The Washington times., 1902-10-19

| to the dead.
sat in the garden, with the letter
spread upon the table where We had
dined. It's brevity was gay. The writer
would have gone under the knife with a
jest. He did not burden me with any
kind of counsel. We had touched. We
might touch again. 1t was as il soul
sailed by, waving its hat.
my Dear Boy: l wanted you. but II
was best you should not stay and be
hold the depravity of your el1crs. 1t is
about woman.
May you come to a better throne tina a
the unsteady one of France
Your friend and servant,
"ETIENNE DU PLESSY.
Garlic is the spice of life, my boy,"
l asked no questions about the affair
In which he had been engaged. II he
had wanted me to know he would have
told me.
The garden was more than L could
endure. 1 lay down early and slept late.
as soon as / awoke in the morning bs-
ginning preparation for leaving France.
Yet two days passed, for we were
obliged to exchange our worn post-ca--
riage for another after rafting for re-
pairs. The old valet packed my belong
fIgs: Though / wondered what 1 was
going to do with them in America. The
outfit of young man OF fashion over
dressed refugee OF diminished fortune.
For no sooner was l on the street
than a sense of being Enthusiastically
watched grew upon me. 1 scarcely
caught anybody in the act. A succession
of vanishing people passed me from
cne to another. A working man in his
blouse eyed me; and disappeared In the
afternoon it was soldier who turned
UP near M elbow, and in the evening
he was succeeded by an equally interest
ed old woman l might not have re-
membered these people with distrust If
Skenedonk had not told me he was
trailed by changing figures, and he
thought it was time to get behind trees.
Bellenger might have returned TO
Paris, and set Napoleon's spies on tn,
least bcfriended Bourbon of all; or the
police upon a man escaped from Ste.
Pelagie after choking sacristan.
The Indian and / were not skilled Ia
Gisguises as our watchers were. Our
safety lay in getting out of Paris.
Skenedonk undertook to stow our be-
longngs in the post-chaise at the last
minute. went to De Chaumont's hotel
to bring the money from Doctor Chan
try and to take leave without appearing
to do so.
Mademoiselle de Chaumont seized me
as l entered Her carriage stood in the
court. Miss Chantry was waiting in it
while Annabel's maid fastened her glove.
20 Lazarre!" the poppet cried. he,
heartiness going through me like wine
Are you back? And how you are
changed: They must have abused yo1
N Russia. We heard you went to Russia.
But since dear Marquis du Plessy died
we never kear the truth about any
thing
l acknowledged that I had been to
Russia.
why did you go there? Tell your
dearest Annabel She won't tell
ITO see lady"
Annabel shook her fretwork of misty
hair.
That's treason to me. Is s;hh beauti-
ruI?''
Very"
"K;nd?"
Perfectly"
We'll. you're not. BY the way, why
ire you looking so wan If she is beauti-
ul ard kind?'
Il didn't say she was beautiful End
,ind for me. did I?''
NO, of course not. She has Tilted
'ou. the wretch. Your dearest Annabcl
will console you, Lazarre?" She clasp
ID my arm with both hands. Madame
lie Terriers husband is aiive!"
What consolation is there in that -
"A great deal for me. She has ner es-
ates back. and he was only hiding until
he got them. 1 know the funniest
hing,"
Annabe hooked her finger and led me
o small study or cabinet at the end |
# the drawing room.
A profusion OF the most beautiful |
tufts was arranged there for display
Look" the witch exclaimed, pinch |
ng my wrist in her rapture. India |
muslin embroidered in silver lama, Tur- |
ish velvet, ball dresses for Il bride, |
ibbons of all colors. white blond Drus-
els point. cashmere shawls. wells in
.nglish point. reticules. gloves fans,
ssenccs. bridal purse of gold links
nd worse than all-except this string
i perfect pearls-his portrait on a me-
allion of ivory, painted by lsabey!"
What is this collection"
"A corbeille!"
What's a corbeille?'
Annabel crossed her hands in despera-
ion. "Oh. haven't you been in Paris
,ng enough to know what a corheill.
8? It's the collection of gifts q bride
room makes for his bride. He puts his
aste, his sentiment. his"-she waved
er fingers in the air-"as well as his
loney, into it, A corbeille shows what
man is. He must have been collecting
ever since he came to France. I feel
roud of him. ! want to pat him on his
ear old back!"
Not having him there to pat she pat
I'd me.
You are going to be uarried?'
who said was going to be married?"
Isn't this your corbeille?"