Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-12-26
MarceIIe.


was well set in her fine robust limbs.
Nine. de Montauron declared that she
had the air of a Spaniard
And BESIDES" she added, you,
also, my dear Monsieur Fabrice, you,
also have the ways Of Spaniard. Are
you sure of not being one. / remem-
Der Of having seen at Saint Sebastian
Two or three years ago, toreadoI
who resembled you very much.
Il am very much fattered, Mad
ame,' said Fabrice, "but / am obliged
to say it was not l.
The company invited to Comets was
in part renewed, during the absence
Of the painter, but the per5onnel
feminin, though somewhat chilled by
the departure of PierrepOnt, was still
numerous and brilliant. Women, i'll
general. in their need for tender dem
onstrations, seize earnestly every hon
est occasion for embracing somebody
or something. And thus MarcelIe did
not miss having shOwered upon her
pretty person, the ELUSIVE cares5eS or
which her sex is so prodigal. Alone
among those at the chateau, Nile. DE
Sardonne bore toward the child but
GOODNESS and Indifference, speaking
only q few words to her in a short &C
cent; heedlessly, almost uncivilly. Dur
ing her lessons in water cOlOrs, winch
she had resumed, she had not single
kind word for the father with regard
tn Marcelle. The little girl herself
felt d sort Of sCOrn borne toward hel
and seemed to fear that beautiful, dis
dainfuI creature. Fabrice was entirely
ignorant of the trial through which
Beatrice, had just passed, the OBJ
session of which still weighed upon
her thoughts. Wounded and alarmed IL
his paternal tenderness, he accused
the orphan of insensibility, Of vain
pride, and Of hardness Of heart; ne
asked himself if his own sentiments
could ever await the least softeninG
of that closed heart; he also asked
anxiOusly Of himself if, in continuing
to follow his dream Of love, he cid
not risk the happiness of his chlld,
whom he adored. And it was thus that
he passed the first week after his re-
turn to Genets.
During a pleasant morning, toward
the close of September, he was seated
upon a bench at the entrance to the
rarz awaiting Beatrice, who was Il
little late at her lesson. Marcelle was
running and playing around MN
stamping the dry leaves with her feet.
Every other minute she would inter
ruDt her play to give her cheek to her
father. She had all the attentions for
him that q little woman would have.
She would fix the knot in his craVaC
which she thought was not sufficient,
she would pick a thr I'D Or brush a
sDeck off his coat. She threw hand
l-ercnief over his shoulder to protect
him against the slightly fresh breeze.
Having discovered some late Eastern
daisies in the grass, she made bou-
o1et of them and put them in the
buttonhole of his coat, fastening II
with hairpin which she took from
her hair; then she seated herself she
arranged herself as best she could up
on the seat, brushed down her skirts
leaning against her father.
Are you all right, father?' she
asked: 4 am, am very comfortable;
the woods are SO very pretty
That private scene had had for sew
eraI minutes a witness. Mile. de Sr-
dome, leaving the chateau with her
box of paints, had approached them
without being perceived. She halted
and then advanced toward the bench
and said in a grave voice:
"You two love each other very much
do you not?'
I'VE are all the world to each
ether" said Fabrice, rising.
She fixed upon him an attentive
look and then turned toward Marcelle.
DO you love your father, tell me?'
The child much inundated by the
presence Of her enemy, answered
with a simple gesture, placing hel
little hand fiat upon her heart.
You little darling!" said Beatrice.
kiss me, won't your
Very much astonished, the little
girl approached her, slowly. Mile. de
Sardonne lifted her from the ground
and stood her upon the bench, press
ing her to her heart and covering her
with kisses.
The passionate caressing upon
the part of a person so opposed to
demonstration, troubled Fabrice to
the bottom of his soul, as though ne
himself had received them. All his
fears, all his anxieties, all his suspic-
ions vanished under the touch OF
those kisses. He OWNED the warmth
of soul that the proud young girl hid
by a sort of modesty, under her habit
uai coldness. His passion, for mo-
ment discouraged. arose entire.
Marcele was sent to the chateau.
Beatrice seated herself upon the
bench and began to work under the
eye Of the master.
She succeeded in drawing a sort Of
Swiss cottage, covered with a drapery
Of green vines, which served as a
lodge for the gardner. Fabrice ex
amined her sketch, took it from her
hands, gave it a slight retouching and
returned it to her.
"Ah, but you were kind to my
daughter" said he.
Does that astonish yOu?'
ono. asS1radIv-. bIIT-"