Middletown transcript., 1912-10-05
CHAPTER XVII.
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''You are in a hurry, Monsieur Bep-
po?" arms akimbo, Nanette, standing
in an embrasure of the rampant, called
out to the Governors man as he
passed by.
"Ah. Mistress Nanette," Beppo
stopped readily enough, Il didn't see
you at first"
Because you have more important
matters to think Of" she laughed,
showing her strong white teeth.
The fat old man looked pleased; a
few days before, Nanette had flashed
a radiant smile at him from her case
ment, and, ever since, he had been
inclined to regard her with favor.
mot more important, but duties that
must be attended to! The wedding
hour draws near" The island girl
half turned her head; a shadow
seemed to pass over the bold, sun
burned features. "And her ladyshlp
gives tomorrow a riding party for her
guests last celebration before she
is led to the altar. 1 am on my way
now to arrange about the escort"
"a riding party!" Nanette spoke
quickly. "You mean on horseback? %
"How else?" said Beppo. 'It is a
pastime her ladyship has always been
very fond of, even as a child. In
those days." not without an accent Of
selfimportance, at was my privi-
lege-"
"Do they ride far?" interrupted
Nanette with Unsurpassed eager
ness.
ITO the old Monastery st. Ra-
nulphe; an imposing ruin of tenth
century architecture, my DEAR" he
added pompously.
"And where is it?"
"On the Paris highway, some ten
miles from the Mount"
"Ten miles? And the country iB
beautiful? Not open; sandy, like the
shore?"
''It partakes of rugged grandeur" !"
with forests around?" quickly.
eyes," indulgently. "You like for
ests, Mistress Nanette?"
when they are thick and wild"
'Then would you like these!"
The girl asked no further ques-
tions; yet still Beppo fingered, his
glance seeming loath to withdraw
from this exuberant specimen Of Wig
orous young womanhood. (Which
way were you going, good Mistress
Nanette?" he asked finally. "On sec
ond thoughts, I have a little time to
spare and will walk along"
Nanette looked down from the ram
part toward the sands and the shore,
did not answer, and, more insinuating-
ly, Beppo repeated his proposal. Nan
cite started.
'La, Monsieur Beppo! I'm afraid
it wouldn't do. There's my aunt"
tossing her head, ''that careful Of me!
Won't even let me go walking on the
beach alone! Do you ever go walking
on the beach, Monsieur Beppo?" she
inquired suddenly, regarding him with
an eloquent look.
'I-it has not been my CUSTOM" he
murmured. But" the fishy eyes
growing brighter, with you-if I
might accompany you"
ooh, I didn't mean that! Oh; no!
OF course not! And 1 couldn't think
of it. Ny aunt"
But when few moments later, she
turned, to walk quickly away, the
round and shining face Of Beppo,
watching her disappear, wore not the
look Of man who had allowed him
self to be rebunfed.
Out Of his sight, Nanette's express
sion changed to one Of somber
thoughtfulness; it fingered as she en-
tered the palace, with free swing,
mounted the steps to her mistress
apartments; was still there, when she
took a bit Of embroidery from a table
and seated herself at the window Of
an antechamber, bent over her task.
Soon, however, she stopped, to sweep
abruptly cloth and colored silks from