Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-07

on the moor and jumping on Ire YER
neuil's lap, put his slender little arms
around his neck and kissed him.
Monsieur is good" he whispered,
"and l love monsieur very much, and
want him to come and stay at the
villa where we are going"
This spontaneous outburst of af-
ection touched a strange chord in the
bachelors egotistical nature. "The
boy really loves me-" he said to him
self; and 20, instead of going to
little hotel, as he usually did, he
stopped at the same pretty villa as
the Barringtons, and every day the
handsome Partisan and the pretty lit
tie English boy, with his blonde curls
flying in the breeze, spent hours to-
gether in the warm, sunny beach
and the bachelor was obliged to ac-
knowledge, in spite of his prejudices,
that he had never before found Nice
quite so pleasant. Though he had not
visited the Casino, the theater, or any
places of amusement, the days and
weeks had flown by pleasantly and
almost imperceptibly, and with the
mild air and warm southern sunshine
his pretty protege, Arthur Barring
ton, had regained his health, and his
little legs had grown strong and
round.
A romp was now the order Of the
day, and one morning as De Verneuil,
Mrs. harrington and Arthur sat in
the pleasant sunshine, on the vine
covered veranda, the boy suddenly
sprang up from his toys and began to
scream and dance. "You see, mamma"
said he, bursting into a loud, merry
laugh, "this is the way I play Amer
lean Indian with monsieur"
"But my dear little son." protested
the mother, you are making such a
dreadful noise"
"Let him alone, my dear madame"
interposed De Verneuil, 81 love to
hear him scream and laugh, for these
are the privileges Of childhood" But
scarcely had the words escaped him
when he recalled his portrait of chill
dren to Duvivier-and possibly
through shame to efface the unpleas-
ant remembrance he caught the boy
up in his arms and kissed him passion
ately.
Arthur laid his pretty dimpled face
upon his shoulder, and his piping,
child-like voice begged monsieur to re-
main always with his mamma and
grandmother. De Verneuil, usually
so self-possessed, felt ;he color mount
| ing to his face as he cast a furtive
glance at Mrs. Darlington, who sud
denly appeared to be absorbed in her
book. Then in the twinkling of an
eye he ran down the garden path,
closely followed by Arthur.
That evening quiet walk beneath
the stars settled the entire affair to
the satisfaction of all. The child had
won, and for this reason Edmond de
Verneuil returned to Paris in the
bright mouth of May, accompanied by
a fiancee, prospective son, and a
future mother-in-law, as an ardent
lover he had few equals, and, the
young widow yielding to his plead
ings, the marriage was fixed for al
early date. Of course he did not at
tend Duvivier's wedding, for the very
excellent reason that he had to be
present at his own, but the next day
he received from his friend the fol
lowing note:
My Dear De VeTncCil: My warmest
congratulations for yo,,r mastery stroke
! but between ourselves, | am as jealous as
q Moor, for 1t is not the good fortune oil
every man to receive on the same dag
a wife. a son, and mothcr-.H-law!
Always sincerely yours,
DuViVier