Middletown transcript., 1907-05-11

seR-confdence. The street
lamps were not yet lighted, but
the dull end Of a December day
was closing in upon the world
and the black figure toned IN
with the drifting grays.
Hurrying folk passed the
woman without giving her a Sec
ond glance and she, on her part
showed no interest in the pass
ersby, though she fingered for
a moment on a street corner to
watch a dull red shaft of after
glow touch the stone carvings Oh
q church tower into sudden
warmth.
AS she stood looking at the
fickering light a short, fat
woman, rocking down the avenue
with a vigorous, side-wheeler
motion, caught sight OF her,
stopped, stared incredulously
and threw two expressive hands
into the air.
Mon Dieu! It is herself-of a
certainty! Mademoiselle! You
have not forgotten Francoise?
The broad, ruddy face was
beaming with unmistakable joy,
the black eyes were dancing with
excitement.
Elizabeth Vanderveck smiled
swiftly, and the smile changed
her face as the.sunset light had
transfgured the gray tower.
Francoise! she said, a trife
breathlessly, FRANCHISE, you re-
membered me?
She held out her hand and the
radiant French woman took ii
dlfidently.
But surely. How could one
forget =? she said in voluble
French. Was it not Mademoi'
selle whom we adored ? All,
Mademoiselle! 1t is to tear the
heart. The son of a brewer is
in our house. Me, weep when
I pass the door. The dinners
have cooked there, Mademoiselle
and for those who recognized
the dinner recherche, the dinner
of distinction. That the par
venues should have our house
tits said below stairs that Madame
does not know Bechamel from
sauce Meuniere. And you, Made
moiselle ? You have made the
voyage. You are now in New
York to stay, is it not?
The explanatory French wo
mans keen, friendly eyes hac
taken in every detail of the figure
before her. Even in the gather
ing dusk they had appraised the
value of the cheap black coat
noted the worn black gloves, the
neat but old. fashioned hat. Their
they travelled to the face in which
gentle kindliness mingled oddly
with stubborn pride. There were
lines in the clean-cut, aristocratiC
face that had not been there
eight years earlier, but the lip!
were curved as proudly as ever
the head had kept its naughty
poise.
A grande dame always, she salc
to herself That It is to havl
the blood. Son of a brewer
Pah she snorted aloud with ;
sudden vehemence that made he
former mistress start nervously
But he may have made yer!
good beer, FRANCHISE, Miss Van
derveck protested with certain
tranquil amusement.
The old house on Washington
Square in which she and he
father before her had been borl
had passed out of the Wander
week family. She had had year
in which to become accustomed
to that fact. Since it was n,
longer the Vanderveck house
why should she care into wha
nouveaue riches hands it fell
Poverty makes anarchists, cynics
philosophers. Miss Vandervecl
was too well born for anarchy
too well bred for cynicism, bu
the years since her fathers ruiz
and death and her own self-exil,
had taught her something o
philosophy.
Mademoiselle permits that
accompany her to her door? I
is late for her to make the prom
enade alone.
Francoise was bursting will
curiosity, but she could ask nj
questions.
Miss Vanderveck hesitated fo
an instant and a faint flush ros,
in her cheeks, but it went a!
quickly as it came, and an odC
little smile fiickered around hel
lips.
am used to being out alone
ehe said simply. but I should b,