The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-13
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SpiTdtiOu, lOunu IL III Tcmote
French Canadian hill village. AS he
paused outside a cheerful red mill a
week after he had first seen the place
a low-toned melodious voice close
at his elbow said:
Monsieur smilesl Monsieur has
happy things to think aboutl'
Basil looked down and saw little
old-fashioned figure, and a pair of
soft eyes.
81 am glad to see monsieur smile"
And this time Basil noticed peculiar
tenderness in the voice. i have
watched him every day for a week,
and he has always seemed grave and
absorbed
Quite unconsciously, Basil was
walking along by her side, and now
said
''1t is a pretty place for home.
One might easily enough dream
away summers day here"
but we do not dream here, we
work." said the girl, smiling.
"What do you do?"
1--WE make ribbons-ribbons as
fine as those of Lyons Does mon
sieur know that he literally STUN
bled over me but yesterday"
II did not know 1t, but l ask your
pardon"
'Oh, you need not humiliate your
self before me. l am only Marguer-
lite, the ribbon weaver. If 1t were
Pauline now, she would make
stately courtesy and say that mon
sieur was forgiven"
"And who Is Pauline?" said Basil,
amused.
The girls face assumed a puzzled
look.
THAT is not easy to say" she re-
piled, In a mysterious. low tone. 81
sometimes think she is princess in
disguise, and at other times, when
I am angry because she scolds me,
I say she is only cross old woman
whom some day l shall run away
from. And now must bid monsieur
good day."
Wait said Basil, hastily. "You
who know the village so well should
be able to tell me of some hospitable
person who takes lodgers.'
''Does monsieur wish to stay?
Why, then, Pauline is the very wo-
man who will be pleased to oblige
him. Yonder she lives And she
nodded gay good-by and tripped
away. 1t seemed as If the sunshine
had been suddenly withdrawn. Basil
gazed after her moment, then
crossed the street to the house. In
1t was an old woman reeling silk--a
woefully wrinkled old woman, but
bright and keen as If she were but
twenty. Basil caught the CLEAN of
a glittering jewel upon her bosom.
Monsieur can come. You want
quiet? You shall have 1t. There is
no one to disturb except my grand
child, Marguerite, a madcap girl
whose acquaintance it will be well to
discourage is you would be quiet"
Louis Duval, Deane's nearest
friend, received two letters one day
in his rich apartments in the great
city. The first was from his law
yer:
Dear Duval: ] have been looking
after your affairs, but don't come to
any positive conclusion. Evidence
tends to show the existence of the
person to whom the codicil to the will
refers, but she seems to have disap-
peared mysteriously, and as yet
have found no clue to her where
abouts. You are so well off now, and
so generous, that suppose you
wouldn't break your heart II this new
claimant should appear"
Don't think should! I'd gladly
divide the property with any one who
shared my name. And now, Basil
Deane, for you!"
my Dear Louis-You never did a
kinder thing than when you took my
picture of my hands and sent me
into the country. / think ! never
lived before. If nothing happens l
mean to do something else than
dream henceforth.
"I am housed with an old woman
and young girl. / have not quite
made out the relation between them
yet. but 1t Is apparently one of in
terest rather than affection. The old
woman's face is as yellow as the gold
that she loves so well, but her eyes
are as bright as diamonds. And
speaking of diamonds reminds me of
remarkable ornament that she
wears. 1t is Greek cross, the arms
studded with glittering stones, pure
and brilliant as stars. ventured to
make remark concerning 1t when !
had been there week.
Those are very fine diamonds OF
yours. Mile. Pauline / said. The
old woman started and ! fancied
grew pale.
'Diamondsl monsieur; you must
be Joking. How should an old woman
like me wear diamonds?' she said
sharply.
"'Your brooch is an heirloom. ]
suppose?'
No. monsieurl I have no ances.
tors; am only one of the bour.
geoise.'
For all that said, positively
those are fine diamonds
Paste. monsieur, paste! They
do these things with wonderful ar
in France!' said the old woman.
Nov could have sworn to tn,
genuineness of the diamonds, but
let the subject drop. am, however
quite curious in regard to this ole
woman. Nobody In the village know,
anything of her antecedents