The Washington times., 1902-10-19

Annabel lifted herself to my ear.
ut was Madame de Ferrier's!"
WHAT
I'm sure OF it!''
who bouSht it?"
Count de Chaumont, of course
"Was Madame de Ferrier going ts
marry him."
WHO wouldn't marry man with suca
corbeille?'
WAS she?"
| Don't grind your teeth at your dear
est Annabel. She hadn't seen it, but
it must have decided her. 1 am sure
| he intended to meet Madame de Fer
rier, and he does most things he under
takes to do. That inconsiderate wretch
of Marquis de Ferrier-to spoil such a
corbeille as this! But Lazarre.'' She
patted her Hloved hands. Here's the
| consolation: Ny father will be obliged
to turn his corbeille into my trousseau
when ] am married.
Whats trousseauo''
"Goose!' It's a brides wardrobe. !
knew he had something in this cabinet,
but he never left the key in the door
until today He was so completely up
set when the De Terriers came into
Paris!"
Are they in Parish"
"Yes, at their own hotel The old mar
quis has posted here to thank the en-
peror! The emperor is away with the
troops. SO he is determined at least to
thank the empress as the assembly to-
night"
"Will Nine de Ferrier go to the Tuil-
eries?"
"Assuredly. Fancy how furious my
father must bet"
May / enter?" said the humblest of
voices outside the door.
We heard a shuffling step.
Annabel made face and clenched her
hands. The sprite was so harmless 1
laughed at her mischief She brought in
DR.. Chantry as she had brought me, to
behold the corbeille; covering her faith
er's folly with transparent fabrications,
which anybody but the literal Briton
must have seen through. He scarcely
greeted me at all. folding his hands.
pale and crushed, the sharp tip OF his
nose standing up more than ever like a
porcelain candle -extinguisher, while 1
was anxious to have him aside, to get
my money and take my leave
See this beautiful corbeille, DR..
Chantry! Doesn't it surprise you La
zarre should have such taste? We are
going this morning to the mayor of the
reimbursement. Nothing is so easy as
civil marriage under the Empire. OF
course. the religious sacrament in the
Church of the Capuchins follows, and
celebrating that five minutes before mid
night, will make all Paris talk! Go with
us to the mayor. DR.. Chantry!'
NO" he answered, mol"
MY father joins us there. We have
kept Miss Chantry waiting too long. She
will be tired of sitting in the carriage"
Chattering with every breath Annabel
entrained us both to the court, my poor
master hobbling after her victim, and
staring at me with hatred when l tried
to get word in undertone.
put Annabel into the coach, and Miss
Chantry made frigid room for me.
Hasten yourself Lazarre," said
Mile. de Chaumont
/ looked back at the poor man who
was being played with. and she cried
out laughing
Did you go to Russia Partisan to
come back bear?"
| entered her coach. intending to take
my leave as soon as l had seen Count
way about civil marriage. and directed
Miss Chantry 10 wait for us while we
went in 10 the mayor. was perhaps too
Indifferent TO the trick. The usually
sharp governess, undecided and piqued.
sat still.
The count was not in the mayors Of
fee. civil marriage was going for
ward, and a strange bridal party looked
at us.
Now, Lazarre,' the strategist
confided, your dearest Annabel is
going to cover herself with Pa
risian disgrace. You don't knaw how
it is to have every step
dogged by woman who never was.
never could have been-and manifestly
never will be-young! Wasn't that a di-
vine flash about the corbeille and the !
mayor? Miss Chantry will wait outside |
half a day AS | said, she will be very
tired of sitting in the carriage. This is
what you must do; smugge me out |
another way; call another Garage, and |
take me for a drive and wicked dinner |
don't care what the consequences are, |
il you don't!"
| said / certainly didn't, and that
was ready to throw myself in the Seine
# that would amuse her; and she COM
nended my improvement in manners.
We had drive. with sympathetic
,oachman; and a wicked dinner in a
suburb. which would have been quite
harmless on American ground. The
,hild vas as full of spirits as she had
been the night she mounted the cabin
But l realized that more of
ny gold pieces were slipping away, and
had not seen Doctor Chantry.
I'VE were going to the mayors" she
when reproached. my
ather would have joined us IL he had
,eeh there. He would certainly have
nj nod us If he had seen me alone with