Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-04-23

well met, my dear captain; we go
to the park, and would have you bear
us company. Where is M. de Greville?"
i explained as best 1 might his alb
sence, and followed them in lieu of bet
ter employment, forgetting for q time
the threatened fete. Before I could ex-
tricate myself, these new friends a
led me into q brilliant circle, and duly
presented me TO madame, who sat on
a sort of raised platform In the center.
She showed no traces of her recent
anger and spite, vented upon that pa
tient girl who now claimed all my
thought. Her ladies, some languishing
literary notables Of the day, and Off
GERS, stood about discussing the news,
and talked of naught but some fetch
Ing style or popular play, through all
of which / struggled as bravely as my
dazed condition would permit. 1t
seemed | would nevCr grow accustomed
to the like, though it is said many men
find great delight In such gatherings.
But one thing l searched for most Gag
erly.
Behind madamc's chair, after q little,
appeared the sweet shy face of my
weeping Niobe of the park. 1 felt she
saw and recognized me, and my face
grew warmer at the thought. / made
bold to ask one of the gentlemen stand
ing near me who the lady might be,
oAAA " NSsAAAiAS I lDciill az lSi, mp
described her as we'll as possible, and
as being in attendance upon madame.
That, monsieur, is Madame Agnes,
wife of the Chevalier de la Mora; the
wittiest and most beautiful woman at
SCcauX, and the chilliest."
Noting the change of c~ountenance
which l sought in vain to control, he
went on banteringly.
Beware NJ. lie Capitaine, half the
men at Sceaux are in love with her,
but she has the execrable taste to pre-
fer her own husband. Such women de-
stroy half the zest of living. Beside,
the Chevalier has a marvellous sword
n a most unpleasant temper. Bah!
how ludicrous IL is for men to anger at
~trifes."
But" 1 faltered, she seems a mere
child"
Yes, but none the les charming"
and he turned away to continue his
interrupted conversation with the da--
ing young Arouet, the same who was
10 acquire universal fame under the
name Noltaire.
Thus rqdely were my new awakened
hopes Of o cast down. A wife, and
the wife of a friend! She had spoken
TO me Of Charles" and of going with
him TO the colonies. A wife, yet for
all that, / knew | loved her.
They say the Dad to hell Is paved
with good intentions. My intentions
We're the best that ever made excellent
Cobblestones toward the Internal gate.
Only a few days and l would be gone;
surely those could be passed through
in peace. She was a wife-I would
never let her know hat all my heart
was hers. This l determined. But
man Is weak, and the very atmosphere
of France dried up the springs Of every
honest impulse. Everywhere was
scoffing, raillery and disbelief. Honor,
Friendship and virtue were regarded rs
the vain chimeras of a fool. Why
should not l enjoy life while l might?
Directly Madame Chatrain entered
without intruding, and composedly
took her place among the ladies who
made room for her near Madame.
Nothing in her manner bore evidence
OF her recent conflict. 1t was really
marvellous how the life these women
led schooled them to stoicism any
Choctaw brave daring the stake might
envy. She nodded to me gaily, and /
stopped to touch her hand.
Where Is M. de Greville? Is he not
to be with us this afternoon"
/ looked her in the face, wondering,
for could she not answer her own ques-
ton far better tina /? She read my
meaning, but her glance never waver-
ed.
AN IIltIt iC 49, clllpll5 NllS SNil-
tlemen. / feared he found SceauX too
dull after Paris, and he had promised
us a bit OF his work. You know he
Composes famous verses to some fair
and distant inamorta."
Indeed, Madame, / suspected not his
talents l replied. Our conversation
Jagged, for the programme had al
ready commenced, and we gave at
tention to the reading OF some curious
laffarc cnil IN hnVn hnnn NVrittan hy
two Persians of distinction then trav-
cling in Europe, which were being pub
Iished anonymously in Paris. At first,
l could not bring myself to listen to
such twaddle, obviously moral, which,
under the guise of light, small talk,
struck at the foundations of govern
ment, ~religiuos beliefs, and all which
had before held sacred. Listening only
to contradict, l grew interested In
spite of myself, and only at some allu-
sion more than usually out of place
as it seemed to me, among so many
ladies, did 1 take my eyes from the
readers countenance, and suffer them
to roam about the company.
Feeling again the subtle influence OF
Agnes gaze fixed full upon me, II
caused my cheeks to flush, my knees
to quake, and verify, my legs were as
like TO carry me away as to sustain me
where l leaned against a tree. The
girl was looking straight at me; ]
dared not return her stare which had
something more than mere curiosity
in it, and disturbed me greatly. =
The reading was finished without my
knowledge, a piece of buffoonery, OF
play acting gone through with, which
| did not see, When my own name,
called by Madame, brought me to my
proper good sense again.
1 found myself, before l was quite
aware, bending before Madame and re-
ceiving her command that l should 10
something for the amusement of the
company.
M. Jerome has favored us, you
know-we have no drones here" she
at Sceaux that all must join our merrl-
ment."
"Jerome?" / answered In a bewilder-
ed fashion, for 1 had no recollection OF
seeing aught he did; then 1 remem-
bered hearing him recite some Ian
gushing verses about a white rose
a kiss, a lady's lips-some signs, and
such other stuff that now escapes me
but l had paid no attention to 1t all
Jerome, the villain, seconded
Madame's request so vigorously / could
not decline, though he well knew l was
NO carpet knight capable of entertain
ing ladies fair on the tourney field OF
wit.
THE captain sings divinely, Madame
but is becomingly modest, as you see.'
The wretch laughed in his sleeve; ]
could have strangled him.
"Ah, so rare" she retorted, "you
men are vainer than my ladies'"
l knew myself the target for dozens
Of curious eyes, under the heat OF
which l nearly melted away.
Sing, comrade, sing some sweet love
ditty Of a lonely forest maiden and her
lover. rohed In the innncenca nf Eden .