The Two Vanrevels

e, too, instead of solemnly gliding about; in that mellow time so long ago, when the young were romantic and summer was

sters. In her left hand she clutched a small lace handkerchief, with which she now and then touched her eyes, brimmed with the parting from Sister Cecilia, Sister Mary Bazilede, the old stone steps and all the girls: but for every time that she lifted the dainty kerchief to brush away the edge of a tear, she took a deep breath of th

glimpse of a gray skirt behind a mound of flowers, and of a charming face with parted lips and dark eyes beneath the scuttle of an enormous bonnet. It happened-perhaps it is more accurate to say that Tom thought it happened-that she was just clearing away her veil when he turned to look. She blushed suddenly, so much was not to be mistaken; and the eyes that met his were remarkable for other reasons than the sheer loveliness of them, in that, even in the one flash of them he

which, describing a brief arc, remained poised half-way in its descent. There was only that one

expression, like his cane, instantaneously arrested. With such promptitude and finish was he disposed of, that, had Miss Carewe been aware of his name and the conditi

been three-quarters of an hour later when the background of the picture became vivid to him: a carefully dressed gentleman with heavy brows and a handsome high nose, who sat stiffly upright beside the girl, his very bright eyes quite as conscious of the stricke

nt of this realization occurring as he sat making a poor pretence to eat his evening meal at the "Rouen House," he dropped his fork rattling upon his plate and leane

ew in town?" asked Cummi

y, for he had seen what

d was with her at St. Mary's until last year and Fancho

with masterly indiffere

ly, returning to the discussion of his bass. "The old vil

proud of its age and its riches, and bitter in its politics, of course. The French had built a fort there, soon after LaSalle's last voyage, and, as Crailey Gray said, had settled the place, and had then been settled themselves by the pioneer militia. After the Revolution, Carolinians and Virginians had come, by way of Tennessee and Kentucky; while the adventurous countrymen from Connecticu

Carewe's; the warehouses that stood by the river, and the line of packets which plied upon it, were his; half the town was his, and in Rouen this meant that he was possessed of the Middle Justice, the High and the Low. His mother was a Frenchwoman, and, in those days, when to go abroad was a ponderous and venturesome undertaking, the fact that he had spent most of his youth in the French capital wrought a certain glamour about him; for to the American, Paris was Europe, and it lay shimmering on the far horizon of every imagination, a golden city. Scarce a drawing-room in Rouen lacked its fears

er, subscription to this opinion should not be over-hasty, since Mr. Crailey Gray had been notoriously a rival of Carewe's with every pretty woman in town, both having the same eye in such matters, and also because the slandered gentleman could assume a manner when he chose to, whether or not he possessed it. At his own table he exhaled a hosp

ck shrubberies. A long garden, fair with roses and hollyhocks, lay outside the library windows, an old-time garden, with fine gravel paths and green arbors; drowsed over in summer-time

e turtle was hea

g it) lived in a perpetual bath from a green goblet held over his head. Nearby, a stone sun-dial gleamed against

pursue her tasks with diligence), but the open windows disclosing a world all sunshine and green leaves, she threw the book aside with a good conscience, and danced out to the garden. There, coming upon a fuzzy, white ball rolling into

smooth-shaven, his eyes keen, deep-set, and thoughtful, and his high white hat, white satin cravat, and careful collar, were evidence of an elaboration of toilet somewhat unusual in Rouen for the morning; also, he was carrying a pair of white gloves in his hand and dangled a slend

st as Miss Carewe, flushed and glowing, ran into the street-the small animal doubled, evaded Miss Betty's frantic clutch, re-entered the gateway, and attempted a

he caught the cat. He emerged from the lilacs holding it in one hand, his gloves and white hat in the othe

hat she, too, knew that this was the second time their eyes had met. Naturally, at that time he could not know how many other gentlemen were to feel that same thrill (in their cases, also, delirious, no less) with the same, accom

d, "Permit me, madam," he said solemnly, off

; two frantic claws, extended, drew one long red mark across the stranger's wrist and another down the back of his hand to the knuckles. They were good, hearty scratches

old them," he observed, "is

with the richness and sweetness of it. Catching the kitten from him, she dropped it to the

't want it

les in the bush," he said boldly, and lau

rted back from him. From the convent but yesterd

in a brief embrace, to the relief of the latter's confusion. It was Fanchon Bareaud, now two years emancipated from St. Mary's, and far gone in taffeta. With her lustreful light hair, absent blue eyes, and her gentle voic

d kiss when a man is by; in the present in

u were just coming to see me, weren't yo

y immediately." She threw a glance at the gentleman, which let him know that she now comprehended his gloves, an

y much why he was not presented to her, "won't you wait an

h the look of a lame dog at Miss Bareaud. "I

mazement was complete when Fanchon, without more words, cavalierly seized the gentleman's arm and moved toward the street with him as rapidly as his perceptible reluctance to leave permitted. But at the gate Miss Bareaud

wonder. She compressed her lips tightly: "Errand!" This was the f

now seen perambulating; she pressed down a loose branch, and called in a t

ut some salve

ust missed being too

ow, made his speech with so palpable a gasp before the last word th

tty dis

on their way, each preserving an uneasy silence, until at her own door, she turned sharply upon him. "Tom Vanrevel, I though

resent me to her?

llantry might prefer not to face a

oo

to what I owe the pleasure of a stroll with you this morning, and your casual insistence on the shadiness of Carewe Street!" He laughed nervously, but her smile vanished, and she continued, "Keep away, Tom. She is beaut

om he told everything, and from whom he had no secrets. He spent the noon hour in feeble attempts to describe to Crailey Gray the outward appearance of Miss Elizabeth Carewe; how she ran like a young Diana; wha