Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-06-28

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before. saw him. spoke to him. and
l am going to dine with him tomorrow
'She smiled and hoped about like q
sparrow in her excitement and salts
faction. He is very grave. but he has
soft voice, and his eyes are so clear
and beautiful
Where are you going to dine with
hi.a, and how came he to ask you?
"'Oh, l can't tell-probably at some
| quiet place He is reserved. Perhaps
he is married man and has family
SO dignified and discreet. You feel you
can trust him.
VERY discreet, and very reserved
said l. so this is my fine gentleman
with the zeal for souls. He asks a
pretty girl to dine with him the first
time he sees her.
murely. That is what pretty girls are
for
"'Do you still think he is an English
milordY
emo. He is not English. He is too
polite. brought him to the dinner
point, she continued, smiling saucily.
i knew it was he the moment he came
Monsieur had described him so beauti-
fully. So slipped out when he was
leaving the sacristy, like retired colo
mel, so neat in his mourning. When he
appeared outside, l approached him
| timidly and said: Monsieur must have
heart for goodness since he Is at
church so early. Will you not assist
poor girl?" When he wanted to know
what my circumstances were, replied
that 1t 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. blushed-
| oui, vraiment-and then he said he
would meet me tomorrow, and we
would go to quiet cafe and dine.
"Only for your sake as well as mine,"
he added in fatherly way, you must
let no one know this. There are rea-
sons why l do not care to be seen or
recognized" So l shall see him this
evening" concluded Coralie, with
pert, self satisfied air. 4 shall try to
find out who he is she added artlessly.
But it will be nice to dine with him,
he is so soothing and such gentle
| man.
Well, how will Auguste like this,
| you minx?' l 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
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 gentleman old
enough to be my father, and so proper
| and spirituel. You know that you are
hoping that 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.
1.-THE wealthy part of it was an in
vention Of Coralie's frivolous brain.
| saw she was captivated by the man
in black. Whether she thought she
could make a conquest / do not know,
but l fancy she believed the frappe,
militarylille stranger might be worked
for dinners, theaters, excursions and
| trinkets. At all events. she was old
enough to look out for herself, and If
she couldn't handle Auguste l knew l
couldn't. Besides. l admit that l was
curious to know something more about
the man, and if Coralie wheedled any
thing out of him was sure to get it.
l was her contdant for all sorts Of
things.
"When | 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 We're 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 a
man of lonely hours. He was not
dressed II 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 1 have q
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. 81 found that
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