The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-19

l York City.
 egulienehIS She was late. She wat
 mte 1n nee1ing her betrothed. Surely
 tha1 WIRE very grave crime indeed
 A tiny strand of hair golden brown
 kissed of the sun fell from it's fasten- ings and, tossed by the playful fingers of the breeze, quivered about pink cheek-a cheek made more than usual
 ly pink by exertion. She brushed it
 back with slender fingers. but it would not stay.
 Aunt Marguerite saw her as she came through the garden gate-the gate of fallen bricks and with the heavy, clinging vines. They were waiting for
 her there in the great, somber room her father, the priest, Aunt Marguerite and the betrothed whom she had never seen. She looked at him with the round, | wondering, curious eyes of a little child
 She looked for long moment Then she remembered herself and courtesied l profoundly, as she had been told to do. ] Her father came to her then and took her by the hand. He introduced her l formally to the man that was to be her husband.
 l 'eM. Raoul de Valette.' he said, ''I 1 have the honor to present you to my daughter, Mile. Madeleine de Va1ette.' g l M. Raoul de Valette bowed grandly. l Madeleine in watching herself almost forgot to courtesy. But then she re- membered. and so she returned his | greeting. as Aunt Marguerite had taught her. And all the while her violet eyes were round with the wonder of it all. 1 He came across to her, did NJ. Raoul | Ia Inff i7 7iS He lifted her little hand and kissed ] it, brushing it with his Iips-Aunt Mar guertte had told her nothing of this; she wondered what it might be for then he let go her hand gently. He said softly: +I trust. pnademoiselle, that it may be my happy fortune never in this life to do anything which shall displease you.''
 She was looking wonderingly at the hand that he had kissed, so she did not quite hear what it was that he said. But then she saw Aunt Mar guerite beside her. She said quickly:
 ''That is my wish also, monsieur But then she saw Aunt Marguerite's expression, and she remembered that which she had been taught. She said quickly:
 '1 mean-and, for my part, monsieur, it is my devout wish-that you shall find me obedient to your interests, so that my conduct in all respects shall ever continue to merit your consider ate approbation."
 She looked up eagerly. Aunt Mar guerite nodded. And she knew that she had said well. But she could see Father O'Mara laughing. She wonder aa Exy1v I117% 0t1 ho6 A1 wonder long, for her betrothed again was speaking.
 ''It is my profound trust, mademoi- selle," he said. that nothing may ever mar our profound accord"
 This time she remembered. She said:
 '4That is my wish also. monsieur" She looked up at Aunt Marguerite. els it all over now?' she queried.
 Then she almost bit her lip, for Aunt Marguerite 'sshed" so suddenly. and there was on her face such an expres- sion of horror! But Father O'Mara was before her now. his broad. sun browned hands extended to take hers. She placed her own therein.
 My dear." he said. ''let me be the first not of your ia nlily to wish you all the joy in the world. On my soul. you deserve everything that the bless ed angels do.''
 She queried wondeRingIy.
 Does marriage bring all that. fa- ther?"
 The good priest turned to M. Raoul de Valette.
 Neither a jewel nor a flower, sir.'' he said. "We were both wrong. A little white butterfly, she is-a little white butterfly
 "Oh, Father O'Mara," she cried ea- gerly, 'I caught that big one-the one that had red and gold on it's wings but let him go. That was better for him, wasn't it?''
 ''To be sure it was," he returned very seriously. Then her father came and kissed her on the forehead. He and Father O'Mara left her with Aunt Marguerite and with her be- trothed
 M. Raoul de Valette brought her a chair He brought one for Aunt Mar guerite. too. tad then for himself. And they all sat down. She watched him interestedly him. that is, un-' til Aunt Marguerite whispered in her ear. Cast your eyes downp' And then, of course. she had to look at the floor.
 At length she heard M Raoul de Valette speak to her He said:
 Doubtless you have heen informed ! mademoiselle, that this very day your honored father will decide the date upon which 1 achieve the greatest fe- licity of my life.''
 She looked m arflnSsIv