New-York tribune., 1903-04-12

kindness: his memory for the names of all these
little people; the winning, gracious, tender man
ner he had for them all, stirred her with an in
eXpreSSible admiration.
Monsieur" said a little fellow, IT have been
waiting for you so long to ask about Ninette.
They won't tell me if she's dead. Monsieur
De Broussard looked up and caught the warn
ing glance of the sister.
No he said, with his eyes shining. 'She
grew well and took her home to live with me-.
Il am so content" said the little boy, looking
reproachfuy at the sister.
When was it?' asked de Broussard, as they
passed into corridor
Tuesday night, monsieur"
Did she suffer much?"
No monsieur"
Il told you to send for me at the crisis"
All monsieur, it sudden She died
holding the doll you gave her in her arms
Outside the hospital gate they decided to walk
through the forest and pick up trap at Cas-
"Or possibly the omnibus its return said
de Broussard.
Leslie laughed.
"Omnibus!' she exclaimed. mo. thank you
more omnibusi'
1T would accord better with les convenances."
he said.
Il never consider those things" she returned
Possibly not enough he said
Sometimes 1 scarcely believe you are q
Frenchman at ALL" she observed
why not?' he asked
Wen. for one thing, you are such a prig. she
said cruelty.
You think 1 neglect my opportunities. per-
haps?'' he said.
You the only man l know that doesn't
admire me- she said.
oh, InademOiSellei" he exclaimed, permit
to say you are mistaken"
You say that for politeness," she said
NO, nor he protested.
Don't you care for WomenT she asked
Don't you mean to marry?"
It's a mans duty to marry he returned
Duty" she cried scornfully. You are really
intolerable with your duty, duty, duty!
AT least. / not rude" he said
you mean I am" she broke out We'll,
to be knocked off your pedestal and taught that
you only poor mortal like the rest of US
Your salvation would be to fall desperately in
love, and 1 only wish 1 might be there to clap
my hands,
DO you know, mademoiselle," he said: Il am
very much in love?"
Il should never have suspected It,, she said
But L am" he said
She looked at him wistfully.
Now clap your hands, he said.
mo, Monsieur de BrOussard,' she returned;
II like you well enough to feel-to feel just a
little sorry
why, you said just the contrary a moment
ago. he said.
II meant in love with me- she said smiling:
mot in love with somebody else"
1T was you 1 meant" ne said simply.
They walked in silence She drew imper-
ceptibly closer to him, so that once or twice
their hands touched. They were by this time
in the forest, and the long, white, level road:
overhung by trees, theirs alone. She waited
with a suffocating mpatence for him to speak;
but the engineer, grave and preoccuped, moved
steadily at her side without word:
At last when they had covered perhaps a
mile he made some trivial remark about the
hospital.
Monsieur de Broussard,' she said, begin
ming again in g. voice she tried hard to make
calm and undisturbed, you have said either too
much too little
'"Too much" he returned Please forget it -
"Of course, you the best judge of that.
she said.
There was another prolonged silence.
Il suppose it's unladylike and dreadful, and
you'll be perfectly shocked and all that she
said, "but really, l cannot let the thing drop
like this. 1 cannot but feel a sort of implica-
ton that l am not worthy Of your-your re-
gard, Monsieur de Broussard.''
That is it," he said. You are not worthy.
For a moment she was stunned
please tell me in what way" she asked, too
deeply wounded to resent his words.
oh mademoiselle"' he exclaimed, spare me
so ungraciOus a task.
NO no." she cried. You owe 1t TO me TO
tell me; as a man of honor you must tell me;
the worst criminal is at least told his crimes.
'It is scarcely my business to tell you yours,
said de Broussard.
She caught his hand and held it in both her
own.
''Monsieur' she said. you have no right to
torment me: to hint things L know nothing
of; to condemn without a word L am only
woman but for once l will try to act like a
man: shall try to listen to you with patience;
l shall try to defend myself from What am sure
must be misconCeptiOn."
You put me in a cruel position" he said.
Cruel" she cried out What is mine, them!
He made a gesture of despair.
'I insist she said.
"Nademofselle.' he said slowly. lit is now
at the inn During that time do you think I
have not had many opportunities of watching
your conduct-and watching it all the more
narrowly man whose heart was very deep
ly engaged?"
IN hrnt