Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-02-01

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much of my neighborhood. he con-
tinued; but shall hope to visit Beau
lieu soon
Il am sure mamma will be pleased
1 to see you.
| She spoke demurely enough but the
flash of her dark eyes expressed more
than any words could convey.
May hope for welcome from you
as well?" added Sir Karl, laughing
with the gay, half assurance that
suited him so we'll
Il 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 tiirt; he was
neither coXcomb nor Il dandy; he was
neither inconstant nor insincere; but
and talking to pretty girls than but
| tertly 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 we'll he re
marked to her
Il 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 loveliness.
"Which?" she said 1t shows what
| strangers we are that you should ask
me such 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? love every inch of her soil.
| 1t seems to me the very home Of poetry
and romance
we have poetry and romance also
in England" remarked Sir Karl,
Yes, 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
i 1,r;n 20 -
| France"
She spoke with such enthusiasm that
/ Sir Karl was interested,
You speak cloquently." he said.
Because | love France" she an
swered CAS- between the lands, SO be-
! tween the people-there seems to be no
comparison Here in England your
people arc dense. dull phlegmatic,
cold, and proud. Your peasantry are
Doors; there is no polteness in the
Whole nation, unless it is amongst the
| higher classes. In France every man
is more or less gentleman even the
artisans and laboTers are polite and
courteous. If you happen to stumble
against an Englishman on narrow
! foot-path, he considers himself in
suited, and revenges himself with an
imprecation or 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"
ut may be So" he answered, piqued
! by her words But you cannot deny
! to US Englishmen two great virtues,
honesty and bravery"
Il do not often read the newspa-
pers. she said; but l could judge best
by the police reports. The little /
have read has not given me an exalted
idea of Englishmen.
You are preiudicod, he remarked,
smiling
Z Am l. shall hope to meet some
Englishmen who will remove the pre-
| iudice"
Il hope ! shall be one of the happy
band, he said, laughingly u shall do
my best; and shall say to myself that
in trying to please you, am rendering
a national service.
There is one thing ! must say
about England, she continued. 1t is
a most hospitable nation-indeed, you
are the most hospitable people in the
world. Strangers come to you from
every Iand-kings driven from their
thrones, peers from their ancestral
! homes, all grades Of political refugees
England, like a kindly matron, opens
I 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 r-etty picture
Miss de F'erras' Who il that-that
young lady mean in white and
blue
She looked UP with sudden mlsgiv-
ings and saw that he was atteutiyeiy
watching Dolores. A sudden chill
came over her. ard her dark brilliant
face grew pale