The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-04-27
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY, FRIDAY APRIL

before / saw him, spoke to him, and
am going to dine with him tomorrow
"She smiled and hoped about like
sparrow in her excitement and satis-
faction. He is very grave, but he has
a soft voice, and his eyes are so clear
and beautiful
Where are you going to dine with
him, and how came he to ask your
oh, l can't tell-probably at some
quiet place. He is reserved. Perhaps
he is a married man and has family
SO dignified and discreet. You feel you
can tr;4st him.
"'Veey discreet, and very reserved
said /. so this is my fine gentleman
with the zeal for sou1sr' He asks
pretty girl to dine with him. the first
time he sees her.
"'Why notY inquired Coralie de-
murely. That is what pretty girls are
for
"'Do you still think he is an English
milordY
No. He is not English. He is too
polite. i brought him to the dinner
point she continued, smiling saucily.
L knew it was he the moment he came.
Monsieur had described him so beauti-
fully. So I slipped out when he was
leaving the sacristy, like retired colo
mel, SO neat in his mourning. When he
| appeared outside, I approached him
timidly and said: Monsieur must have
heart for goodness since he is at
church SO early. Will you not assist a
poor girlr" When he wanted to know
what my circumstances were, replied
that it was long story and that had
to go. If could only meet him again!
| We could perhaps dine together some
| time, and would expose my soul to
him. He hesitated moment, looking
| at me with his clear eyes. I blushed-
| oui, vraiment!-and then he said he
would meet me tomorrow, and we
| would go to a quiet cafe and dine.
"Only for your sake as well as mine,"
he added in a fatherly way, you must
let no one know this. There are rea-
sons why do not care to be seen or
recognized" So / shall see him this
evening" concluded Coralie, with a
| pert, self satisfied air. 4 shall try to
| find out who he is,' she added artlessly.
But 1t will be nice to dine with him,
| he is SO soothing and such gentle
| man.
Well, how will Auguste like this,
you mink? I asked Auguste was an
ambitious youth employed at the thea
ter who hoped to marry Coralie some
day when they had saved stocking
full. He was fiery young man, with a
dash Of Othello about him.
".Auguste need know nothing about
it, she answered sharply, with pout.
we are not married yet, and there are
as good fish in the sea as M. Auguste
| Gautier. / should like to see him OBJ
ject to my dining with a gentleman old
enough to be my father, and so proper
and spirituel. You know that you are
hoping that l may find out who this
| mysterious stranger is. He is wealthy
| and may buy one of your picturesque
| with me in it, she added, executing a
pirouette and throwing me kiss mock
ingly.
'The wealthy part of it was an in
! vention of Coralie's frivolous brain.
l saw she was captivated by the man
in black. Whether she thought she
could make a conquest do not know,
but I fancy she believed the frappe
militc rylike stranger might be worked
| for dhAhers, theaters, excursions and
trinkets. At all events, she was old
enough to look out for herself, and If
she couldn't handle Auguste knew /
| anlrI6nSt Rnctdnc T or hof vroc
curious to know something more about
the man, and if Coralie wheedled any
| thing out of him l was sure to get it.
was her confidant for all sorts Of
things.
sNyhen saw her the next day, she
| could tell me nothing, however. He
does not like to talk about himself she
declared thoughtfully. He told me
there were state reasons why he did
| not wish to attract attention, and this
is why he does not like TO go to very
| public places. But he said it would be
pleasure to him to take me out to din
| ner now and then, because he was q
man of lonely hours. He was not
dressed in his black clothes. He is not
married. she said. AT least he told
me that he was not. But he is nice If
he isn't gallant He thinks l have a
pretty neck. saw him look at it. My
| gown was cut away little at the
throat. He touched it-oh, very re-
| spectfully!-with his nice. soft finger
and said 1t was so firm and white
WELL" continued Herbert, stretch
ing himself and deliberately knocking
the ashes out of his pipe, II found that