Year: 1877

She had been staying with Sir Hen
! ~ Fitz Evans, who had charge O
her late husbands interests in Eng
land. She was now going back in
to seclusion-going back to the little
cottage in which she had dwelt ever
since her dear husbands death
She would not be able to go forward
by the tidal train, she told me, hav'
ing q business call to make in Calais
She would go forward by the evening
train.


All this was told to me with charm
ing frankness. There was no reason
why I should not wait and 90 for.
ward with her Oh the evening train
If she would only allow me to dc
so. When l threw out hint to that
effect she offered no objection. She
admitted at once that she was fond
of society, and then she looked at
me and-well, and 1 could almost
have sworn that she plushed. I had
already told her that I was bound
for Paris on special errand for my
father; but l had not said word
about the ring, nor had she seen it,
1 had put on my gloves Before leaving
Dover, and still wore them. A little
while longer and we found ourselves
at Calais.


When we landed, madame ad-
mitted that she was hungry, and .hat
luncheon would be desirabl. fea-
ture of the programme. According
lv, while she went about her busi-
ness, took a roiure and drove to
the Hotel Dessin. There, in the
course of half IN hour, madame
joined me.


Now, one can't very we'll partake
of luncheon in kid gloves. The
question was whether I should par
take of mine with the ring on my
finger, or whether I 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 twenty-one, especially when
there's pretty woman in the case,
you will know the decision l arrived
at.


Madame recked little at this and
that, but hardly ate more than a
sparrow might have done. How
swiftly the minutes seemed to fly!
I could have fingered on in that
cosy little room for year. When
the cloth was drawn and we were
left to ourselves, with a bottle of
hook on the table between us, some
how our chairs seemed to gravitate
towards each other. Or perhaps it
was the stove that attracted US, for
the afternoon was chilly. In any
case we found ourselves in close
proximity. Then said madam, "Do
you not smoke, monsieur?" eyes,
considerably more than is good for
me, 1 am afraid" "Then smoke
now. Oblige me. I like to see
gentleman smoke" rose in order
to get my cigar-cass out of the pocket
of my over-coat. Madame laid her
hand lightly on my armand what
charming hand it was! "7enez.
I am going to make 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, I
hope, at the idea of lady smoking
cisarette?"


Shocked. madame -


81 No, of course not. You are too
much of q man of the world. You
are above such insular prejudices.
Eibien, you shall smoke one of my
cigarettes. From tho sachel by her
side she drew an embroidered case,
which she opened and bade me
choose a cigarette. did 80, and
she took another. Then with her
own fair fingers she struck an allu-
meae, and held it while I lighted tho
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 flavor q
little peculiar" said madame min
ute or two later. ''These cigarettes
are made of perfumed tobacco. I
never smoke any others. I hope
you do not find yours very disagree
able"


son the contrary, madame, l am
quito in love with it. As you say,
the flavor is slightly peculiar, but
aromatic and pleasant-very pleas
ant" To toll the truth, I didn't like
it at all, but I wouldn't have said
so for worlds.


We smoked on in silence. What
would this superb creature say of
me, I wondered, if I were to tell her
how madly I had fallen in love with
her? Would she reject me with
scorn, or would She I gave q
sudden start, and was shocked to
find that had been falling asleep.
Fortunately madame had not noticed
me. Her large and melancholy eyes
were bent upon the stove. There
was certainly something very sooth-
l.