The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-02-13

>""uSn suc Scutictuuu from across the
channel did-not reply, but contcntcl
himseif with opening very wide his
eyes In amazcment that Frenchman
shoufd presume to give an Engi:shman
lesson In clvility. The ladies cf course
were deeply grateful and duly express
ed their thanks, and 81. de Verneuil re-
turned to his seat, experiencing a de-
lightful sensation which he rarely felt
the pleasure of having rendered a
.rvice to others-apd as he resumed
his seat In the corner he began to study
the child. who during all the commo-
ton had remained quietly sleeping.
The study fascinated ilim, AMI lie ran
cied he had never before seen g boy
quite so beautiful; the slim, patrician
nose and mass Of yellow hair resem-
Dled the fair young mother, who from
time to time bent over him with an in
terested expression Of suffering OH her
pure, sweet face. as the baby chest was
shaken by dry cough, which even in
sleep did not desert him. De Verneuil
felt that he was growing desperately
interested in the boy, and as these
thoughts fitted through his mind the
child tossed one Of his Roman blankets
on the acc-, -i:oH &c rushed forward,
picked 1t up and tucked it around him.
HE was amazed at his own tenderness
and began to wonder where II would
eventually lead. The ladies again ex-
pressed their appreciation in that soft,
sweet English voice so much admired
on the continent.
At Dijon De Verneuil left the COM
partment, and when he returned he
brought with him large box OF bon
bons, which. with the mothers permis-
sion. he offered to the child. The candy
delighted the little fellow; he grew
animated and the color came again
into his pale. emac!ated little cheeks
as he smiled with pleasure and fixed
his great blue eyes on Edmond de YER
nen!l With that profound depth Of ex-
preston which children's eyes alone
possess and which seems to hide a
world or thought. The bonbons had
opened the way for conversation be-
tween NJ. de Verneuil AMI the ladies'
Naturally the child's health became the
absorbing topic, and the interested
bachelor learned that madame had lost
her husband three years before and
that some weeks previous to their Jour-
ney to France little Arthur had had a
severe attack OF bronchitis, which up
to date had def1ed the assiduous nurs-
Ing of his mamma and grandmother.
Therefore he had been ordered by his
English doctor to spend the winter ut
Nice.
"At Nice" exclaimed De VerneuIl,
amazed to find the pleasure which the
coincidence gave him. "Why, / am
going there myself" he said. Just then
the train drew up In the Lyons depot.
De Verneuil alighted and soon returned
laden with picture books for his little
chance acquaintance. Arthur was de-
lighted with the colored prints and after
looking al them for some time sudden
ly threw his books on the floor and.
jumping on De Verneuirs lar, put his
slender little arms around his neck
and kissed him.
Monsieur is good" he WHISPERED.
land love monsieur very much and
want him to come and stay ut the villa
where we are going"
This spontaneous outburst of affec.
tion touched n strange chord in the
bachelors egotistical nature. "The
boy really loves me-" he said to him
self, and so, instead Of going to little
hotel, as he usually did, he stopped at
the same pretty villa as the Barring
tons. and every day the handsome
Partisan and the pretty little English
boy, with his blond curls flying in the
breeze, spent hours together on the
warm, sunny beach, and the bachelor
was obliged to acknowledge, in spite of
his prejudices, that he had never be-
fore found Nice quite so pleasant.
Though he had not visited the casino,
the theater or any places of amuse-
ment, the days and weeks had flown
by plee&antly and almost imperceptibly
and with the mild air and warm south
ern sunshine his pretty protege, Arthur
Darlington, had regalned 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. Darlington and Arthur sat in the
pleasant sunshine on the vine covered
veranda the boy suddenly sprans up
from his toys and began to scream
and dance. "You see, mamma" said
he. burfting into loud, merry laugh,
"this is the way play American
Indian with monsieur"
"But, my dear son." protested his
mother, "you are making such dread
full 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 and to efface the unpleasant re-
membrance he caught the boy up in
his arms and kissed him passionately.
Arthur laid his pretty, dimpled face
upon his shoulder, and his piping, child
like voice begged monsieur to remain
always with his mamma and grand