The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
A Canadian COQuette

Il UGll0ul0u UUquOGCO
Mademoiselle Lalanne was in gay mood
that night. She was very happy, and
might, therefore, have been expected to be
kind. On the contrary, with woman's IL
tie to the unexpected, she was filed, for
the moment, with kind of radiant malice;
an impulse to be delicately cruel lurked
behind the tender scarlet curve Of her lips
and the wide innocence OF her bewiidering
eyes hid. very successfully, merciless de-
sire to wound the two men who hung upon
her words. Her mother, Madame De La
lame, an elderly gentlewoman of Quebec,
dozed over her knitting beside the ample
hearth.
Mademoiselle was dressed in a shortish
skirt of the pattern worn by the country
girls. The materil, however, was not OF
the coarse wool oflthe district but heavy
homespun linen bleached to the tint of
cream: the bodice was OF the same stuff,
with sleeves turned back at the elbows to
show arms that were slim almost to thin
ness, but milk-white, and bewitchingly
nodded. over her shoulders was thrown
carelessly a shawl Of fine silk, black, but
no blacker than the siFken hair above it.
On her small, slim feet. one of which kept
restlessly tapping the floor, she wore Of
fine scarlet leather. These little shoes ev-
cry girl in Acadia had heard OF and dis
cussed with jealous admiration; but few,
indeed even OF the Grand Pre- maids had
seen them, for the De Lalannes, mindful
of their past seigneurial pride, maintained
their aloofness amid their changed for
tunes. az
Beautiful as was her face, broad
proved, finely chiselsd wood with the
warm wbiteness of ivory. 1t was. above
all, her eyes that male Marie De Lalanne
the wonder of all Acadia. When she
turned their dark radiance from time to
time full upon her two cavaliers both felt
their hearts jump painfully, and each burn
ed with a fierce impulse TO pitch the other
from the nearest window.
The two young men upon whose passion
she was playing so recklessly had come to
Grand Pre- village that same evening from
opposite directions. Roth had made all
haste out ovSE the hill TO the old farm
house by the GaspereaG. Captain Barras.
iourneying on snowshoes from the French
post q. Chignecto, had arrived first. flushed
with citation at finding 'lademoiselle alone
for Madame De Lalaine was ever too
sunk in old dreams TO count as person
atty Scarcely had re bowed his devoirs
over the little restless white hand. which
mademoiselle was wont TO use as merci-
lessly as her eyes, when there came from
the hunting fields behind La Heve the
spare, sombre-su suited. silent figure OF Jean
Michel Landry De Latour. the proud and
Impoverished descendant OF the De La
tours of Port Royal and st. John.
Now on the coming OF Captain Barras.
! Inademoiselle had not been overgraclous
| /. was when De Latour arrived that the
! caprice Of gayety had seized upon her
Z Nha: were these unencouraged suitors for
/ indeed, If not 10 furnish Amusement
{ through the hour Of waiting before her
: On the instant she was all gracious.
~ trust your absence from Grand Pre-
/ has not seemed so long to you as 1t ha:
! TO us monsieur" she murmured as De La
tour kissed her finger tips, and shot 6
glance of dark disdain at Barras.
The captains mouth grew suddenly DIR!
as he perceived in this changed demeano
of his hostess an explanation of the chill
| civiljty which had greeted his own arri
val But in the next moment those rest
less eyes flashed upon him something tina
thrilled like a caress, and straightway, re
! Numbering all that he was and his riva
was not-rich, handsome, and of high ia
vor with the Governor at Quebec-he re
| turned the newcomers glance with in
terest.
When mademoiselle presented the two
De Latours curt formality was veile
declaration OF war, while the elaborate
courtesy of Barras was an exquisite inso
lence. And mademoiselle was sinfully de
lighted.
The burden of the conversation wa
borne by Barras, who had a flow of gilt
tering compliment at command. Mademol
selle De LaIanne had but to direct tn
game, now with deft turn CT phrase, no.
with smile now with. a swift look; an
with such wicked nicely OF skill did sh
direct II that within the half hour IN
air of that peaceful chamber seemed fu
of swords. At this paint, however. sh
kept things under curb. so that neithe
man dared rufie the shining surface {
cvility which she had spread between then
The ghostly patch of moonlight move
across the floor until IL touched and pale
the scarlet OF mademoiselle's shoes. Thel
on a sudden, Just as she opened her III
for some sally more sweetly envenome
than any that had gone before, the taiI
sound of a footstep in another part Of th
house caught her ear No one else near
II. but II was what she was waiting 10
Her face softened and she sprang up.
"Excuse me, monsieur" she said, hast
": 81 have forgotten something. AM
. In a breath, she was gone. closing th
door behind her and leaving the two me
TO stand with blank faces staring after he
So they stood for moment, then turnt
/, to each other. De Latour spoke first
: Your society is distasteful to me, Car
tain Barras." he said coldly
, II can quite imagine IT, monsieur" mul
/, , INJURED Barras. with the most courteous IL
, tonation. different, | suppose, from thi
; 10 which you are accustomed
De Latour smiled grimly.
I Nevertheless" he said. Il could tolel
ate II for short time under other cond
tions Behind yonder fir trees there is
level space by the side of the water, whe
: the moon shines clearly. l could meet W
there with pleasure. so it be at once, mol
2 sieuri
Barras bold eyes flashed. This was iu
. what he wanted. Yet for the mere ms
! leuce of 1t. he affected to hesitate.
+ your appearance is against you, mol
sieur," he drawled; "but-yes. you are +