The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-17

H00NQ's Fortunes,
FRA1cIs'-Authg North Country village etc

Z
or dominoes?" seeing a box Of the latter
on the table.
No said the countess snappishly. 81
dislike cards, aItt5 / ana tined OF dom-
noes. How many games did We play
yesterday, Justine?''
Seven, Nine. la CONCISE, : responded
the abigail imperturba bly,.
Molly was at her wits end, What on
earth was she to do with this woman?
The task of providing cher with enter
tainment appeared more and more dif-
ficult especially as the lackeiusteT eyes
were now half closed, and the whole
face composed into an expression of
deadly lassitude. 49,. > > ssv a4se
''Je m ennuie, murmured Nine. de
Treilles, hopelessly. ''Je M ennuie "a
perir.
amuse herr put in, RaQQl. ~impatiently
from his corner.
I'll sing to-, YOU" eriads, Molly, des-
perately Yes, I'll sing-if you don't
like it you can tell me to stop
In another moment the sweet, clear
voice thrilled cut through the room, a
little tremulous- at. FIRST. but becoming
gradually more assured.
Looking up atF4thes elese4-of hep ditty,
she saw the baron gazing at her with
an expression which she could not
fathom.
VERY prettyF' said his sister; chem,
Raoul? She sings we'll. Sing again, if
you please, mademoiselle.'
Molly sang again, and again and again
Nine de Treilles' expressions of salts
faction baing more and more animated.
Finally she stretched out one of her pale
hands to her brother.
my dear Raoul," she said, what n
good idea thou hast had 1 wonder"
To Molly and examining lpr
with pleased curiosity, much as child
investigates new top-''I wonder what
else you can do Could YOU tell me
anything that would make me laugh?'
Molly, strung up, to the last pitch Of
nervous excitement and keenly conscious
of the dark Observant eyes in the cor
ner, felt for a moment as If such an
achievement We're beyond her strength.
After a pause, however, rallying her
courage, She related the first anecdote
that came into her head, which, to her
great delight had the desired effect. Nine.
la comtesse did actually laugh; and JUS
tine, standing with folded arms at the
foot of her mistress couch, cackled long
and noisily; but the baron uttered no
sound, and Molly did not dare to glance
in his direction.
go on said the countess, faint
smile lingering about her mouth, while
new acquisition. And Molly went on, her
face white, her voice trembling, her little
hands pressed tightly together on her
lap. Never in all her life had she been
through such an ordeal The heat, the
heavy, close atmosphere of the room, the
necessity of speaking in a strange tongue,
rendering the task of being funny to
order even more difficult. It speaks well
not only for her spirit and courage, but
for o1pN-prnPSG
to keep her hearers amused almost half
an hour. Personal "reminiscences, scraps
from her faVorite authors, odds and ends
of stories that she had picked up she
knew not how she made such use OF
these now as she could, her natural sense
of humor rendering the selections judi
cious, and her delivery being, in its
Quaint simplicity, wholly graceful and
charming. Now and then, when the jest
particularly tickled her own fancy, she
would altogether forget her shyness; the
pretty face would dimp1e into smiles, the
eyes sparkle with fun; once she laughed
outright-young, fresh laughter, very de-
lightful to hear. But at last she came
to a standstill-'I really can't think Of
anything else just now" she observed
deprecatingly.
Mime. de TreiIles pouted, and was about
to demonstrate, when her brother inter
posed.
"True, Miss Mackenzie must be tired
Remember Madeleine, she has not vet
got over the fatigue Of her long Journey
She has been, here since yesterday
Eyes, only since Yesterday =she needs
rest. She would now like a turn in the
fresh air, ! daresay''
Before Molly had recovered from her
astOnishment a this unexpected proof of
consideration, NJ de SauVigny rose, cross
ed the room, and opened the door, gaz-
ing at her meaningly, as though advis-
ing her to make her escape forthwith.
But Nine. de Treilles caught at her
skirts as she passed
You will make me laugh again to-
morrow, will you not?' she said, clinging
to her with long frail fingers
Yes, answered the poor child gently
disengaging herself and slipping away
hastily, lest her trembling lips and tear
full eyes might auger. ,ill fors the. uneXpect-
ed entertainment
Il really think she said to herself
when the cool garden breezes were fan
ming her temples, and the TRANQUILITY OF
her surroundings had somewhat t. Gained
her nerves, Il really think this is the
hardest work I could have undertaken
To play the buffoon for hours at a time
to hold myself in readiness to- conduct
a sort of variety entertainment at any
given moment, is rather more than /
bargained fer. l think I shall earn my
twenty pounds"
CHAPTER XIV.
~ PEEP AT .'THE LADIES' JEWEL. .
Molly soon found that il in son,e WAYS
her post was no sirecure great deal OF
time nevertheless hung heavily on her
hands. She rarely saw NJ de Sauvigny
who spent most of his time IN the tur.
ret room from which he had first espie
her, a sort of office or Stldy very com
fortress and untldy-as she perceived one
day when she passed the open door-lit-
tered with papers. and with a great desI,
in one of the windows. When they dis
meet however, he. was. invariably civil
and during the tete-a-tete diners, whicr
she had so much dreaded, made some
effort TO entertain her.
The only event of any Importance
which took place during the first week 81
her stay was flying visit paid 10 the
chaetaE by the yeeng Count de Trailles
VINO vas about as he wrote, to under
take 'uH petit Voyage0d' agreement" anG
dutifully came first to Jake leave Of hi:
mother and uncle. 80 gas
Nine. la cQpltesse. fell, forthwith iatc
the widest state Ct excitement, and tx.
tensive preparations were made to rr
ceiVc the distinguished visitor Ore c1
the great dingy salons was thrown npen
ana the furniture uncovered AMI pol
ished; Nine de Treii1es' ryer discarded
her dressing gown, and arraXed, in crack
ling silk wandered up and down between
the windows and the fireplace OF The
| above named room. for at least an hour
| before his arrival!
Look, look. Mademolsclle. she cricd
as at last the sound Of wheels was heard
and hired carriage, drove ur to tn,
house, Come to the window. and look a,
my sou. See,~ heajs yaa1dsennc--iss he not
| 1t is no wonder that he is tho idol o
Partisan society; lie Bijo1f DIES Danes.
as they call him. All, he Is LOOKING; I'D
darling