The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-29
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

The song had ceased, and the two maid
ems. the dolls lying neglected in their
laps, were engaged in earnest converse
ton. -. ~ 49, 50
land you think he heard the small
er say, that he would be my knight?"
"Mademoiselle, he is there!" exclaimed
Josette, springing to her feet in much
confusion, as she observed Grafton's ap-
proach.
The other girl turned her head slightly,
saw him advancing, and as if to mark the
difference between the mistress and the
maid, rose slowly and calmly to her feet
In spite of her dignity her little heart was
beating furiously. The dolls fell neglected
to the ground. The end Of their reign
began that morning.
Grafton bowed profoundly before her,
and as she returned his salutation with
sweeping courtesy, he looked curiously at
her. So this was the Breton rose! She
was a small, slender, pale little girl, be-
icate in appearance Too old to be play
Ing with dolls, certainly. Her head was
crowned with mass of hair black as q
ravens wing, which fell down her back
IN heavy braid tied with a scarlet rib
bon. A pair of rather long arms terminal
ing in long, slender hands stretched from
her immature sloping shoulders. Below
legs dropped into dainty slippers.
Philip was something of a connoisseur,
and he scanned her carefully and swiftly
Her eyes. he thought, were good, and blue
he could see, in spite of the dOWncaSt lids
"a strange combination of black hair
pale face and blue eyes, unusual but strik-
ing Her hands, were small, he noticed
and her feet, even then, charming. AS
for the rest. that would come in time. She
was a maiden of much promise, he de-
cided.
"Mademoiselle," he said respectfully
''have I the pleasure of addressing the
chatelaine Of Josselin, the young Countess
de Rohan?'
Yes, monsieur" answered the girl SIM
ply, lifting her eyes to his as she spoke
He started in surprise before their deep
violet splendor-the eyes of a woman in
| the face of child. Good heavens! They
were Enthusiastically this was promis
ing.
You are the English milord?" she
queried gravely.
Neither the one nor the other, made
moiselle,' he answered, smiling at her
frank question. II was born in America"
'Ah!' cried the girl Frightening, my
mother came from there. IT'S a great
land"
THE greatest the sun shines upon, ma
denoiselle,' gravely answered Grafton,
Except france, monsieur.
Except France, little lady, since you are
here" he returned gaily.
And monsieur is not a lore? 2"
There are no lords in America"
mot even a knight?''
mot yet, unless I may be your knight,
| mademoiselle. =
You hear, Josette?" cried the girl,
| turning delightedly to the other, I'VE won't
nave to play any more that you are a
knight. Monsieur says he will be my
knight. So few gentlemen come here,
monsieur; we see no one,' she went on,
with stateliness and ease which quite
belied the ragged doll at her feet, the Pa =
risian dolls by her side. the short dress.
and general air of uniformed and undevel-
Oped WOmanhOOd about her. monsieur
lie Marquis is here, Of course. And Mon
sieur de Kersaint, who was a friend Of my
| fathers, comes sometimes, and the mas
ters Of the dance, and the masters of the
| music. and the masters of the art, and all
the other tiresome masters, and Jean-Re-
maud, so that I am glad to find a gentle
| man-monsieur is gentle, Of course?'
II hope so, mademoiselle. trust made
| molselle may find me so at any rate
Monsieur looks so. Is it not so, Jo-
setter" frankly continued the child.
:"Oh, indeed, yes, mademoiselle!'' ex-
claimed the embarrassed but acquiescent
| maid.
II do not doubt monsieur's breeding. but
a maiden motherless like I. monsieur,
must be very careful how she takes a
knight without finding out all about him,
you see. Monsieurs family is old?''
VERY old, mademoiselle, answered the
young man. smiling at the little comedy.
| monsieur is an American, and America
was only discovered-let me see-'tis
scarce three hundred years since, is it not,
| Josette?'
| Yes 49, mademoiselle, certainly, -
| answered Josette, still agreeably concur
ring. although she knew nothing about it.
But my family was English long be-
| fore that time. mSdemoiselle," answered
| Grafton, land Norman before that
"Oh, you are part French, then?'
my heart is all French at least since
I have met you, mademoiselle."
| Nov. that is nicely said. You are tres
gentle indeed. sir. and your family is
old-not as old as the de Rohans,
| though
"Mademoiselle. is anything so old or
so beautiful as the de Rohans?"
| LAS to the age, monsieur, there is no
doubt but as to the other. there are only
grandfather and myself left. and I am
sure he is not beautiful, though he's very
wise, and so good to me that think him
| lovely. AS for me-" she regarded herself
mournfully, looking from her dainty feet
at her long bony legs, her fiat chest-she
even seemed Unexpectedly to be sur
veying her own countenance in the mir
ror of her memory. She shrugged her
shoulders at last, and Philip interrupted
her meditations by saying:
"Mademoiselle, I think you charming"
| But you. monsieur she responded,
IF you are to be my true knight and
servitor must think me beautiful.
Knights always do that in the books, you
know"