Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-10-29

came ILuL hesltAulE rap III my uoVl'
Come in" l called without troubling
myself TO get up from my seat.
The door opened with a sAw, waver-
Ing motion, and an odd looking person
age entered the room, made me very
low bow and carefully closed the door
behind him. He was an old man, sew
enty at least l judged, small of stature
and feebler than his age would have
warranted His knOtted, bOny hands
shook with the constant uncertain
movement which is the result rather OF
weak mentality than OF physical disa-
biity. His long, grizzled locks and
beard framed a pale, cadaverOus face,
out of which looked a pair Of large,
melancholy eyes I'm a sideloug, depre-
eating fashion which seemed habituaL
A drcadfuuy shuky, woebegone old
gentleman he certainly was, an object
TO excite laughter or pity, according TO
the mood of the heholder.
I was not i'm q particularly expansive
frame Of mind myself at the moment,
and il irritutcd me 70 see the old man
there. crookiug his knees and wagging
his head with what he evidently in
tended should be the most conciHating
of salutcs.
We'll" said l sharply, what do you
want" 1 thrust my hand into my
pocket iu search Of a small coin.
Pardon me-" huskily interposed the
old man, comprehending my gesture.
"You mistake my errand. l wish to
ask If you are the Hon. Egbert Gala
tln-Senator Gallatin|
Il am Senator Gallatin. What, then"
"My-my mistress desires me to pre-
sent to you her card and requests the
favor OF brief interview"
took the slip OF pasteboard from
his trembling fingers and read, Mime.
Henriette DoncOurt, Paris"
l breathed more freely. Nine. Don
court of Paris was not likely to be one
of those leeches which hang upon the
legislative body. called lobbyists" a
species knew only too well.
Mime. Doncourt would be greatly
obliged, sir" continued the old man,
seeing that l was studying the card
without reply, IF you would very kind
ly call upon her"
put aside my paper and, donning a
black coat, signifcd to the old man that
/ would follow him. With slow and
shudling steps he led me along the cor
rldor and up three flights Of stairs to
the fifth floor. The ancient fellow was
evidently very decrepit or very i'll.
With an impulse between pity and i'm
patience took his arm-how miserably
thin II was-and supported him with
the vigor of my more youthful muscles.
Come, friend" said l. You are evi-
dently in bad health. Lean upon me,
and will give you lift
He turned his gray, cadaverOus face
upon me with an expression Of amaze.
God bless you for a kind hearted
young gentleman" he muttered. Per
haps I ought to tell But no; l am
not 20 blame. No, no. What can doT'
With these enigmatic phrases he
paused before q door and raped.
woman's voice bade US enter, and |
passed into q handsome sitting room
lady simply but exquisitely attired
In morning robe Of rich texture arose
TO welcome me. During the second in
which l stepped forward TO accept her
offered hand I received what might be
called & Photographic impression OF
her. She was distinctly the most beau
ttful woman l had ever seen. She was
very tall, but her proportions were so
perfect that her height was not ap-
parent. The dress she wore outlined
and accentuated the magnificent sweep
and curve of her noble figure. Every
movement she made, every gesture
was marked by certain sinuous grace
which might have been termed leOnine
had IL not been SO exquisitely femi-
nine.
Her face was In full keeping with her
figure. The complexion was clear and
pale, with no trace of color in the
cheeks, but Of a waXen, transparent
hue which suited we'll her dark auburn
hair, glimmering with hecks Of red
gold as she moved in the light of the
morning sun stealing between the mar
row partings Of the window curtains.
Her mouth would have been beautiful
but for q certain firm compression,
something hard and scornful which
seemed not to belong to it naturally.
Her eyes were very large, steel gray
and wonderfully brilliant. Such was
Heurictte DoucOurt as l first beheld
her
1T is kind Of you, sir" she said In
low, musical tone, Ito grant a few mo-
meuts Of your time to an entire stran-
ger"
In what way can be of assistance
20 you, madame| | asked, seating N.Y.
self near her
q hardly know how to explain my
self said the lady. with downcast eyes
and bosom leaviug with emotion. Per
haps / had bes4 speak frankly"
Sine bent upon me the full glory Of
her eyes. Such eyes certainly l had
never seen before. Il am American by
birth" She went ON, though | married
fl France At the death OF my hus-
band A. Doucourt | resolved TO return
20 the country Of my birth, but now
that / am here I find all my relatives
and friends Of the old days either dead
or dispersed. NJ Doncourt used fire.
Queutly 10 speak Of an old college com
pauiOu. Egbnrt Gallatin. at the LyCee.
Last night utterly broken hearted,
lonesome, frieudless, saw your name
in a paper and, to my great JOY, dis
covered that you were guest in this
hotel"
"Yes." / responded, Il remember
Doucourt at The Ige.a. We were not