Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-01-29


mistress of Scarsdale.
II have not yet had time to see
much Of my neighborhood, he con-
tinued; but l shall hope to visit Beau
lieu soon"
II am sure mamma will be pleased
to see you"
She spoke demurely enough, but the
flash of her dark eyes expressed more
than any words could convey.
MAY I hope for a welcome from you
as well?" added Sir Karl, laughing
with the gay, half assurance that
suited him so we'll.
II cannot promise that, she replied.
''You will have to deserve it.
Il will do my BEST he added, more
gravely.
He was not the most despicable of
all creatures-a male fllrt; he was
neither coxcomb nor dandy; he was
neither inconstant nor insincere; but
he could no more help admiring, liking
and talking to pretty girls than but
terdy can help lowering around the
sweetest flowers. He never talked of
love; but there was a gallantry and
Difference in his manner which
charmed every woman with whom he
came in contact. 1t impressed the very
susceptible nature of the beautiful
French girl as nothing else had ever
done.
|'You speak English well," he re
marked to her.
'I have been more in England
than in France" she answered.
(Which country do you like the
best?" he asked.
Her eyes flashed with bright light,
and her lips quivered with emotion.
She was so completely transformed
that he was startled by her loneliness.
(which" she said. cit shows what
strangers we are that you should ask
me such a question. Do you think
there is any comparison between this
cold, dreary misty England where
you never see the sun except through
a veil, and my beautiful sunny, fair
France? I love every inch of her soil.
It seems to me the very home of poetry
and romance"
eve have poetry and romance also
in England" remarked Sir Karl
Eyes, but your poetry is all sad, and
your romances are tragedies" she re-
piled. Think of the grand, old ca
thedral cities of France; think of the
fair rivers and noble mountains; think
of the azure skies, the vines and the
olive-trees! Who would compare this
misty, gloomy land with bright, fair
France?''
She spoke with such enthusiasm that
Sir Karl was interested
''You speak eloquent1y," he said
Because I love France" she an
swered "As between the lands, so be-
tween the people-there seems to be no
comparison. Here in England your
people are dense, dull, phlegmatic,
cold, and proud. Your peasantry are
Doors; there is no politeness in the
whole nation, unless it is amongst the
higher classes. In France every man
is more or less a gentleman; even the
artisans and labOrers are polite and
courteous. If you happen to stumble
against an Englishman on a narrow
foot-path, he considers himself in
suited, end revenges himself with an
imprecation or a scowl; if the same
thing happens to a Frenchman, he is
so courteous, SO polite, that you almost
seem to have done him a favor
1T may be So" he answered. piqued
by her words. But you cannot deny
to us Englishmen two great virtues,
honesty and bravery"
L do not often read the newspa-
pers, she said; ''but could judge best
by the police reports The little I
have read has not given me an exalted
idea of Englishmen."
'You are prejudiced, he remarked,
smiling.
cam l. I shall hope to meet some
Englishmen who will remove the pre-
judice"
II hope [ shall be one of the happy
band" he said, laughingly. II shall do
my best; and I shall say to myself, that
in trying to please you, am rendering
a national service"
There is one thing I must say
about England" she continued "It is
most hospitaDle nation-indeed, you
are the most hospitable people in the
world. Strangers come to you from
every land-kings driven from their
| thrones, peers from their ancestral
homes, all grades of political refugees.
England, like a kindly matron, opens
/ her arms to ALL bids all welcome.
treats all generously, and never gives
up those who cling to her, or who seek
to hide their wounds in her BOSOM
Il am glad you allow us even that
much praise, he said calmly; then
after few moments he exclaimed sud-
denly: Look! What a pretty picture,
Miss de Ferras! Who is that-that
young lady, I mean, in white and
blue?"
She looked up with sudden misgiv-
| ings, and saw that he was attentiveIy
/ 1%oI,y T.1I~ i