The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
IA MEETING IN A TRAIN
Sequel Twenty
Vent oong.
3sopoo 1uo0pappopoupooo

| rejected your lovers by the dozen. That
Is why my good cousin was SO mex
cusable. However, since she is dead. I
must forgive her making me SO long a
journey for nothing.Y
1T is scarcely polite to say for Moth
ing since you must have seen me, at
least"
mot even that. All saw was your
photograph. And as l look at you to-
day, 1 see that the work of time is
slandered; he does not steal a woman's
beauty, he completes 1t"
How kind of YOU smiled the lady.
"At my age, f1attery Is enjoyable. Still,
1 am forced to confess that the story
of your profitless journey interests me
more than anything just now"
"Alasi You will soon be disillusioned.
The story is short one.
II arrived at my cousins house, who
began by showing me your picture. 1t
was enough to warn me that 1 must
have many rivals.
''That evening you were to be pres
ent at a dinner to which my cousin and
I were also invited. But you could not
come, prevented by a slight accident
that happened while you were riding.
Naturally, We talked of nothing but
you during the whole dinner"
$50 that by the time dessert was
reached you rushed to repacks your
trunks ?" asked the lady, Laughing mer-
rily
"Ah, yes, indeed; they were merciless
to my weak hopes. They praised your
beauty, your talents, your goodness!
And as a finishing touch, they de-
clared that a certain duke was striving
to win your hand and was apparently
successful!
ga poor country squire like myself
would have cut a pitiful figure indeed.
trembled lest they should learn
| ever dreamed of winning the wonderful
Laure.
and do you think would know
ingly tell you the name of the hero of
this ridiculous story? Not at all!
Il started for the East the very next
day, but l carried your photograph
with me, for I stole it from my cousin
..And probably lost it soon after?"
81 will not tell you; you are mar
ried That is M. d'Ollencourt's business
now"
"Oh!" exclaimed the beautiful Laure,
becoming more serious. $50 you know
my husbands name? 1 beg of you to
| tell me your own
"a vanquished knight does not lift his
visor replied the marquis as the train
rolled into the station.
And bowling CALAMITY, he kissed the
"Misfortunes come quickly, indeed" he
sighed. as he walked away.
The next day when she reached Nice,
Nine. d'OIlencourt fastened to write two
letters one to Poitiers and one to Paris.
The first requested that the lady to whom
| it was sent would try and find out the
name of a cousin Of the late Canoness
de Macornay, who lived in Burgundy; and
| the second asked that they should aScer-
| tain from the war department the name OF
| man with white hair and a young face
| who had spent most of his life in Africa.
After that Nine. d'Ollencourt settled
down to tranquil winter. AS for Ire
| ney. he lived more like a bear than ever.
| Not long afterward he received letter
| from one of his country neighborS which
said:
My Dear, Odo: We have come back,
Wife and 1. You viii understand that two
| people of our age do not come to see a
young man without a motive, and ours is
your fifteenth century tower.
We want to show it to two of my wife s
friends, whom You do not know. To tell
| the truth. they are rather recent ac-
quaintances as We met them only lit
tie while ago at Nice. They are Charm
| ing.
AS bachelor does not always have a
cup of tea and cake or two ready when,
ever he wants them, / thought l would
tower and make things shine Your Wis
| itors are worthy of it.
Treney swore softly as he read the let
ter. but he answered it politely and was
| at his post when a landau drove up to the
| door. To his establishment the two
friends proved to be his fellow passengers
| On the train. AS she gave him her hand
to help her from the carriage the beautiful
Laure said smilingly:
Imagine my establishment just now
when they told me the name of the owner
| of this beautiful place"
| The marquis seemed unable to under
stand what had happened. For answer,
he led her into the parlor while his friends
took Mile. d.Ollencourt to see the view.
On the table beautiful photograph
occupied the place of honor. The mar
auis pointed to it without a word.
.sGood!' cried his visitor; so you pre-
pared your rooms for my reception. Your
surprise is as real as mine, then? But
how did you know we were coming?'
1.-THE proof that 1 did not know you
were coming" Treney replied lis that
there is not single flower in my old bar
racks" -.-
Never mind" she said. trying to hide
her emotion, but indeed, YOU must not
| keep my photograph here. What would
people think? 1t is so easy to criticise
! widow
The marquis jumped as if ne had been
shot.
"You are widowp he cried in voice
that broke.
Just then his other guests entered the
room But during their stay. Treney was
so silent that his old friend said, by way
of excuse as they were leaving:
Ladies' this savage that YOU see was
once the most charming of men, 1t is a
| pity he ever quilted his career for idle
.less s spelling him. l have heard him