New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-10


the bet, an antique emerald
IL
Nurse Margaret read but three books-the
Bible, Burns's Poems and Uncle Toms Cabin"
This last was never permitted to read. but /
knew its few illustrations well. and because of
the one where Eliza shown crossing the
river on the ice blocks her child in her arms.
my doll lost her looks. I not told Eliza's
story, nor that she not white. Nurse
merely said that she was brave woman, saw
ing her child from worse than death. So later
in the summer when stopping near Baden
Baden-a favorite hating place with my par
ents. the gaming tables not being suppressed
until nearly two years after-a convenient brook
being. unluckily at hand, must needs play
Elias part.
With big stepping stones for cakes of ice
Prince Hal and two dachshunds for blood
hounds 1 started across. Ny foot slipping, Tell
In and Percette Stuart Derohan was sub
merged. When she was rescued and thoroughly
dried her complexion was gone and her haXen
curls came out in spots. My mother. shocked
by her ugIiness begged me to throw her away;
then suggested new head. But TO me Percette
was-Percette. I insisted that she should re-
main as she was.
Should you cease to love me, mamma" L
asked, If had the smallpox and grew ugly?'
can never forget the pallor that Overspread
my mothers lovely face at this. the shudder
that she could not repress she told me not to
suggest so great calamity. She had an ex-
quisite nature pure and tender soul. Rough
thoughts hurt her
Poor Percette! kept her only two years. We
were in England visiting friends who lived IN a
grand old castle-much celebrated in song and
story-when I lost her Several children were
OF this house party. and royalty condescended to
| be present A few days before our departure we
! children lunched with our elders in the great
dining hail. whose walls were panelled from
| floor to ceiling in white and gold. l thought
4 that my mother in her gown of pale green mus
| lin covered with network of wonderful en-
broidery a rope of pearls around her throat
was the most beautiful woman present. HIS
royal highness agreed with me apparently. for
| he joined her as she entered the deep set Win
dow of the cedar drawing room-so called be-
cause of the carvings in that wood around win
dows and doors-and began paying her graceful
| compliments. But my mother pouted.
It feel cross and disappointed" she said, COM
planning that I would not talk or be gay ike the
little Lady Gladys Trevor, whose wittcisms had
kept the table IN Of laughter. 1 mean
while looked from the window to the river, gray
and sluggish, sliding slirnily past, far, far below
Cfor the castle stood with its feet in the water)
! and felt ashamed.
The Prince was kind. trying to comfort my
mother by praises of my beauty, admiring my
| level eyebrows and fair hair.
"Curously enough. feel that must have
met the child before" he said at length; her
face is strangely familiar to me-yet never for
get name I confess am puzzled"
My mother smiled. An odd, far away look
| came into her dark eyes.
my Athena is a Greek. monseigneur." she said
dreamiy land her kinsfolk-marble people-are
to be met with in the great art galleries Of the
world"
The poor gentleman looked bewildered, but
kissing my cheek bade me run away and play.
In the courtyard-where screaming peacocks
had supplanted the oldtime pages and men-at-
arms-GIadys waited for me- In her arms she
held Percette with respectful care while she
dangled her own doll carelessly by what she
called it's hind leg" Signing with relief she
relinquished Percette to my keeping.
She's a carew she said. Not because Of her
face, which is most awfully knocked up. but be-
| cause Of your embroidery on her frock. Mamma
says she never saw such needlework-says the
flowers look real enough to smell sweet-says
she wonders you could do 'em-says you're such
a stupid little thing. Oh. Athena! I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean TO say that-it Just slipped out
Please forgive me-"
had nothing to forgive. She had spoken the
| simple truth
| We stopped on a stretch of greensward that
topped a steep bank above the river Here
dolls fete champetre was soon in full swing. All
the children had brought all their dolls. It was
| like a real party, we decided Such a crowd!
Thinking ourselves well concealed from castle
| and flower gardens by a screen of young larches'
| our dismay was great when a young French
man whom we detested bounced suddenly into
our very midst. Grinning with delight over our
evident terror, he stood in the centre Of our
green ballroom seeking prey. A doll, wall
flower for the nonce was sitting out the dance.
Her he seized. and began to spring about IN
strange and alarming manner.
'La-la-la" sang the sallow faced little dandy.
gayly prouetting and bounding high in air.
ITEMS. I go TO dance the can-can to make
amusement to the petttes demoiseues Anglaises!'
The doll was Percette. First she was held by
an arm. then leg, next by her waist, and all
the time so banged and whrled about that each
moment feared TO hear her stitches give, to see
the air filed with her sawdust insides. All tried
to rescue her in vain-he eluded with fendish
dexterity Suddenly our hopes rose Monsieur
le Marquis ceased leaping up and down Pick
ing up dolls table made of iron, he fastened 1t
to Percette's sash and sprang to the top Of the
bank overhanging the river
You RELY wish tres chere Ateena, TO me sep
arate from this your lofely child?"
oh please give her to me!' I entreated, run
ming toward him.
With knocking laugh he lifted Percette high
in air, and calling out. She say jamas. nevare!
Better re death than life wizout me-" flung
her into the middle Of the stream, then stood
stock still staring stupidity at the spot where
she had disappeared
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