The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-11


THAT is the reward for her roman
&c and pastoral tastes" and she
aughed till the tears dripped down
aer cheeku. Her hair was still black,
md neither paint not sticking plaster
married the whiteness of her skin. I
asked TO questions. but regarded more
closely the young woman with whom
I now drifted naturally into converse
lion. Her manner We're strtkingly
rec and unconstrained. There was.
however, an air of reserve, Of dignity
IF majesty even-about her, despite
.rankness. which forbade anything but
The utmost Difference.
Does my lord understand-that?"
n she pointed her finger to the ser
wants who were chasing and captur-
ng the refractory sheep n by one.
l shook my head, for. in all serious
aess, it was a queer proceeding.
We'll, it's too merry a Jest to keep
long q secret. Beside I'm weary of
these eternal shackles Of court which
Forbid me to speak to those whom I
please A certain defiance gave an
u~ndercurrent of sadness to her voice,
/ mounting rebbeMon to her tone.
And l will talk IL I want to; there's
no harm, is there?"
I gravely assured her not. and Won
dered what was coming.
We'll. you see,'' she dried her eyes
"a ~ IA u AdSCy
70 see my-that Is. the duchess is Of
such a romantic temperament. SO en-
amored of rural scenes, idyllic mead
Tvs, pretty sh-epherdesses, and the k
ALI the court make merry at her fol-
ole. She thought to astonish Paris to-
night by a lavish display of sweet sim
plicity--did Monsieur see 1t? That big
dark place there. behind the glass par
titson, was arranged as a meadow,
with a stream winding thorugh 1t, and
rocks n trees, and what not. She had
q flock of sheep washed clean and
white. penned up in waiting. AT a
signal from her during the ball, lights
were to have been turned on. and Ma
aemoiselle, the pretty opera singer, was
to come gracefully down a curving
pathway, dressed as a shepherdess,
singing and leading her sheep. Oh, 1t
was to be too pure for this earth. h
duchess fretted for the opportune
time. But the sheep escaped from their
keepers, and. oh, isn't it too ludi-
croEs?"
Thus she chartered on with the naive
freedom of n other young demoi-
selle. l agreed with her. and was in
wardly glad he affair turned out an
accident, for were this the custom Of
balls I'd go to no others.
We continued to chat gayly together:
She was of q lively wit. and surprised
tIC ny IlSI hilOWlCQSe VI Jugs dll0
horses, of the chase. of sword play and
of firearms, Odd tastes for a gentle
woman, most of all for one OF her ex-
allied rank. OF his latter I had no
doubt. 1 knew none of the people she
mentioned, nothing Of the drawing
room gossip. and she very naturally
remarked.
MY lord is a stranger?"
Only yesterday in Paris" I as
sented.'
From what place comes my lordT''
and for the second time in q day I was
driven to a direct lie.
..lTr M N=orna ne I replied.
NO, unfortunately; my affairs will
be finished in a few days at most. Then
I return to the country" The lady was
pensive for a space, hesitated in q
pretty perplcxity n then spoke
doubtfully.
You can be Of service to me II you
will
Immediately signifed my willing
ness to render her aid, in the courtli-
est speech I could muster. She looked
at me long and seriously again. then
again pursued the subject of her
thought.
"It is a mere woman's whim, but ]
crafty my whims. Perchance 1t Is no
a proper wish for a lady Of birth. yet
i nave III dilu IL yOu WILL O0l dAo 1C
l will carry it through"
Moved as much by curiosity as by
any other motive, I inquired Of her
what so weiglty a matter could be.
Come. let US go into this ante-room
that we may undisturbed,'
she said, and led me into a quiet orner
where there were seats. I would have
thoughtlessly taken q place by her
side. %forgetful Of Jerome's teachings,
but she commanded cOldly:
'NIonsieur will stand
And l stood.
.'You are a stranger in Paris, you
seem to be a man of honor; for those
reasons I choose you. I would not care
to have onesof my own gentlemen know
what l wish to do. All Parts would
ak of it tomorrow. We in the palace
see naught of the common people, and
I have long dreamed 1t would be 9
brave adventure to go unknown among
them, to their ms and gathering places
I have always desired to know more
of our Paris. especially one place which
I hea mentioned frequently of late
My position will not permit me to visit
1t openly-you understand"
/ protested hat knowing naught OF
the streets I should be but q blind
guide.
II know where I would CO." she said.
determinedly. brushing aside the diff
ficu,ties ] would suggest, " and I will
go; Q will go too"
l wa.s vastly troubled at this, for
might it not lead to such another es-
capade as came so near costing me
dear? Her yes fixed full upon me
her voice blended a command which nc
man dared disobey. with an entreaty
which none would willingly run coun-
ter TO, and 1 gave reluctant assent.
WIN you await me here?" she de-
mande5 rather lhan asked. MY
apartments are in this building. I will.
return very briefly
When the lady came back h would
never have been taken for a woman;
her long cloak, UGH as men wore
reached to her boots. identical in al
respects with my own. Her hat, plume
and sword were correct and bravely
worn. Her maid, a trile ervou ovel
the adventure, out who said nothing
bore q similar cloak for me, and hello
two masks in her hands.
will my lord throw this about
hin?" II without any question I as.
surned the cloak.
Now, this" and she handed me
mask while she affixed n about hel
own face.
L demurred to the mask.
II will not take my lady upon an er'
rand where we can not show GU,
faces"
She laughed merrily. and replied: III