Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-11

Frenchman. who has invited the ladies to con-
ten to her father Molly Randolph q the
burning up Of her ~ the e. s hi:
masters.
Molly Randolph to Her Father (Con-
tinued).
The streets of old Tours are so Intricate
that Aunt Mary and I would never have
known where to go, but Brown, who mas
been here before has guided us everywhere.
He took us to see the house OF Tristan the
Hermit. and an adorable little convent.
which is called the Petit st. Martin. with
lovely Renaissance carving. and actually
tilleul He showed us the oldest house IN
Tours, the quaintest building you could
imagine, standing on corner, with lots OF
other very old houses on the same street.
And the Charlemagne Tower-Im not sure.
but 1 liked that the best Of all-and a mar
velous fourteenth century house. perfect
lacework of carving, which has been re-
stored and Is called the Maison Goutn.
after the rich man who lives in 1t. Oh,
forgot to tell you. I have bought your IA
yorite Quentin Durward. and am sandwich
ing him with Balzac Reading him over
again in this country was Browns idea for
me, and I'm obliged to him for the tip"
Speaking of tips reminds me 1 really ought
to give him one-a very large one. I'm sure.
And yet it will be awkward Offering IT.
I'm afraid. know shall stammer and be
an idiot. generally: but 1 shall prop my
courage with the reflection that. after all.
he is a chauffeur, and perhaps has In his
heart been wondering why I haven't given.
him anything before.
Yesterday saw palm trees growing in
tho p1ace kissed NV hand tn them he
cause they told me that we were on the
threshold of the south. Another thing in
Tours which suggests the south. 1 think. is
the patisserie. Aunt Mary and have dis
covered a, confectfoners to conture with;
but Tours seems to have discovered him
long ago, for all the beauty and fashion
of the town go there for coffee and cakes
in the afternoon. We do likewise-when we
have time;- and yesterday Aunt Mary ate
twelve little cakes, each one different from
the other. You see, they are so good, and
she said. as a conscientious tourist she
thought she ought to try every kind in the
shop. so as to know which was incest. But
she felt odd afterward. and refused one or
two of the best courses at dinner.
The way that we have used our time at
Tours is very much to our credit. I think
or. rather, to the Lightning Conductors. In
the mornings Brown has taken us on ex-
Moons, before dark, we have done" the
town itself. as Aunt Mary would say,
though 1 hate the expression myself But
one whole day out Of our three we spent in
running with the car to LangeaiS and Azay-
le-Rideau.
That new car is a treasure. and Brown
drives as II there were sort of sympathy
between him and it. We go at a thrilling
pace sometimes. but that is only when we
have long, straight road, empty as far as
the eye can see. He is very considerable to
horse-drvers.' as he calls them, and he
says for the sake of the sport every one
driving an automobile should be careful of
the rights Of other persons on the road He
SLOWS down at once. or even stops the car
altogether. If we meet FESTIVE horse. Once
ne got out and pacifed a silly beast that
was nervous, leading it past the car. and
when 1t was quite quiet the old peasant who
was driving exclaimed that if all automo-
o oo,nsus were IKe us there would never be
lot lost time. though: and when Brown
lets her out" as he calls It, until we are
gong as fast as quick train. I can tell Won
country Is very beautiful we drive slowly
and save our "spurts' for the uninterest-
Ing parts.
I know you've read Balzac's "Duchesse
de Langeals, In English. for it was 1 who
gave 1t to You. don't suppose she ever
lived. really. at the Chateau de Lanreais
OF ar anyWhere else: but the thought Of her
me than 1t would have been IL she'd Raen
erased from the picture.
It's great. gray. frowning turreted and
crenelated fortress house and I felt so
much obliged to it for having kept its prac-
ticable drawbridge. We drove almost mn
to the door, through clean, very old IittJe
town, and just opposite the entrance was
Quaint house where Brown said RabeIais
had lived. I don't believe Aunt Mary knew
anything about Rabelais. However. she
eagerly kodaked the house, and later. when
l grayely mentioned to her that Rabelais
read. but OF course she might IL she liked,
she gave squeak of dismay and threat
ened to waste all her films rather than LET
photographer see that one when thew
went to be developed. do hope 1 shan't
be an old maid
The Partisan millionaire who owns the
chateau and lives in 1t part of the wear
must be wonderfully generous, public
spirited man. Only think he has spent
thousands and thousands in restoring the
castle. I'm keeping up the lovely garden and
In having all the rooms exouisiteIy f,Ir-
nished and decorated exactly in the period
of wicked Louis the Eleventh and Charles
the Eighth. But instead Of keeping these
beautiful things for himself and his family
and friends. he let's everybody have the
benefit, not even making an execution of
his own private rooms. Here Anne of
Brittany was very much to the fore again
for she was married to Charles at Laneeais'
and we went into the room of the wedding.
l should have liked to take the splendid,
dignified old major domo, who showed us
about. home with me; but I'm sure he'd
pine away and die IL torn from his beloved
chateau.
We bought quaint painted iron brooches.
with Anne OF Brittanys crest on them In