Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-04-20


colonel was evidently not inclined to
crafty my curiosity. "You were
I----
speaking of the OPERA" he said. "we
will go this evening""
The languorous Faust music OF Gou-
nod was filling the French opera
house with a food of impassioned
melody as we entered. moment
later, and 1 felt the pressure of the
colonies hand upon my arm.
"Mlle. Marie" he whispered, and
my eyes followed his.
Twas but an instant, that thrill
II ecstasy, exquisite, indescribable,
which the sight of her marvellous
beauty produced; a moment in which
all my youthful dreams Of woman's
charm and loneliness was mirrored.
The sorrows of Faust and Marguer-
lie possessed but little interest for
me that night My eyes, in spite of
stTsSuous efforts to the contrary.
persisteutly followed the outlines of
q graceful figure, clothed in a gown
OF ivory Wilderness whose diaphanous
folds shone against the crimson of
her opera cloak like a delicate white
cloud in the evening glow. AS the
curtain fell the colonel arose. I
again noticed what seemed to me an
expression of annoyance of Mile.
Marie's smile as she turned to
greet us. In the dark eyes, filed with
| liquid beauty, was a look of almost
childish innocence and sincerity; the
| touch of the Madonna" was in her
face. We chatted gayly a few mo-
ments, Mile. Marie gently child
ing the colonel, for as she said.
having forgotten her and promising
forgiveness only upon his speedy
remembrance.
| And Monsieur Averell, my friend ?"
he asked, it seemed to me hesitat-
ingly.
| Eyes, colonel. Indeed, YES, and re-
member, soon," Mile. Marie an
swered smiling and lifting her ewes
TO mine with look which seemed
to echo the welcome of her lips.
| An unusual silence was upon the
colonel as we smoked that night. It
was broken finally by a trivial remark
from me regarding the opera.
And Mile. Marie?" he questioned.
Did you not find my words true mon
sieur? Is she not beautifully"
was conscious of the penetrating
power of his gray eyes as the colonel
leaned toward me. From his manner
| it was plainly evident he had some
| thing to say to me. We smoked in
silence few moments and then it
| came.
81 had hoped you would not
meet Mile. Marie, monsieur" he
said slowly. And as I turned upon
him look of astonishment; "You
will remember that told you, that
she is without 9 heart"
! was inwardiy amused at the
coloners anxiety and waited with in
terest for him to continue.
u should not tire you with tale
which concerns myself" he said,
earnestly. But 1 would consider
was unworthy the friendship of your
father, did / not warn YOU" and in
a hesitating way he continued: ct
loved once, monsieur, a beautiful
woman, more beautiful even than
Mile. Rosiere, and she was none
other than her mother, and fool
that I was, believed myself secure
in her affection. It is the old story.
All was well until the advent of her
cousin, the dashing Victor Rosiere
/ who came from Paris. was then
thrown aside. She has been dead
these many years and I will speak
no i'll Of her, but warn you, mon
sieur; Mile. Marie Is her mothers
daughter. You may perhaps even
have hear a rumor that is current, of
a cousin who is to come for her
some day"
| / had indeed heard the rumor, from
more than one of my club acquaint-
ances, the story of the wealthy Paris
ian, an ideal gentleman, hearsay had
1T, who was generally supposed to be
the betrothed of Mile. Marie.
| IAN Apollo for beauty and a
Croesus for wealth, suppose" lie
We're had said, but why does he not
make himself visible?"
True, indeed; the only thing that
seemed to be lacking to establish the
claim to perfection of this remark
able parsonage was the fact as lie
We're put it, that he had never made
himself visible. So far as was
known, Mile. Marie herself had
never seen him and it was
palpable fact that she did not appear
to evince the least impotence con-
corning his coming.
With many misgivings upon his
part, as had reason to know, and
unbounded joy on mine, the colonel
and repaired one evening soon after
to the home of Mile. Marie. AS the
colonel afterwards remarked, chat
was the beginning of the end" In
spite of his many admonitions and
in the face of numerous wise looks
and covert smiles, which LeVere and
his fellows lavished upon me, 1 pur-
sued happiness through those glori-
Gus, golden days which followed, with
the abandon of a butterfly for the
summers flowers and sunshine.
| When at last revealed my secret
to him, when told him of Mile.
Marie's love-the love that was mine
alone, tbs colonel refused to credit
my words.