Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-21
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5 e.,y.,.n, ,s,, as By Dickson

copyrisht 1899 "a
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"Well met. my dear captain: we SO
to the park, and would have YOU bear
us company. Where is NJ. de Greville?'
l explained as best 1 might his alb
sence, and followed them in lieu of bet
ter employment. forgetting for a time
the threatened fcte. Before could OK
tricate myself, these new friends had
led me INTO u brilliant circle. and duly
presented me to madame, who sat on
Il 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 la6ics, some languishing
literary notables of the day, and otii-
GERS. stood about discussing the news.
and talked of naught but some fetch
ing style on popular play, through all
of which l struggled as braNely a. my
dazed condition would permit. 1T
seemed would never grow accustomed
to the like, taough it is said many men
find great delight III such gatherings.
But one thlng / searched for most Gag
cry.
1scEird madanae's chair, after little.
appeared the sweet shy face of my
weeping Niobe of the park. felt she
saw and recognized me, and my face
grew warmer at the thought. l made
bod To ask one of the gentlemen stand
ing near INC who the lady might be,
and not desiring to point at her. simply
described her as we'll as possible, and
as being in attendance upon madame.
THAT. monsieur is Madame Agnes.
wife of the Chevalier dc la Mora; the
wittiest ard NEST beautiful woman at
StcauN. and the chi!liest."
Noting the change of countenance
which sought in vain to control, he
went on hanteringly.
Beware NJ. lie Capt. thine, 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 tho 2est of living Beside,
the Chevalier has a marvellous sword
and a most unpleasant temper. Bah.
how ludicrous ii is for men To anger at
tIiacs.
Put" faltered, she seems mere
child"
Yes, but meme the les charming"
and he turned away to continue his
interrupted conversation With the dar-
ing young Arouet, the same who was
To acquire universal fame under the
rame Noltaire.
Thus rudely We're my new awakened
hopes of love cast down. a wife. and
the Wife of friend. She had spoken
to me of Charles and OF going with
him to the colonies. A Wife, yet for
al that, knew | loved her.
They say the road to hell is paved
With good intentions. My intentions
We're the best that ever made excellent
eoablestoncs toward the Internal gate.
'Onls Il few days and | would be gone ;
'snrc!y those could be passed through
I'm peace. She WAS u wife-I would
never lot her know that all my heart
WAS hers. This ] determined. But
man is weak, and The very atmosphere
OF France dried up the springs of every
honest impulse. Everywhere was
Friendship and virtue We're regarded as
/ the vain cllimeras of a fool Why
| should not enjoy life While | 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 womeI
| led schooled them to stoicisn any
| Choctaw brave daring the stake might
| envy. She nodded to me gaily. and
| stopped to touch her hand.
Where is Nj. de Grevillc? Is he not
| To ne WIN US IfllS aJteTDOpT.
| looked her in the face, wondering
| for could she not answer her own ques
| ton far better than J.? She read my
| meaning, but her glance never WAIVER
| ed.
"Ah. There he is, among the gen
| tlelnen. | feared he found SceauX loo
| duh after Paris, and he had PROMISE
US a bit of his work. You know he
| composes famous verses to some fail
l Il J;..t,, TIM, nj.
Indeed, Madame, | suspected not his
| talents" | replied. our conversation
| Jagged, for the programme had al
ready commenced, and we gave our at
| tention to the reading of some curious
| letters. said to have been written by
two Persians OF distinction tEen tray
| cling in Europe, which We're being pub
lished anonymously in Paris Al first
L could not bring myself to listen IL
| 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, grew interested n
| spite of myself, and only at some allu-
l sion more than usually out of place
| as it seemed to me, among so many
| ladies' did | take my eyes from tho
| readers countenance, and suffer then
| 10 roam about the company.
Feeling again the subtle influence o.
Agnes gaze fixed fun upon me, i
caused my cheeks to flush. my knees
| to quake. and verify my legs We're a.
! like to carry me away as to sustain m,
| where l leaned against q tree. The
4 girl was looking straight at me;
! dared not return her stare which hat
something more than mere curioslt,
in ii, and disturbed me greatly.
The reading was finished without m,
/ knowledge, Il piece of buffoonery, %
| play acting gone through with. which
| | did not see, v.slen my own name
| called by Madam, brought me to M.
/ proper good sense again.
/ found myself before | was quit'
! aware, bending before Madame and re
cciving her command that | should dt
! something for the amusement OF til,
4 company.
! M jerome has favored us, yo,
1 know--we have no drones here" sh'
went on pleasantly and 1t is the rul,
| at Sceaux that all must join our merrl
| nlent."
"Jerome?" l answered in bewilder
| ed fashion, for l had no recollection o
| seeing aught he did; then l remem
bercd hearing him recite some Ian
| gushing verses about q white rose
| a kiss, lady's lips-some signs, ant
| such other stuff that now escapes me
| but / had paid no attention to 1t all
Jerome, the villain, seconde,
| Madame's request so vigorously coul.
not decline, though he we'll knew | wa
/ no carpet knight capable of entertain
/ ing ladies fair on the tourney field Q
| wit.
ri