Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1908-01-17

The Comtesse de Moncley--who
will soon change her name, as you
shall see-is one of the most de-
licious widows imaginable. and also
one of the cleverest l have ever met
From the very first day she knew
precisely how to avoid any exag-
geration that could be considered
bad taste in the expression Of her
sorrow, without falling into the other
extreme and making those who saw
her in her widows weeds think she
must wear red satin under her Grape.
Early in April she had quietly left
her Paris apartment, where no male
visitor had set foot since her hus-
bands death. and 1t was only by acci-
dent that, week later, / discovered
the address she had so carefully
concealed from every one. It was
Sycamore Villa, Chantilly.% On the
first of May there might have been
seen to arrive at a little bit of
house, situated at a convenient dis
tence from Sycamore Villa, several
trunks, an English cart and pony. a
saddle-horse, 5ull-terrier, two SER
wants and a man bordering on thirty
That man was myself
l hasten to add that, in this cir
cumstance, acted solely at my own
risk and peril, without any authori-
cation, any right whatever, and with
no other motive than my love-my
profound loye-to prompt me to hope
that my change Of domicile would
not be dead loss. All, well-noth.
ing venture, nothing win. And what
did 1 venture2 The Salon. the May
fetes. the Grand Prix. the imob in ths
Alice des Poteaux, a few b;fiis-wia
( were they in comparison with tht
charms of a most attractive neigh
| borhood? / have known men tc
cross the seas and spend fortunes
to follow to the ends of the world
adventuresses whose whole body was
not worth the tip of Nine. de None
ley's little finger.
Clarisse's pretty anger when pre-
sented myself at her house. on the
day of my arrival. was my first de-
lightful recompense. In spite of her
grand air. I saw that she was
touched, and l doubt il ever lover
experienced so much pleasure in
being shown the door by a pretty
woman. She took her time about it,
too. and only pushed me into the
street after a regulation philippe, 10
which listened very humbly, reply
ing only SO much as was necessary to
lengthen the lecture, which conclud-
ed in these words:
"And now you will do me the ia
vor to return to Paris. The train
leaves in an hour"
AN hour." l objected, timidly.
THAT is hardly time to ship two
horses and a carriage and throw up
a lease"
What is this." she cried. "a
lease! You have presumed to-go.
sir! What audaeity! A lease, And,
If you please. where is your house?"
"A long way from here" | has
tened to reply; at the other end of
the forest. l am sure it must have
taken me fully three-quarters Of an
hour to come here.
To be precise, it had taken me
about five minutes.
ITO think" she exclaimed, what
poor woman, deprived of her pro-
tector. is exposed to- You would
not have dared to do this if my hus-
band were still alive. And to think
that he considered YOU his best
friend, Poor Charlesl"
He has never had any cause to
complain" I murmured. LET us
talk together OF him."
"Neveri"
Then let us talk of ourselves,
that will be better still."
This suggestion shocked her so
that it took me long time to calm
her Finally, she did not wish to let
lne got without having sworn never
to set foot in her house again. 1t
is needless to say that it took half
an hour to persuade ne to make this
promise-which ! broke the next
morning and as often as possible.
/ pass over the months that fol-
lowed, merely declaring that in this
vale of tears there is no more happy |
lot than that Of such an unhappy |
lover as | was. CIarisse had the /
most adorable way Of annihilatins
me with look from her blue eyes
eyes tnat were intended for quite
another purpose than annihilating-
whenever she saw that | was going
to fall on my knees before her, and
must confess she saw it at least
ten times during every visit | made
her. still la despite of her express
prohibition. And when l so far for
got myself as to tell her that. il the
intent were as good as the deed, the
late lamented ought to have heavy |
grudge against his best friend
seeing that had loved his wife mad |
ly from the very first.
mot another word" she would
say, severely; you blaspheme against
friendship Poor Charles,"
And her white. dimpIed hand /
would pitilessly stop my mouth. 50
that, IL had followed my inclina-
tion, ! would have blasphemed from
morning till night like the worst
traitor to friendship in the world.
The day she left OF crane.
profited by the occasion
enough. 1t seems to me-to pronosa
myself In set Terms as a candidate
to succeed poor charles Thai a...