Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-02
THE PINK WAIST.
BY J. de Lorde.

LA Civittc" to light cigar, when
hca rd some one call: "Gontranr' ] turn
cd quickly and saw my dear friend.
Raoul dc Bellevue, holding out his hands
to mo Since the time of his marriage.
about Il year before, / didn't know what
had become of him.
"You here. in the month Of August, All!
indeed little expected this agreeable
surprise. How happens 1t that you are
still in Paris"
Put you are here too. why shouldn't
| bop
oh I, that's different. I came to
sign n deed at my lawyers, and start
back tomorrow morning for the castle
of Grandfords where I am living since
my marriage"
"Ah!....And Madame Raoul de Belle
vuc is wcl''
AS we'll as one could wish Rut--now
think Of H. since you nave nothing to
do in Paris at present. just come and
sec for yourself A short stay in the
country. with two friends, won't hurt
your health at all"
Thank you, my dear friend; but no! an
old bachelor like me. with two young
married people. cannot imagine my
self in this Paradise. where I might per-
haps ir convenience YOU"
Never mind about that! Come. all the
same and if you--inconvenience us--as
you say, well. you will see it and can be
off again"
We'll, so be it. won't say no, but
we will see. In any event, thank you
again.
Five days later, weary of Paris that
! love we'll nevertheless. / strapped my
valise, took the train and eight hours
by express broueht me to the Castle of
Grandfonds. where my friends gave me Il
most cordial welcome.
What a charming castle is Grandfonds!
In the very heart of 1ouraine. it Is Sit
uated in the most delightful part of this
region. rightly called the garden Of
France. All is bright and gay both in
doors and ont. Roses of many colors and
superb Spanish iessamines. mingled with
a magnificent plant from which hang
numerous clusters of pale blue flowers,
surround it on ali sides. In front, an
English garden with winding paths, with
vast lawns surrounded by baskets of
flowers, ClumpS of trees and bushes. Be-
hind. and on both sides. the forest with
some carriage roads here and there, and
everywhere that wild disorder which sur
passes. in my opinion. the rectangular
beds Of all the English gardens in the
world. A real lovers nest this Castle OF
Grandfonds. with charming views to de-
light an artistic nature.
AS for the lady of the castle. the first
sight of her dazzled me, A young woman
scarce twenty years old a brunette with
superb eyes. a slender form and remark
ably fnc features. To her extraordinary
mind and intelligence was joined nobil-
ity Of character aud of sentiments tina,
made her delightful adorable.
At the table. in the drawing In
orr daily walks. I looked at her very of.
| ton. too often perhaps but what would
you have frivolous Partisan do, In the
presence of pretty woman. and in the
derths of tho country"
i. NIT -.
the deep impression she had made, from
my persistency in looking at her, and
several times, she smiled at me with one
of those little knocking smiles in which
I took care not to see the least hostility
! swear to YOU. Could it he otherwise
! ask YOU. with a Partisan long accustom-
ed to easy cnnquests?
Was I then thinking Of planning ar
intrigue No. indeed. That would have
been most unworthy! Deceive my best
friend. betray the sacred laws of hos
ptality. Come, come, that wasn't pos
sible, | couldn't admit such a though
without rcbelling against it!
But in vain did reproach myself mos
| Justly. night and morning. could no
help admiring. being enraptured with m,
young and delightful hostess. She wa.
so pretty SO pretty. . ] saw her aSain
as on tho day of my arrival. appearinl
to me amid the flowers with her pinl
satin waist and her enchanting smile, anC
always under the charm of this appear
ance, thought but of her. I saw bu
her. could no longer sleep
| had been about a fortnight at tn,
| Castle of Grandfonds. and ] wasn't bore,
| In the least Ole evening, I went UP Il
my room earlier than usual. Having for
COTTON my cigarettes in the smoking
room, went down again to get them
Midway of the Ions. dark corro
| W oh 1r1 tn he dr. inc
Nine. DO bellevue, Laura by her frs
name, coming towards me.
At sight of her. I felt a sort off diz
illness. and, without thinking Of the i'm
prudent lovity Of my conduct. If tn
more than doubtful act of which was as
Stunning the great responsibility, advancin
! suddenly. fascinated by that pink wais
which she still Wore ard which I notice
vaguely, I took her in my arms: Laura
love vou'' I murmurcd very softly.
and too"-she replied in a whisper
leave me. 7 beg you
I left her, Joyous, amazed, and withou
another thought Of my cigarettes, re-
turned to my room whore I began t
whistle. to sing the most extravagan
Songs. to dance a wild cancan. wa
loVod-l WAS happy and reused tn
echoes made such a racket that m
friend Raoui hearl me and came to as
mo the cause OF it,
W. s'd' We Oh INC NtTlnHnIPT "ONl
not have produced i greater effect tia
his appearance. folt Il great uncasiness
but it vas only focting, and ! attribute
my overwhelming JOY to the contents O
a letter Just received from Paris.
Then said Raoul to me, you ar
not bored at Grandfonds?"
"Oh. no indeed should like tn spen
my life here, and ! am infinitely gratefl
to YOU for having given ne the opportu
nifty tn know such a charming resort"
And how do you ind my wife,"
"Yorr wife,"
"Why. YES You haven't said anythin
to nc about her yct?"
"Shc is charming. she is adorable, sh
is"
my! NY How poetic Ha. Ha. TIa
shah tell hor all that, she will be d,
lighted"
"Yes.--that's it-r"rfcctly."
My friend loft me. Evidently, he s,is
pcttod nothing, ! resolved, like reS
incorrieiblc. to seize all tho opportunitif
which would not fail to present then
selves. to take advantage OF my goo
luck. LET MS strike while the iron
hot" was the excellent advice that
repeated to myself before going to bc'
The next morning. feeling somewha
enervatcd. was strolling in the immcn,
forest behind the castle. At the tur
of a path I saw Laura coming toward
me. Decidedly, 7 was a lucky morta
| advanced at once without the least hes
tation and all smiles started to try agai
tho experiment which had succeeded s
|