The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-04-02
q r a n v i IL e


= nor been so preoccupied he would doub
g less have enjoyed it. There are som
dinners money will not purchase.
e We are to have no cards, | believe,
said the broker; that is the edict tc
e night, is il not?"
Yes replied the vicomtesse. eve ar
! to have for once a quiet evening. | hop
you will manage to amuse yourself
There is Madame Froizart she will sin
you something doubtless, if you ask"
: "And you, madame?"
"Oh for me, | have reserved specia
treat for myself. | am going to show
Monsieur Lazare my Conservatives
while he tells me something about peas
ant life in the Swiss mountains"
VI. Lazare wandered under the palms
in the conservatory. 1t was but dimly
lighted. A few co!ored lamps alone were
suspended from the glass roof of the spa
cious building, so spacious indeed that in
winter it appeared as a garden, covered
with glass and so heated as to protect
the rare collection of plants and flowers
from the killing frosts.
There were little paths running here
and there. The vicomtesse led her guest
along one which took them to the very
center Of the building, where some lofty
palms reared their heads under the great
| glass dome. There was rustic bench
facing the FLASHING waters of the foun-
tain and sheltered from observation by a
thick growth.
She began by defense Of the vlcomte
| Her manner was the well-brcd one of a
woman thoroughly accustomed to meet
men Of all ages and dispositions, of all
minds and temperaments.
Monsieur de Valiar has gone to play
cards, ! feel convinced" she said, look
ing at Cassagne with her soft, liquid
eyes, "let us sit here and talk, you and
|. Do you know, it is rare thing for
me to have quiet evening. Don't think
my husband discourteous He has some
peculiar ways. He thinks he has dis
charged much of his duty as host when
he has given his guests good dinner,
and then everybody in this house feels
so much at home. The world has treated
you very nicely" she continued, "has it
not? My husband tells me you have
done wonderfully well, and you are not
yet forty, | should judge. Why don't
you go into politics and make a great
name? | think if | had been a man !
should have done so. You should have
me talk to your friend Monsieur DAu-
buron."
You think Monsieur D'Auburon has a |
career before him."
The vicomtesse laughed very merrily |
indeed
"A career-your friend Monsieur
D'Auburon. Why, no, he is far too lazy.
That is why we have had such interest
ing conversations. | have kept urging
upon him the necessity for exertion. He
maintains that work of any kind will
kill him."
And yet when he visited me In Swift
zerland he was the most indefatigable
Of climbers / had hard work to keep
up with him, l can tell you"
81 thought Monsieur D'Auburon had
never been in Switzerland. At any rate
know he says he detests mountains"
'Our friend possesses the rare merit
If being modest. Ask him about Chamou-
Xix and the Matterhorn when you next
zee him. He can tell you a few stories
which would surprise you. But let US
ak of more immediate things, madame
t1onsieur D'Auburon is not in Partisan
ociety, AMI just now | am particularly
in Partisan society. Your own
ircle, for instance. You seem to have
rawn around you some charming people
the Colbert Remplins, for Instance" :
you like them?"
"Yes: the husband is so well inform
ii don't mean merely on matters Of G
nance, but on all topics. ! was greatly Z
lterested in what he was talking about
lring dinDer-the dissolution of your /
.cond empire. By the way, what an 4
cal lady of the court his wife, with her ?
hite hair and aristocratic features I
ould have made under the Third Napo 4
on" \
do you admire her?' n
"Greatly-in a way. Is she not a s.
oman with history? She looks like
The words were spoken so quietly and fl
turally, that though she started with 81
rprise at the directness of the ques- HI
IN, the vicomtesse could not possibly V
ubt her guests good faith in putting 1t. L
Yes" she replied, "she has his
~" Sc
II thought | was right. | am a read &C
OIL ldNtS III way. II 4 mad IL
en- asked, l should have said, looking III
her, There is one who has suffered for ar
bition's sake"
The vicomtesse turned around on the nj
lch, with half smile parting her hi
ely lips, and said: an
Really, Monsieur Lazare, in addition IN
your attachments as mountaineers you ac
ISIS gentlemen seem TO count that of ve
nd reading. Do you know what you an
comes remarkably near the TRUTH" az
Then lowering her voice, and first look
cautiously around, she added at Is an
generally known, but 1t can do no co,
m to tell you, who have guessed so n,
r the mark--but Madame Remplin 90,
rifced her heart to her ambitions %
4 know what | mean; you are a man bo,
the world, monsieur. There was an
ng man, with nothing but his profes-
/, whom she adored, of course. There tbe
a middle-aged man with a fortune, !
,m she tolerated at first, for the sake
the position he gave her and learned oil
like afterward, as all we poor crea- nm,
Is do" Co.
l understand What became Of the !
ng man?"
He was foolish. He became dissipat- s+o
He drifted away, and went to the COO
:. He fell SO low, that | understand \
L = Z