Year: 1878

III" SOA-0 S1SA AuUO SCCluSlOu SsOAAS
back to the little cottage in which she
had dwelt ever since her dear husbands
death. She would not be able to 60 for
ward by the tidal train, she told me, hav-
ing business call to make in Calais. She
would go forward by the evening train.


All this was told me with charming
fankness. There was no reason why l
should not wait and go forward with her
by the evening traiR-if she would only
allow me to do so. When l threw out
hint to that effect, she offered no objeo-
ton. She admitted at once that she was
fond of society, and then she looked at
me, and-well, [ could almost have sworn
that she blushed. had already told her
that l was bound to Paris on a special
errand for my father; but I had not said
q word about the ring, nor had she even
seen it. 1 had put on my gloves before
leaving the train at Dover, and I still
wore them. A little while longer and we
found ourselves at Calais. When we
landed, madame admitted that she was
hungry, and that luncheon would be
desirable feature of the programme. AZ
cordingly, while she went about her busi-
ness, l took Uoiture and drove to the
Hotel Dessin. There, in the course of
half an hour, madame joined me.


Now, one can't very well partake of
luncheon in kid gloves. The question
was whether 1 should partake of mine
with the ring on my finger, or whether 1
should put it carefully away in the box
and hide it out of sight IF you have
any knowledge of what human nature is
at q, especially when there's a pretty
woman in the case, you viii know the
decision I arrived at.


Madame pecked little at this and
that, but hardly ate more than spar
row might have done, How swiftly the
minutes seemed to fly! I could have
fingered on in that coy little room for
year. When the cloth was lrawn and
we were left to ourselves, with bottle
of hook on the table between us, some
how our chairs seemed to gravitate
toward each other. Or perhaps it was
the stove that attracted US, for the after
noon was chilly. In any case, we found
ourselves in closer proximity. Then said
madame, "Do you not smoke, mon
sieur?" "Yes, considerably more than
is good for me, I'm afraid" "Then
smoke now. 0blige me. 1 like to see a
gentleman smoke" I rose IL order to
get my cigar-case out of the pocket of
my overcoat. Madame laid her hand
lightly on my armand what a charm
ing hand 1t was "Tenez. 1 am going
to make a confession" she said. "I
smoke toO-moi. Cigarettes. 1 lived
for several years in Spain, where nearly
all the ladies smoke. You are not
shocked, hope, at the idea of lady
smoking cigarette2"


"Shocked, madam"


"No, of course not. You are too
much a man of the world. You are
above such insular prejudices. Eh 6ien,
you shall smoke one of my cigarettes. "
From the sachet by her side she drew an
embroidered case, which she opened, and
babe me choose a cigarette. l did so,
and she took another. Then with her
own fair fingers she struck an GLlitmette,
and held it while 1 lighted the weed
Then she lighted her own. She could
not fail to see my ring as she lighted the
match.


81 dare say you find the favor little
peculiar" said madam, minute or two
later. "These cigarettes are made Of per
fumed tobacco. l never smoke any
others. hope you don't findyours very
disagreeable."


"On the contrary, madame, 1 am quite
in love with it. As you say, the flavor
IS slightly peculiar, but aromatic and
pleasant-very pleasant" To tell the
truth. I didn't like it at all, but wouldn't
have said so for worlds.


Wesmoked on in silence. What would
this superb creature say to me, I wondered,
if [ were to tell her how madly l had
fallen in love with her2 Would she re-
ject me with scOrn, or would she !
gave sudden start, and was shocked to
find that I had been falling asleep.
Fortunately madame had not noticed me.
Her large melancholy eyes were bent upon
the stove There was certainly some
thing very soothing, something that IN
clined to slumber and happy dreams,
about madame's peculiar cigarettes. 1t |
had but two thousand a year now, and
.thls sweet creature to share it with me,
how happy could l bel Certainly she
must have been some six or seven years
older than myself. but never was one to
care for your chits of schoolgirls, who set
up for being women before they are out
Of their teens. Here was an angel who
had been left desolate, who had been cast
on bleak and unfeeling world, who pined
for heart and home-for heart
brimmed over with love. Gracious good
ness 1 had heart that yearned toward
her-that-that-Why-eh-hOw was
thisP And where was I?


I awoke with shiver. But for the
lamp in the courtyard the room would
have been quite dark. My head was
aching frightfully. 1 got up and stag
gered to the window. When l looked
out and saw the familiar courtyard, every
thing came back to me like fash of
light, Where was madame? Why had
slept so long2 What a boOr she must
take me to bel 1 groped for the bell,
and rang it violently. Up came the waiter
with a candle. @Where is madame !?
demanded. Madame" he answered,
@went out nearly three hours ago, say
ing that she wanted to make few pur-
cbases, and would be back in a little while.
On no account, she said, was her brother,
who had suffered terribly from mai de
mer in crossing, to be disturbed. Ma
dame," he added, has notyet returned"


Gone three hours agoI Her brother
Nal de ner! What could it all mean?
As l sat down, utterly bewildered, my
arm pressed against the little box in my
pocket. Mechanically 1 glanced at my
finger The ring was no longer there
My heart turned sick within me. l
sank down and buried ny face within
my hands. The waiter thought 1 was
i'll, and ran to fetch some cognac. 1
saw it all now. Fool-fool that l was.
II