Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-27
in that gorgeous winter desert.

Her windows were hoar-frost furred
without and curtained within. Though i
knew where they were 1 got nothing by
tramping past and glancing UP. used to,
saunter through the corridor that led to-
her room, startled yet pleased If Ernes-
tine came out on an errand. Then would
close my book and nod, and she would 4
courtesy.
ooh, by the way" I would turn to re-
mark, 'T was passing, ana thought I
would knock and ask how Madame de +
Terrier is today. But you can tell me-"
When assured Of Madame de Terriers
health would continue:
And Paul-how is Paul?"
4. Paul carried himself marvelously. He.
was learning to walk. Ernestine believed
the lie about knocking, and felt holder
every time I told 1t.
The Indian part of me thought OF co.
ing hunting and laying slaughtered
game at their door. But 1t was a doubt :
full way OF pleasing, and the bears hi
bernated, and the deer were perhaps q
days journey in the white wastes.
I used to sing in the clear sharp air |,
when took to the frozen lake and saw
those heights around me. I look back I
upon that winter, across what befell me
afterwards. as a time of perfect peace:i
before virgin SHOWS melted. when the
world was a white expanse of innocence.
Our weather-besieged manor was the
center of it. Vaguely I knew there was
life on the other side Of great seas. and
that New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and New Orleans were cities in
which men moved and had their being.
Ny country the United States, had
bought from Napoleon Bonaparte a large
western tract called Louisiana, which be-
longed to France. A new state named
Ohio was the last added to the roll OF !
commemorative Newspapers, which the
from Albany, chronicled the doings Of
Aaron Burr vice-president of the United
States, who had recently drawn much
condemnation on himself by brutal duel
Aaron Burr was here once" said my
MASTER
"a lady-killer."
But he is next in dignity to the presi-
dent" r-,
Doctor Chantry shifted.
what is even the president Of fed !
Grafton like this. certain to fall to pieces
some fine dayl''
1 felt offended; for my instinct was to
weld people together and hold them so
welded.
'If 1 were president or a king" I
told him, "and men conspired TO break
the state. instead of parleying would
hang them up like dogs" 4
Would your
found himself, my master took no trouble
to learn its politics. But since history
had rubbed against US in the person Of
Jerome Bonaparte, I wanted to know
what the world was doing.
colonel Burr had a pleasant gentle
man with him at the manor" Doctor
Chantry added. His name was Harmon
Blennerhassett; a man of good English
stock, though having wild Irish strains
which Is deplorable.
The best DAYS of that swift winter were
Sundays, when my master left OF snap
ping, and stood up reverently in our DIM
| Ing-room to read his church service.
Madame de Ferrier and Paul and Ernes-
tine came from their apartment to Join
| In the Protestant ritual; and sat beside
them so constantly. that the Catholic
priest who arrived at Easter to dress up
the souls of the household, found me In
| a state Of heresy.
have always thought woman needs
a dark Gaping of hair, whatever her
complexion, to emphasize her beauty. For
/ light locks seem to fray out to nothing,
| and waste to air instead of fifty binding
a lovely countenance. Madame de Fer
rjer's hair was Of exactly the right color.
Her eyebrows were distinct dark lines,
/ and the lashes were so dense that you
! noticed the curling rim they made around
her gray eyes, Whether the gift OF look
ing 10 your core is beauty or not can
onlv saw she had it. And I could not be
/ sworn what her features were; such lie
and expression played over and changed
/ them every moment
As to her figure, 1t was just in its
roundness and suppleness, and had
lightness Of carriage that I have never
| seen .eaualled. There was charm in look
ing at without approaching her that might
| have satisfied me indefinitely, IL De Chau-
mont had not come home.
Ernestine herself made the first breach
I'm that sacred reserve. The old woman
met me in the hall, courtesied. and passed
as usual. 1 turned behind the broad RIB
/ hons which hung down her back from
1 cap TO heels, and said:
aOh.. by the way, Ernestine, how is
Madame de Terrier? / was going TO
| knock"
And Ernestine courtesied again, and
opened the door, standing aside for me to
Madame de Ferrier sat on a bearskin
before the hearth with Paul, who climbed
over her and gave her juicy kisses. There
was a deep wood fire, upheld by very tan
andirons having cups In their tops winch
| I afterwards learned were called posser
| 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.
cit is very kind Of you to spare me
some time, monsieur" said Madame dc
Ferrier She admonished Paul-"Dont
| choke your little mother.
| 1 told her boldly that nothing but the
dread of disturbing her kept me from
knocking every day. We mac. aiWays
walked into the lodges without knocking
and I dwelt on this as one of my new ac-
| complishments.
II am not studying night and day she
answered Sophie Saint-Michel and her
mother were my teachers, and they are
gone now, one to heaven and the otner
to Castorland.'
To be continued.