The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-03-17

Q young man leaning against huge
chestnut trunk, and gazing silently up
on the picturesque scene spread out be-
tore him.
The sparkling waves of the Isire
danced along merrily through vine
covered valley, lying like an emerald
between two precipitous hills closely
wooded with chestnut trees, interspers-
ed here and there with birch or larch.
Beyond him lay smiling tract Of Gull
tiVated land, showing the rare mingling
OF orange and lemon with apple and
cherry trees; and browning a gentle
slope was the oddly shaped Chateau of
the noble proprietor, Count Beauvais.
Still further across the undulating
country rose the stately towers and
high parapet walls of another chateau.
and scattered here and there, between
humble daisies in the greensward, We're
the low walled dwellings Of the peas
ant dependents of these warm friends
and close neighbors, Counts Beauvais
and German.
But it was on neither lordly dwelling
the fine dark eye Of the solitary gazer
turned SO 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 we'll re-
warded, Judging from the glow that
11I !, i; Oh, -
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
- to SHIT an artists picture or a
poets fancy.
The youth drew closer before him the
leafy screen of down-reaching 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 a pair of
spirited jet black horses rode 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 it might be.
On these the wild, dark eyes Of the hid
den gazer seemed to fame 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 wistful, de-
,spairing tenderness that seemed impos-
-slble from the same eyes that a 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
LONELINESS 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 I'M
fashionable dark eyes-womanhood s
sshy 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 it seemed a
pride more than a cultivated sentiment,
albeit none knew better than she the
most effecs.'al way of keeping presump-
tion at bay.
Not even the young Count German,
her friend and warm admirer, had
dared so much as touch Familiarity 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
countenance-he dared not, for the life
OF him, breathe word of the soft flat
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
vais Chateau, and if, as he had prom
Used, his stately father was laying be-
fore the Count 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
the antique library of her fathers
house; would that polished forehead
grow unlovely with frown, or would
new smiles come coyly around those
!. rosy lips? It was delicious problem.
Pondering upon it, he grew distracted
nor needed how restless and uneasy
the horse Of Lady Violante grew
toaming at the mouth, starting uneas-
lily aside, and at last actually rearing,
while his fair rider. patting his glossy
neck, said chidingly.
$50, SO, my foolish Jet, why do you