The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-15
CHAPTER XIV.
NEW HOPES.

Now, that / was we'll out of ,helr
way. it came to me to wonder what I
should do with myself until Jerome
might please to seek me again, but ac-
cident favored me with occupation.
Passing through the hall 1 heard a
woman's shrill voice. lifed in anger,
berating some unfortunate attendant.
"Ycu wrerehed hussy, to speak rudely
to a guest of mine, who did but make
to you a pretty speech. I'd have you be
most charming to Monsieur Ward. Re-
member, you are only a hireling, and
need give yourself no such fine I'M
seemly airs
The door just ahead of me was
thrown violently open. and out strutted
a tiny lady in a most disproportionate
rage. She was beautiful neither In face
nor figure; She was ~diminutiye, and
petulant of manner. but bore herself
with an air OF almost regal pride. 1t
was she whom I came to Know as
Madame du Maine. a daughter of the
her. weeping bitterly, came the sweet
maid who had spilled the tray Of
flowers on me at the door. I stepped
back into an alcove. lest. I%.ercnGnce.
h look Behind, n aimlessly j strag-
gled out into the gardens as best 1
might.
The villa being a strange ground, 1t
~ ~ b0 olOllS LIlGlGlll, Mllll
nothing to think Of but this trouble of
my friends. And Madame de Chartrain,
did 1 blame her? Blame Jerome? Yes
no. / hardly knew. Viewed at a dis
tance and impartially, such things
strike us with aversion, and we are
quick to condemn. But the more I
thought the nearer I came to conclud-
ing it took something more than a mere
mummery to make a wife. All the
ceremonials and benedictions and light
ed candles and ~high-sounding phrases
could not bind a woman's heart, where
that heart was free, or called some
other man Its lord. Yet the bare fact
remained, this woman was a wife, and
to me, at least, that name had always
been q sacred and holy one.
To what vain or wise conclusions my
~cogitations nay have led me. I con-
ceive not, for another small matter
now quite absorbed my whole atten-
ton. 1t was the beginning of that
one dear hope which speedily banished
all others. It is said the trippant tread
of fate doth leave no print upon the
sand to mark its passage. nor doth
She sound a note of warning that the
waiting hand may grasp her garments
as she flies.
A CLEAN of white in one of the sum
mer houses caught my rowing eye, and
quite aimlessly I passed the door. A
chit Of a child crohched upon the floor,
and leaned forward on the benches.
weeping as though each sob were like
to burst her little heart. I grant 1t was
no affair Of mine. yet my tears were
ever wont to start, and eyes play trait
or to mine arm at sight of woman's
trouble. Without thinking one whit. I
stepped in beside her, and laying my
hand gently upon the lassie's shoulder,
tmplored that h weep no more.
Up she sprang to face me, flushed
and indignant. Verify was l abashed.
sincerity in my voice and mien-or SO
she told me after-wh1ch turned her
wrath aside.
you, monsieur; I thought 1t was DID
Monsieur Ward. he pursues me So"
It was the same little maid I had seen
in the hall. and that was why I
trembled. She wept now for the scold-
ing she had got. I caught my breath
to inquire why she wept.
oh. madame, madamelt is the
humor Of madame to humiliate me Of
late: h reminds me ever of my de-
pendent position. And monsieur" the
child Strengthened up proudly till she
was quite a Monsieur. I
come Of a race as old as her own-and
Chevalier de la Mora. you know. But
now he goes to the colonies, and will
take me with him."
It was a silly thing to do, but about
here I stalked most unceremoniously
off, leaving her to her sorrow and her
tears. Since that day I have often
smiled to think how foolishly do the
wisest men deport themselves when
they first begin to love. Their little
starts Of passion. their petty angers
and their sweet repentances-all were
unexplored by me, for Love to me was
yet an unread book.
At the door Of the house NJ. Leroux
hailed me g%ractously:
CONTINUED Next week.)