light would come sparkling into
that dreamy eye. what change would
come over that joyous face, could she
hear the momentous discussion prob
ably going on at that very moment In
lhe antique library OF her fathers
house: would that polished forehead
grow unlovely with frown. or would
sew smiles come coyly around those
rosy lips? II was delicious problem
-. A..