Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-25


IN. Dcsmoulins is very good friend
of mine, " explained Constance "He is
a journalist. ! am obliged to make
friends with all the journalists, because
if | ever make debut here they could
do great deal for me.
Priscilla smiled dreamily. "What a
bore all that isr' she remarked. Il
never knew one was obliged to make up
to lot of low people like that to get
on. | thought it was just walk over
and that foreigners recognized real talent
and were only too delighted to get it. -
Constance did not answer hH. Her
eyes were fixed upon the door. There
they are ~ she said breathlossly.
"Who?"
IN. Desmoulins and the Count Bara.
dat dc Lacaze.'
(Which is the COUNT" asked Pris.
ella. 1.-THE big man with the dark eyes
and fine figure and thick red lips or the
! little old one with the bent shoulders
and the ugly face? Ugh What a horrid
face 1t is Ike bird of prey !"
His face is not handsome" said
Constance, "but NJ. Desmoulins wrote
me this afternoon in little note he
sent me asking if he might bring him {;
that his friend De Lacazc belongs to
one Of the oldest families in France and
is a real noblcman.
Priscilla drew long breath.
Go and seat yourself by your aunt,
! quick, said Constance, land | will
bring them both over and introduce
them. "
Introduce them here.
"Oh, no." objected Constance in
quite shocked voice. "It would not do
at all. In France a girl must always he
seated by her chaperon. When man
dances with IA girl, he returns her to
h"r chaperon just as soon as he has fin
/ ished. -
/ "What bore !" said Priscilla. Fan
cy any such nonsense in our dear old
America" and then she burst out
laughing. The laugh was so fresh and
full, it held so rich suggestion of real
fun, and Priscilla looked so bewitch-
lngly pretty giving vent to it, her state
~ head thrown back little, showing
all her lovely, pearly teeth, her hand
III the coils Of her hair, that the Count
de Lacaze, who was not far from her.
prickcd up his ears suddenly and cast "a
swift, piercing glance III her direction
i, that she?" he whispered to Des-
mouths. "SaNi,ti You were right.
She is a beauty. Present me.
Desmoulins smiled quie ~. "Malle
1T 30, 600 francs, and | will do it, " he
said.
There bad been a stormy interview
that afternoon i'll the little room at the
left of the Figaro office. The Count de
Lacaze had exhibited a stuhbornnesS his
managers had not expected from him
i'll the drawing up of the agreement.
| He had absolutely declined adding his
signature to any paper which would
hold him responsible for larger sum
than 20, 900 francs were the transaction
his tempters proposed carried out to his
satisfaction. He had totally denied the
duke right to demand his dues until
his-De Lacaze 's-fsh was landed.
Desmoulins had finally appeared to
acquiesce that half "a loaf was better
than none and had accepted the decree,
viciouslY determining to get the best of
this willy adversary did that parsonage
nibble a bigger bait than Desmoulins
had bargained for
Twenty, .cowled De Lacaze, with
il terocious expression. Present me or
l Will present myself. "
Priscilla, said Constance, "allow
me to introduce my friend VI. Charles
Desmoulins Of the Eclair and his friend
the Count Baradat de LacaZc -
Priscilla bowed. Aunt Mildred had
already gone through the introduction
and withdrawn with flying colors, with
the assistance Of Constance, from the
painful experience of exchanging com
pliments with a Frcnchman who spoke
the vilest English imaginable, but who
politely pretended to make up for def
ciencics 10y Il knowing smile which his
new acquaintance designated aftcrward
as "perfectly detcstable.
"Mademoiselle will dancc?" said the
count to Priscilla in French.
with pleasure.
And then that unwise young woman
was swept into the vortex of lifting fig.
ures, mercilcssly pirouetting in what
they fondly imagined to be the measures
of the waltz instead of which it was a
Whlrl in one spot, with no reversing
which Is considered bad form in France
An arm like an iron wise around her
yielding waist, and an olive skinned
horrid little countenante, lighted by
strangely COngested orbs which seemed
to be devouring her inch by inch burn.
ed out Of Priscilla any natural power of
enjoyment and rendered her very mis-
cradle instead.
ooh, stop" cried Priscilla.
"Why, mademoiselle:'
"You go SO fast, and it is all so funny,
and | am so dizzy"
THAT will soon vanish, mademoi-
selle "
Let me GO" said Priscilla in a
strange, breathless voice Il wish to
stop. Let me 90.
The count stopped violently, nearly
losing his equilibrium in the process.
Pulling stertorously, he leaned mp
against the back of sofa and mopped
his face
Priscilla was crimson. Her eyes were
full of tears
shall l take mademoiselle to her
aunt"
IF you please"
They found the way back in stern
silence through the whirling couples to