Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-22
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"And in excellent health, except that
she is subject now and then to nervous
attacks, having evidently, as l believe.
been struck with some dreadful fright
most likely during that accursed time
of the Terror, for they came from Paris
you don't drink, honest man! Why
don't you drink? Very, very pretty IN
{ pale way; figure perhaps too thin
| Let me pour it out for you-but an anger
of gent1eness, and attached in such a
touching way to the citizen Maurice
Citizen hostess! will you, or will you
not, tell me where they live?"
"You droll little man! why did you
| to know? Finish your wine and come
| to the door. There's your change, ana
thank you for your custom, though IL
| isn't much. Come to the door, l say,
and don't interrupt me! You're an ol3
man-can you see forty yards before
you Yes, you can! Don't be peev1sh;
that never did anybody any good yet.
Now look back along the road where l
am pointing. You see large heap OF
stones? On the other side OF the heap
of stones there is a little path-you
can't see that, but you can remember
what I tell you? Good, You go down
the path till you get to stream; down
the stream till you get to brldge'
down the other bank of the stream
latter crossing the bridge) till you get
to an old water-mill-a jewel of water
mill! famous for miles around; artists
from the four quarters of the globe are
always coming to sketch 1t! An! what
you are getting peevish again! You
won't wait? Impatient old man. what
Ia life your wife must lead. II you nave
got onei Remember the bridge! An!
your poor wife and children. l pity
them, your daughters especially. fst.
psf! Remember the bridge-peevlsh
old man, remember the bridge"
Walking as fast as he could out OF
hearing of the Widow Duval's tongue,
Lomaque took the path by the heap OF
stones which led out to the high road,
crossed the stream, and arrived at the
old water-mill Close by it stood cot
tage-a rough, simple building, with a
strip of garden in front. Lomaques
observant eyes marked the graceful ar
rangement of the flower beds, and the
delicate whiteness of the curtains that
hung behind the badly-glaZed mario"
windows. "This must be the place.
he said to himself, as he knocked at
the door with his stick. Il can see the
traces of her hand before I cross the
threshold"
The door opened pray, does the
citizen Maurice"-Lomaque began, not
seeing clearly, for the first moment III
the dark little passage.
Before he could say any more MS
hand was grasped, his carpet bag was
taken from him, and a Well-knoWn
voice cried: Welcome! a thousand
times welcome at last! Citizen Maurice
is not at home; but Louis Trudalne
takes his place, and is oVerjoyed to see
once more the best and dearest OF his
friends"
81 hardly know you again! How you
are altered for the better!' exclaimed
Lomauue, as they entered the parlor OF
the cottage.
Remember that you see me after
long freedom from anxiety. Since
have lived here, l have gone to rest at
night. and have not been afraid OF the
morning" replied Trudaine. He went
out into the passage while he spoke,
and called at the foot of the one flight
of stairs which the cottage possessed,
Crosse! Rose! come down! The friend
whom YOU most wished to see has ar
rived at last.
She answered the summons imme-
ciately. The frank friendly warmth of
her greeting; her resolute determina-
ton. after the first inquiries were over,
to help the guest to take off his upper
coat with her own hands, so confused
and delighted Lonaque, that he hard
" knew which way to turn, or what to
say.
This is even more trying, in pleas
ant way, to lonely old fellow like me"
he was about to add, than the un-
expected civility of the hot cup of coffee
years ago. but remembering what
recollections even that trif1ing circum-
stance might recall, he checked him
self.
More trying than what?" ASKED
Rose, leading him to a chair.
"Ah! l forget. am in a dotage al
ready" he answered, confusedly. II
have not got used just yet to the pleas
ure of seeing your kind face again.