Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-11-28

|
Marquis upon the edge of a stream
that watered the park. He was trying
to loose the chain of a boat moored
TO the bank.
Hello, there." cried she, signaling
with her parasol Tor him 10 come 10
her. Il want to speak to you!"
He ran to her.
TO hear is to obey" said he gaiIy
What is it?"
We'll, it's this. You know, or you
don't know, that Beatrice painted
very nicely in water-colors before her
fathers misfortune. She wishes that
you would arrange it so that she may
take a few lessons of Monsieur Fa.
brice, while he is here. He could dc
so with your protection?"
Pierrepont reflected for. a few sec.
onds.
With my protection, no." said he
but with yours yes, no doubt. / am
you understand, at the disposition OF
yourself and of Mademoiselle de Sar.
DOME But FabTice being my guest al
this time, you will certainly agree
with me that it would be a slight in
discretion, on my part, to ask of him
q service that would seem somewhat
of an imposition. Though if you would
yourself present to him your little re-
quest, it would then take another
turn. Wait, just now I am going with
the boat to find him. He is making a
sketch at the foot of the cascade, be-
low. VIII you come with me?"
In the boat?" asked Nine. day
maret.
In the boat! Why not? 1t will be
only five minutes. If it is the tete-a-
tete that scares you, it will not be
long. We have had them a great many
| times. Besides, it will take you with
! in two steps of your house. Come on,
my dear lady, have courage, courage. >
'AlI right" said the young woman,
and leaning on the arm of Pierrepont,
| she jumped lightly into the boat.
Pierre took the oars and showed the
boat off. He put it into the middle of
the stream and had to do hardly more
than direct it, letting it be carried by
the current, which bore it along
softly.
The little river was charming and
half hidden under the foliage of the
willows and the ash trees that lined
both banks. Here and there it had
been cleared away for the benefit Of
the fishers. 1t flowed silently-excep1
for slight ripping at times in the
eddes-under the almost contin douS
arcades of verdure. The sun, here
and there, shot a ray, trembling and
golden, through the shade.
After a moment of meditation,
Pierrepont called the young woman
quickly, in serious tone, half iront-
cal, which was customary between
them.
Madame d'Aymaret."
Mon cher Monsieur"
''You know they want to marry
me?"
''Well-it is very clear
''Ah-well, decidedly. I am defect
ed. I am absolutely discouraged"
Because of that?"
Because the more | see, the more
[ become confirmed in nay conviction,
that there are no true young ladies,
and as a consequence, no true wo-
men!"
What is that?"
Il say there are 10 true women
at least our society-it is an ex-
tinct species"
Pardon me-" said Madame day
maret, cit is to me that you dare say
such thing"
you know very we'll that I make
an exception of you-you, you we're
born virtuous-it is congenial-but it
is rare"
"Ah, very WELL" cried Nine. day
maret. See how you judge us. There
are no true women!-and if one is
found perchance whose fidelity is IN
questionable, it is because she is
bern thus. It. is because she has never
been subjected to temptation, to
struggles, has no merit, no nothing.
All! Heavens! but that is hard to
bear! and oh, but they are light iudg-
-uniust-cruel!"
To be continued