The Washington times., 1902-09-07
BOOK I-AwAKING-Continued.


needs dark Gaping of hair, whateve
her complexion, to emphasize he
beauty. For light locks seem to fra.
out to nothing, and waste to air instead
OF fifty binding lovely countenancc
Madame de Ferrier's hair was of exact
ly the right color. Her eyebrows wer
distinct dark lines, and the lashes were
SO dense that you noticed the curtin.
rim they made around her gray eyes
Whether the gift OF looking to your core
is beauty or not. can only say sh,
had 1t. And /. could not be sworn wha,
her features were; such life and ex,
preston played over and changed then
every moment.
AS to ler figure, it was just in it.
roundness and suppleness, and had 8
lfghtness Of carriage that I have never
seen equaled There was charm in look.
ing at without approaching her that
might have satisfied me Indefinitely il
De Chaumont had not come home.
Ernestine herself made the first
breach in that sacred reserve The old
woman met me in the hall, courtesied,
and passed as usual. / turned behind
the broad ribbons which hung down her
back from cap TO heels. and said:
"Oh, by the way, Ernstine, how is
Madame de Ferrier? i was going to
knock-'
And Ernestine courtesied again, and
opened the door, standing aside for me
to enter.
Madame de Ferrier sat on bear skin
climbed over her and gave her juicy
kisses. There was deep wood fire,
upheld by very tall andirons having
cups in their tops, which afterward 1
learned were called posset cups. She
WAS laughing so that her white teeth
showed. and she made me welcome like
a playmate; remaining on the rug, and
bidding Ernestine set chair for me
near The fire.
rs is very kind of you to spare me
some time. monsieur" said Madame de
Ferrier She admonished Paul-"Don't
choke your little mother
told her boldly that nothing but the
dread cf disturbing her kept me from
knocking every day. We had always
walked into the lodges without knock
ing, and / dwelt on this as one of my
new accomplishments.
II am not studying night and day."
she answered. Sophie Saint Michael
and her mother were my teachers, and
they are gone now, one to heaven and
the other to Castorland."
Remembering what Annabel de Chau-
mont said about holy Sophie, inquired
If she had been religious.
THE Saint-Michels were better than
both mother and daughter
were eternally patient with the poor
count, whose troubles unsettled his
reason. They had no dear. old Ernest
Inc, and were reduced to the hardest
labor. was little child when We came
10 America. yet even then the spirit of
the Saint-Michels seemed to me di-
vine"
81 wish / could remember when I was
! little child"
"Can you not recall anything"
"I have dim knowledge of objects"
What objccts?''
'.Si Regis Church, and my taking my
irst communion; and the hunting. the
woods and water. boats, snowshoes, the
xind of food / liked Skenedonk and all
ny fricnds-but / scarcely knew them |
is persons until / awoke''
What is your first distinct recollec-
ion?"
your face"
"Mine?"
"Yes, yours. madame. / saw it above
ne when you came into the room at
light"
She looked at me and said:
You have fortunately missed some o.
he most terrible events that ever hap
ened ir the world, monsieur. My
mother and father. my two brothers,
'ousin Philippe and l. were in prison
ogether. Ny mother and brothers were
AIKEN, and we were left
j understood that she spoke of the
error, about which was eager to
now every then unwritten detail
,octcr Chantry had told me many
hings.. 1t fascinated me far more than
ncient history, which my master was
refined TO press upon me.
.Tow can you go back to France,
ladame?"
That's what j ask myself every day.
ha. life was like a strange nightmare
ct there was our chateau. Mcn;-L Louis,
40 or three days journey east from
aris. The park was SO beautiful.
link of it. and of Paul"
..AnG what about this country,
adane7 Is there nothing beautiful
are?"
The fact has been impressed on me,
onsieur, that It does not belong to {
e. / am an emigre. In CRY or !
,urtry my father and Cousin Philippe |
,pt me with them. have seen :
,thing of young people. except at
Ills. We had no intimate friends. s
e are always going back. am still /
,fting 10 go back, monsieur-and re- /,
sing TO go if l must" Ia
Il was plain that her life had been {
restricted as mine. though the bonds l