Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-02-07
CHAPTER VIII,-(Continued.)


"Ah, mademoisellei Have you brought
me news at last?" she exclaimed. clasp
ing her withered hands.
Very soon Sheila was sitting beside a
blazing fire in Marquis own especial
sanetum, and Margot herself was dis
tracted between the desire to honor a
guest so welcome and her anxiety 10
learn every particular of her lost childs
fate.
You see, mademoiselle, she was as nv
own little one. All! how l wept on
Christmas day-~sUch tears as l never
thought to weep when l first took her
in my arms eighteen years ago! A good
omen, we all thought it, that she should
come into the world when the Christmas
bells were ringing. They say such chill
drer are blessed and happy, but Made
moiselIe Renee
Sheila's task was not all painful.
Margot's cup of sorrow held one drop OF
heavenly sweetness. Her darling hal
been loved and cared for. in peaceful
English home, and this young Girl. who
had come so far to serve her, would no5
even believe it was with Armand Lecour
that she had gone away.
\ pretty young girl Sheila looked once
again, for. before her story could be told
in detail, AIargot had insisted upon her
refreshing herself, and removing the dust
OF travel. Her little feet, therefore. were
lost IN pair of capacious slippers: her
bronze brown hair was loosened; and her
fresh young face was no longer disguised
by artificial lines. Grief and anxiety had
paled her roses somewhat; but lust now
the glow Of excitement rendered this UNI
noticeable Margot was gratiied beyond
measure that Renee should have such q
triend-a lady, by her sweet speech her
white, ringed hand, and her air of refine
ment.
Il want you to tell me all YOU can re.
member" said Sheila Il am sure that
the people who took Rosamond away
must call her Rosamond still-are con-
rected with the death of the marquis.
too"
when mademoiselle has recovered
from her fatigue"
81 am recovered now-quite,' Sheila
declared, setting down her cotFee-cup.
''She would like to see, perhaps, the
picture of Mademoiselle Renee?"
Sheila was very willing. 1t appeared
that Margot and another servant were
now the only inmates of the chateau.
The marquis had simply directed that it
should be kept in order within. The
rooms were nearly all shut up. Margot
unlocked door, and then opened win
dowshutters to let the wintry daylight
in upon the portrait.
The apartment thus revealed was fitted
up as a library. 1t had a large window.
looking on the gardens, and some element
of home-hke happiness and beauty hung
about it still, faint and sad, like the per-
Of htYt
what had been.
Here hung the picture Down upon
the deserted room, and on the two con
trasted figures standing there, smiled the
calm child eyes of Dare's Christmas
Rose. Serene and fair the young face
was. No earthly care had touched her
yet, no dream of love disturbed her.
What Of him who had painted this pie
ture of innocent girlhood?
1t was here they used to sit together
so often" said Margot Monsieur Nor
vile and mademoisello, and that young
painter. All, he wa handsome 4
Gascon, with a dark, laughing face, and
the finest black eyes, and the sweetest
voice in the world Monsieur liked him
well, and he never dreamed of harm. As
for ne, saw from the first how it was.
It was wrong, but how could he help
loving her, though he was poor, and she
was rich? She would sit here, on an
ottoman by her fathers knee, and listen
while Armand Lecour played his mando-
lin and sang the songs of Beranger. 1t
was a pity-they We're both so young
and beautifully but he must have known
always there was no hope for him!
think his heart was almost breaking
when he went away. l did not imagine
then that Mademoiselle Renee guessed
Only afterwards | understood better.
Then came the marquis, and mon
sieur's DEATH and that marriage. Made
moisellc did not realize what it meant.
She was only thinking Of her father II
he had asked her to plunge a knife into
her heart she would have done it.
But after the first months of her
loneliness and sorrow had passed. and
she began to think of the future. l saw
change It is not for me to say. per
haps and yet I cannot feel that it was
right to leave young girl so long alone,
in the home death had desolated. She
had 10 woman friend but her governesa,
who was English, and very excellent, it
is true, but not what one may call warm
hearted. My poor child dropped and
wept in secret, till at last she told to me
q part of her sorrow. She was in dread
of her husbands return. lie was almost
o stranger to her-his face was cold and
stern; she mistrusted her own power 10
please him; she feared her new life as
mistress of his great house in Paris.
Some girls would have been pleased to
look forward to gaiety and pleasure. and
to bring feted and set in high position
She was not Then the time of the mar
quis' return was close at hand He might
arrive any day. He had asked her to put
off her mourning robes to meet him, and
l remember well helping her to dress in
pale gray gown the very day we lost
her, She went out, as supposed, to the
little pavilion in the garden, which was
her fayorite retreat in warm weather, and
where she still chose to sit sometimes,
though it was December. 1t was there
| overheard Armand Lecour making love
to her, and it was there the marquis
found the letters"
At Sheila's entreaty, Margot took her
to this place. 1t was at some distance
II