The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-10-15

a little creature of, perhaps, three or four
years. A peasant he may be by birth,
but L cannot treat him like one. L con-
fess, he perplexes me-"
II do not marvel at it. What mys-
terry the man must be! 1 have the great
est curiosity to behold him"
"That you will doubtless do, sooner or
later, though it will be with difficulty,
think, that you will obtain communica-
ton with him. But here comes our Rose
of the wilderness"
And, as he spoke, the young girl ap-
peared at the door,
Uncle" said Louis, 81 must go back
with her, to see her safely to the end of
her way. She may meet that insolent
fellow again"
"You are right. my dear boy-you are
right" returned the marquis.
Louis could not help observing how
much more beautiful, if possible, looked
Rose this morning, than when he had
first seen her, although, even then. it was
as if he had suddenly come upon some
lovely picture touched with the warmest
coloring and most perfect grace of the
painters art.
How pretty she isv' thought the count;
''and she is only sixteen"
And it was not her face alone that
was thus charming, as he shortly found
nor the innate grace of her manner: for
Rose Lamonte possessed quick and deli
cate perceptions, a refined love of the
beautiful, and a mind cultivated to de-
gree extremely unusual in one of her sta
ton, yet scarcely surprising in her. For
both her father and Mademoiselle Mon
tauban had taken pains to improve a nat
urally fine intellect, that expanded daily
with the care bestowed upon it; and
Louis was more deeply gratifed than he
could express, on recognizing this mental
worth, combined as it was, with such
physical perfection.
A brief walk it was from the chateau to
the cottage. So, at least, it seemed to
the count. He smiled as they reached
the door.
How soon we are herer he said. 81
think the distance must have been esti-
mated incorrectly. l think we have been
hardly half an hour in coming. Is your
father at home, Rose?"
He was not there. Louis did not go
in, but stood an instant by the door and
looked about him.
What a pleasant little place this isw
said he. Rose, 1 should like to take
sketch of it, some day. with you sitting
just here in the sunshine in the doorway,
at work.
He paused a moment longer; bent to
inhale the fragrance of the mignonette in
its box on the window ledge, and then
turned to his pretty companion again.
"Adieu, my little friend" He touched
her hand in half-assured clasp.
'Adieu, monsieur You have been very
good to come SO far with me-"
1T was a pleasure" He smiled, turn
ed away, and was gone.
And Rose, after a moments thought
full glance at his receding figure, went in,
and prepared her fathers dinner against
his return.
II will have no insolence, Gasparde,
mind that! You will keep away from
Rose in the future. She detests you, and
your language and conduct of this morn
ing fully justify her in 50 doing. | warn
you. You know my character; beware
of arousing me by repetition of this"
Hugh Lamonte, at sunset, had been
standing at his door, and Gasparde, re-
turning to his home beyond the forest
from the village, where he had passed
the day, was obliged to pause on the
path leading past the cottage, to receive
the stern reprimand of the former. He
feared Hugh; he could not escape, by a
IL Nf HI l.. Al
severity of Hugh's words, and, in these
circumstances, his last resort was sui
len silence. which indicated the spirit in
which he received them.
do not come hither again. Keep where
you belong, among your fellows. | shall
be there tonight, at the rendezvous. And
it will be near the last time, to give you
orders. | must clear my hands of this
business soon. | am getting sick of it,"
Getting sick of it, is hep" muttered
the fellow. to himself. Good! | shall
have rare sweep of it, when l get af-
fairs under my management You will
abdicate, monsieur, in my favor. Excel
lent!'
60" said Hugh Lamonte, coldly, at
length, as he looked up once more-"go;
it is sufiicient-the lesson which | hear
the count has taught you this morning;
otherwise, you would receive from me
now something more serious than the re-
proof | have given you. COP And he
turned and went into the cottage, shut
ting the door behind him.
"Oh, l will pay you finely-won't /,
monsieurT' muttered Gasparde, between
his clenched teeth, and making a menac-
ing motion towards the direction. and
the count, too. | have a reckoning with
both of you, long one. Never fear but
| will pay it we'll; and then for my pref
ty Rose, of whom you are so JEALOUSY
ITO be continued)