The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-05
CHAPTER I.
A CAT CAN DO MORE THAN LOOK AT

IL was not long ago, III tne Gays WleIl
men sighed when they fell In love; when
people danced by candle and lamp, and
did dance, too, instead of solemnly GID
Ing about; in that mellow time 80 long
ago, when the young were romantic and
summer was roses and wine, old Carewe
brought his lovely daughter home from
the convent to wreck the hearts of the
youth of Rouen.
That was not q far Journey only an
afternoons drive through the woods and
by the river, In an April, long ago. and
Miss Bettys harp, carefully strapped be-
hind the great numbering carriage, her
guitar on the front seat, half buried under
n mound of bouquets and oddly shaped
little bundles, farewell gifts Of her COM
rades and the good sisters. In her left
hand she clutched small lace handker-
Chief with which she now and then
touched her eyes. brlmmed with the part
Ing from Sister Cecilia, Sister Mary Ba-
zilede, the old stone steps and all the girls;
but for every time that she lifted tho
dainty kerchief to brush away the edge
of a tear. she took a deep breath OF the
Western woodland air and smiled at least
twice. For the years of strict enclosure
within st. Mary's walls and still gardens
u ere finished and done with, and at last
the many-c olored world flashed and
danced in mystery before her. The mys-
terry was brilliant to the convent girl
because it contained men; she was eager
to behold It.
They rumbled into town after sunset,
in the fair twilight, the dogs barking be-
fore them and every one would have been
surprised to know that Tom VanreVel'
instead OF Mr.. Galley Gray, was the first
to see her BY the merest accident Tom
was strolling near the Carewe place at
the time, and when the carriage swung
into the gates, With rattle and cllnk ana
clouds OF dust at the finish, 1t was not too
coon lost behind the shrubbery and trees
for Tom to catch something more than a
glimpse of a gray skirt behind a mound
Of flowers. and of a charming face, with
parted lips and dark eyes, beneath tho
scuttle of an enormous bonnet II nap
pened-perhaps 1t is more accurate 20 say
that Tom thought it happened-that she
was just clearing away her ven When ne
turned to look. She blushed suddenly, SO
much was not to be mistaken, and the
ewes that met his We're remarkable for
other reasons than the sheer lovelness OF
them, in that, even IN the one nash OF
them he caught. they meant so many
things at one time. They were sparkling,
yet mournful. and they were Wisttui, AZ.
though undeniably lively with the gayest
comprehension of the recipient OF :he!r
glance, seeming to say: "Oh, It's YOU.
Young man, Is t?" And they We're shy
and mysterious with youth. full OF That
wonder at the world which has the APP
pearance sometimes OF wisdom gathered
in the unknown out Of which we came.
But above all, these eyes were FUZZY con-
scious Of Tom Vanrevel.
Without realizing what he did, Mr.
yanreye stopped short. He had been
swinging a walking-stick, which, de-
scribing brief arc, remained poised
halfway In It's descent. There was
only that one glance between them
and the carriage disappeared, leaving
n scent of spring flowers In the air.
The young man was left standing on
tho wooden pavement in the midst OF
n great loneliness, yet enveloped In the
afterslow, his soul roseate, his beins
ouaverlng his expression. like his
cane, simultaneously arrested. With
such promptitude and finish was ne
disposed Of. that. had Miss Care"e
been aware Of his name and the con-
dition wrought in him by the single
stroke, she could have sought only the
terse Richard Of England for like ex-
ecutive ability, "Off with his head! SO
81
much for Vanrevel!
She had lifted a slender hand 10 tN.
fluttering veil, a hand in white glove
with small lace gauntlet at the wrist.
This gesture was the final DIVINITY OF
the radiant vision which remained Win
the dazed young man as ne Went down
the street; and it may have been three
quarters Of an hour later when the
background Of the picture became Vlvld
10 him: a carefully dressed gentleman
with heavy brows and handsome
high nose. who sat stiffly upright PC
side the girl, his very bright eyes qul.e
as conscious of the stricken pedestrian
as were hers, vastly different. however,
in this: that they glittered, nay Almost
brstled, with hostility; WINE every
r,olishcd button Of his blue coat seemed
~ ref,ect their malignancy, and to Dart
l;ttle echoing shafts of venom at Mr.
Vanrevel
ION was dismayed by the acuteness
of his perception that a man VINO does
MT sneak to you has a right 70 haVe
n daughter like the lady IN the car
rage; and, the moment OF TINS real
cation occurring as ne sat MAINS ~ :,
poor pretense to eat ms even.ns od ' ,,',,
~ the "Rouen House" he dropped ms
Tor,s rottling upon his plate and leaned
hacl, staring at nothing. a proceeulhs
~ which his table-matc. Mr.. Wllllal'l
Cummings the editor Of the !. R r,ror
Tonrnal was too busy over his river
bass to take note. l., town -.
III ,IIaye You heard what's new N to%,a
asked Cummings presenL!, io1 ~. IA had
NO said Tom, truthfully, for n ne Is ''a4
sean what was new but not heard i e., ~
void Carewes brousht ms ''ith r,er
home. Fanchon Bareaud was was wa VA" van am
l'p' 81 NIarv,s until last year; ana ian-
No., eavs ehe,s not only great p'a"'''
AM reioined the other VIII VIZ s n'ss,
~ no wonder you're not inte ,,, su =
said Cummings cheerfully, retu .arna oiJ
the discussion of his bass lae u,u
villain WIN take precious good care Wv
don't come near her ,aaa mo-
Mr. yanrevel already pnssesseo s ~
found conviction to the same 49,.
Robe, Meilhac Carewe was known !, no.
on,v as the weathest citizen OF Kous.''
but also as its heartiest and mos. s'sau
fast hater; and although there were envy p IVY
i've or six thousand inhabitan1s' ne'. ,,as
was small distinction For Rouen was !,
r m,, In those easy days as Weai.as
.,, aya, as If was called an oiu toWi'