The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-11-11
CHAPTER XIV.

! & ed the powers above when they
had been too fortunate, wen.
with the marquis in high spirits to the
Rue Ste. Croix. There were pots of IN
cense sending little waves Of smoke
through the rooms, and the people
might have peopled dream. The men
were indeed all smooth and trim, but
the women had given rein to their fam
cies.
Our hostess was . fair and gracious
woman of Greek ancestry, as Bona
parte himself was, and her daughter
had been married to his favorite gen.
eral, the marquis told me.
Bonaparte's youngest sister stood re-
ceiving court. She was a:..ired like a
Bacchante, with bands Of f.:T in her
hair, topped by punches Of gold grapes.
Her robe and tunic Of muslin fine as
j, air, woven In India, had bands Of gold
clasped with canoes under the bosom
and on the arms. Each woman seemed
to have planned outdoiDg the others in
conceits which marked her own fair
ness.
looked anxiously down the spacious
room without seeing Nine. de Ferrier.
The simplicity which made for beauty
Of houses in France struck me in the
white and gold paneling, and the chin
ney, which lifted its mass Of design to
the ceiling. must have been staring
at this and thinking Of Nine. de Fer
rier when my name was called in a
lifting and excited fashion:
"Lazarrer
There was Mile. de Chaumont in the
midst Of gallants and better prepared
to dance a gavot than any other
| oharmer in the room, for her gauze
dress, fastened on the shoulders SO
that it fell not quite off her bosom,
reached only to the middle Of the calf.
This may have been for the protection
OF rosebuds with which ribbons drawn
lenethwise through the skirt We're
fringed, but it also showed her child
like feet and ankles and made her ap-
pear tiptoe like q fairy and more re-
markable than any other figure except
the barefooted dame She held crook
massed with ribbons and rosebuds in
her hand, rallying the men to her
standard by the lively chatter which
they like better than wisdom.
Mile. Annabel gave me her hand to
kiss and made room for the Marquis du
| Plessy and me in her circle. felt
abashed by the looks these courters
gave me, but the marquis put them
readily in the background and delight
ed in the poppet. taking her quite to
| himself
1--WE hear such wonderful stories
about you, LaZarre! Besides, DR..
Chanty came to see US and told US all
he knew. Remember, Lazarre be-
longed to US before you discovered
him, monsieur the Marquis du Plessy!
He and I are Americansr'
Some women near US commented, as
seemed to be the fashion in that So
ciety, with a f-ankness which Indians
would have restrained.
"See that girl! The emperor may
now imagine what his brother Jerome
has done. Her father has brought her
over from America to marry her, and
| it will need all his money to accom-
plish that"
! Annabel shook the rain oe misty
| hair at the sides Of her rose pink face
| and laughed a joyful retort.
"No wonder poor Prince Jerome had
to 20 to America for wife! Did YOU
ever see such hairy faced frights as
these Parisians Of the empire? La
zarre fell i'll looking at them. He pre-
tends he doesn't see women, monsieur,
and goes about with his coat skirts
| loaded with books. I used to be al
most as much afraid Of him as I an of
you!"
"Ah, nadcmoiselle. dread to enter
paradiser'
"Ehy, monsieur?"
"The angels are afraid of me!'
'Not when you smile"
ssTeach me that adorable smile Of
yours"
ooh, how improving you will be to
Lazarre, monsieur! He never paid me
compliment in his life. He never said
anything but the truth
"The lucky dog! What pretty things
he had to sayr'
Annabel laughed and shook her mist
in great enjoyment. I liked to watch
her. vet l wondered where Nine. de
Ferrier was, and could not bring my
self to inquire.
''These horrible incense pots choke
me-" said Annabel.
81 like them," said the marquis.
"Do YOU? So do t. she instantly
agreed with him.
Though we get enough incense in
church,
ct should think so. Do you like
mass?"
II was brought up on my knees, but
never acquired the real devotees
back
"Sit on your heels" impaired Anna
bel in strict confidence. TRY it."
II will. All, mademoiselle, any one
who could bring such comfort into re-
ligion might make even wedlock en-
durable"
Nine. &c Ferrier appeared between
the curtains Of q deep window. She
| was talking with Count de Chaumont
and an officer in uniform. Her face
! pulsed q rosiness like that quiver IN
winter skies which we call northern
| lights The clothes she wore, being
| always subdued by her head and
shoulders, were not noticeable like
| other women's clothes. But I knew
| as soon as her eyes rested on me that
| she found me changed.
De Chaumont came step to meet
me, and I felt miraculously equal to
him, with some power which was not
In me before.
"You scoundrel, you have fallen into
= !