St. Tammany farmer., 1906-07-28
BY y AID OF
MORPHEUS
Ey MARVIN DANA
(Cepyrigat, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
Sitting over their coffee in the even
tng, the various members Of the coach
ing party were detailing Impressions
from the days trip.
By common consent the others
paused when Madam la Baroane de
Vaux began to speak. The dainty
Frenchwoman was favorite with all.
and she was usually sure Of listeners
to whatever she chose to say.
"Ah, that little village" she crie.,
gaily. THAT little village all of wood,
with its wooden church! But in
France 1t had beel all of brick and
stone. Yet 1t was like-oh, SO very
like!-a tiny place quite near our
chateau. And it was there that some
thing happened once, something droll,
and sweet"
Madam la Baronne paused end
smiled, and the sweetness in her face
deepened, and the drollness flashed in
her black eyes.
Tell US, please tell US. madam" the
others clamored.
Surely" the baroness replied.
'There was dear old boy lived in
the village, and, too, a dear old lady.
He was an old bacnelor, and she was
an old maid. Once, years and years
and years ago, she and ne had been
sweethearts. Somehow they could not,
or would not, marry. He went away
for years, while she remained in the
village always. Then at last he came
back, and they were good friends
They were too cid to marry, or so they
thought. But every evening he called
on her, and they sat and chatted on
the veranda when the season was
right, and at other times they sat in
two great chairs before the little fire
in the little parlor of her cottage.
"One winters night, when the air was
most biting and their old blood chilled
by the frost of it, they sat cozily Il
the parlor, as always, and the old gen.
tleman, suppose, was very busy to
heap the tiny fire high and to keep the
blaze brisk, so that they sat snugly in
their huge chairs and basked in the
warm glow, and chatted lazily and
drowsily of the past days, when love
was hot in their young hearts.
Madam la Baronne broke OF and
ran her merry eyes over the group
about her. 5E
Have none of you read the tale?"
she questioned. mo? Well, there Is
little more. Indeed, have only to
finish now In the morning, when the
bonne entered the parlor to dust it and
old gentleman and the dear old lady
In their great chairs before the dying
fire in the tiny crate, and they we're
sound asleep!" &# #t
The baroness smiled, and laughter
ran In the circle around her.
"They were married cas- quickly sas
the law would allow. Otherwise there
must have been whisper of scandal.
And, oh. am sure that they lived
happy ever after; yes, even as happy
as before!"
The group chartered merrily over
the narrative and thanked the racon-
teuse with enthusiasm.
u,
the baroness suggested. and turned to
a patriotic American. "Of course,
that means you, Mr. Blennen.
Blennen's dark, thin face lighted
with pleasant smile, as he nodded
an assent to the general demand, but
before he rose from his chair his eyes
wandered toward woman at little
distance from him and there they rest
el with suggestion of expectation in
their gaze. Almost instantly the
woman turned to meet his look. and
she spoke eagerly:
"Oh, please. Mr.. Blennen."
A. the words a glow Of pleasure
shone from the musicians face, and he
hastened toward the piano.
The early summer night Of the Hud-
son valley was soft, languorous, silent,
save for the restful droning of the n
sects. Through the open windows of
the great drawing-room came the lux
urious mingle40 perfumes Of many bios
SONS. It was a night and a company
for music. For Blennen, though
the inheritor Of princely fortune,
was master of music
When he had finished, and the crowd
Of enthusiasts at last allowed him to
break from their compliments. he went
to her.
She made place beside her. and
flashed a glance of fond pride upon
him.
1T was wonderful, wonderful" she
cried, softly. "You- genius, Vance, is
SO true-so splendidly true! All, when
I listened to you, my soul went float
Ing In magic land of harmony. L."
She broke OF abruptly. Then, with
hardly seconds pause, she continued.
gayly:
Il should never mind my insomnia.
II could lie and hear you playing"
Poor child! you don't show any sign
Of 1t. You are as fresh and dainty. a.
lovely and superb IS ever-more beau
tiful in my eyes, Grace
The woman blushed and dropped her
gaze in confusion at the passion in
his voice. Her silence emboldened
/ I'm, and he continued In an eager
whisper:
! "Tell me, Grace, is rot my happiness
coming to me so0n-soon?"
But the woman raised her hand ap-
pealingly, whilst she avoided the long
ing eyes:
Don't. Vance. No, no, not yet. am
afraid"
The emotion in her voice checked
him from another plea, and the an
guish Of despair griped his heart.
nynnuar a1nna In hfe rfEnrsn that