Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-27

DR.. Chantry stirred his equity feet and
looked hopelessly out at the landscape.
''Sit here by your dearest Annabel," said
Mademoiselle de Chaumont.
Her governess breathed the usual sigh
of disgust.
1 sat by my dearest Annabel, anxious to
light my candle and open my books. She
shook the frizzes around her cheeks and
buried her hands under the scarlet
branch in her lap.
do you know, Lazarre williams, have
to leave your"
1 said was sorry to hear it.
Yes, I have to go back to my convent
and drag poor Miss Cantry with me,
though she is a hereto and hates the forms
Of our religion. But she has to submit
and so do l. because my father will have
nobody but an English governess."
''Mademoiselle," spoke Miss Chantry. Il
would suggest that you sit on chair by
yourself"
What, on one of those little crowded
chairs?' said Annabel.
She reached out her sly hand for mine
and drew it under cover of the sumach
branch.
ct have been thinking about your rank
a great deal, Lazarre Williams, and won
dering what it Isl
"If you thought more about your own
it would be better" said Miss Chantry.
1--WE are Americans here" said Annabel
"All are equal, and some are free. / am
only equal. Must your dearest Annabel
obey you about the chair, Miss Chantry?"
81 said 1 would suggest that you sit on
chair by yourself"
81 will, dear. You know always follow
your suggestions"
1 felt the hand that held mine tighten
its grasp in despairing squeeze. Annabel
suddenly raised the branch high above her
head with both arms. and displayed DIR.
Chantry's hand and mine clasped tenderly
in her lap. She laughed until even Miss
Chantry was infected, and the doctor
Uttered and wiped his eyes.
Watch your brother, Miss Chantry-
don't watch me! You thought he was
squeezing my hand-and he thought SO,
too! Lazarre Villains is just out of the
woods and doesn't know any better. But
DR.. Chantry-he is olcer than my father!"
1--WE wished to oblige you, mademois-
elle," said But the poor English gentle
man Uttered on in helpless admiration.
He told me privately. II never saw anoth-
er girl like her. So full of spirits, and
so frank!"
Dr. Chantry did not wear his disfiguring
horn spectacles when Annabel was near.
He wrote a great deal of poetry while the
blow Of parting from her was hanging
over him, and read it to me of mornings,
deprecating my voiceless contempt.
would hear him quarreling with a SER
want in the hall: for the slightest varia-
ton in his comfort engendered RACES in
him that were laughable. Then he entered,
red-nosed, red-eyed and bloodlessly shiv-
ering with piece of paper covered by
innumerable small characters.
Good morning, my lad" he would say.
coed morning. DIR. Chantry." an
swered.
''Tere are a few little stanzas which 1
have set down. If you have no objection
l will read them"
1 must have listened like a trapped bear,
sitting up and longing to get at him, for
he usually finished humbly folding his pa
per and putting it away in his breast.
There was reason to believe that he spent
valuable hours copying all these verses for
Annabel de Chaumont. But there is no
evidence that she carried them with her
when she and her governess departed in
great coach all gilt and padding. Ser
wants and wagon load Of baggage and
supplies accompanied De Chaumont s
daughter on the long journey to her Bal
timore convent.
Shaking in every nerve and pale as q
sheet my poor master watched ner cut o.
sight He caid he should not see his sister
again until spring, and added that he was
fool, but when a creature of light came
across his path he could not choose but
worship. His affections had been blighted
by a disappointment in youth, but he
had thought he might at least bask in
passing sunshine, though fated to unhap-
piness. 1 was ashamed to look at him, or
to tive any sign of overhearing his weak
ness, and exulted nightly in my youth,
despising the encnantments of a woman.
Madame de Terrier watched the depart
ure from another side of the gallery. and
did not witness my poor masters break
down. She came and. talked to him, and
took more notice of him than l had ever
seen her take before.
In day or two he was quite himself,
plodding at the lessons, suddenly furious
at the servants, and giving me fretful
histories Of his wrongs when brandy and
water were not put by his bedside at night,
or a warming pan was not passed between
his sheets.
About this time 1 began to know without
being taught, and without expressing 1t
in words that there is a natural law of
environment which makes us grow like
the company we keep. During the first
six months of my stay In De Chaumonts
house DR.. Chantry was my sole compan-
ion. / looked anxiously into the glass of
my dressing table, dreading to see a re-
Election of his pettiness. 1 saw a face with
large features, eager in expression. The
eyes were hazel and blush around the iris
rims, the nose aquiline, the chin full, the
head high and round-templed The hair
was sunny and wavy, not dark and tight
fitting like that of my Indian father and
mother. There would be always a scar
/ across my eyebrow. noticed that the lobe
of my ear was not deeply divided from
my head, but fashioned close to. IT in
triangular snugness. though l could not
have said so. Regular life and abundant
food, and the drive of purpose, were de-
veloping all my parts. took childish
| pleasure in watching my Indian boyhood
go and vital force mounting every hour.
Time passed without marking until jan
uary. The New England Thanksgiving we
had not then heard of; ana Christmas was
q holy day of the church. On a January
afternoon Madame de Terrier sent Err
nestine to say that she wished to see DR..
| Chantry and me.
My master was asleep by the fire in an
armchair. I looked at his disabled feet
and told Ernestine 1 would go with her
alone. She led me to wing of the house.
Even an Indian boy could see through
Annabel de Chaumont. But who might
fathom Madame de Terrier? Every time /
saw her, and that was seldom, some
change made her another Madame de
Terrier, as If she were thousand women
in one. saw her first white clad spirit,
who stood by my head when 1 awoke;
next lady who rose up and bowed to
me; then a beauty among dancers; after
wards, a little girl running across the
! turf, or a kind woman speaking to my
master. Often she was a distant figure,
coming and going with Paul and Ernestine
! in De Chaumont's woods. If we encoun-