"Who is this man, Fifine?" De Maistre asked nervously. "Is he from the village?"
"I know not, _mon pere_," she answered, trying to be calm, and then to the surprise of all, a loud laugh echoed in the evening air, and the voice of the truant parrot called out from the cage above their heads.
"Ha, ha, ha! he kissed her in the wood, Fifine, give Poll his cracker, polly wants a cracker." The girl"s face was dyed with scarlet--and the young man"s eyes looked daggers at the mischievous bird. There was an awkward silence for a moment and then "Bijou" with characteristic diplomacy exclaimed:
"What an amusing bird, he speaks uncommonly well, though his words are not very appropriate, certainly."
A shadow pa.s.sed over the face of the blind listener, a momentary pang shot through his breast, he clasped his hands convulsively, then turning to the stranger he said in a steady voice:
"Never mind the bird, he says queer things at times. Sir, I grant you the permission you come to seek, my gardener, Preston, will await you at whatever time you appoint, and conduct you through. Good-evening, Sir."
Taking this for dismissal, "Bijou" raised his hat, slightly pressed the hand of the beautiful Fifine, and the next moment he was gone.
A strange and awkward silence followed his departure. Much might have been said on such an unusual occurrence as this, yet neither chose to speak.
At last the evening sun as though weary of the quiet scene, gathered all his truant rays out of the tree tops and from the purple mountain summit, and sunk to rest behind the sombre clouds that twilight spread across the sky. Then Fifine who longed to be alone, kissed her father good-night and retired to her own little room, after telling the servant to light a lamp and take her father to his chamber.
The story of Fifine de Maistre"s life, from the time of her adventure in the wood, until six months after, would be to the unsympathetic, the most monotonous series of details imaginable. There is no bore like a man or woman who is in love, to those whose precious privilege it never can be, to be guilty of such a natural offence. A man never tires of any one so quickly as he does of some fellow who is "mashed," and girls who are not engaged never count her who is, as strictly one of themselves.
This therefore may be const.i.tuted as a plea for refraining to dwell upon the time so laden with exquisite joy to Josephine de Maistre, the time that made up the days and nights of this period of her life at Sleepy Cottage. She had worked out such fallacious reasonings as justified her in the end, in holding clandestine meetings with her romantic lover, and so, each night when she had finished reading to her father, she stole quietly away to the rustic gate, at the end of the shrubbery, there to lend a willing ear to protestations of love and devotion, from the lips upon whose threshhold she knew, hung the words of her future destiny.
Things had gone thus far, when one night, Fifine in her old humor, was grumbling against the loneliness of her existence, and giving expression to her discontent in most touching terms. Her chivalrous adorer looked the picture of intense sympathy, as he lay stretched in the long gra.s.s at her feet.
"Fifine," said he, and something in his voice and eyes thrilled her to the very heart, "my darling, your words are loaded with pain for me; why do you grumble who should be happy amidst these surroundings. If your life were as blank and prospectless as mine, you might have good reason indeed to sigh and complain. You see, a man has to rough it with body and soul. It"s not so hard to keep our bodies up, but the task is for the heart. Men should have no hearts, or else some one to love them always and well. I could gather so much courage in a worthy love."
The girl, poor simple child, was touched. She drew nearer to Bijou whose handsome head lay nestling against the rustic bench where she was sitting. He was watching the quick, nervous heaving of her breast, and he could see a slight tremor in the well-curved lip. She fell upon her knees before him, and as she spoke, two large round tears flowed over her pretty checks.
"But Bijou, do you not know that I love you as worthily as I know how, that life with you is all the world to me, and without you it is a miserable blank."
Then she laid her bowed head on his shoulder, and sobbed convulsively.
There was a curious expression in the man"s face, as he raised the girl and made her sit beside him. Then taking both her hands in his, he said, in a low tone--
"Fifine, I was only waiting those words from your lips. They fill my vacant life with sweet and pleasant dreams, but in our case, as in all others, "the course of love can not run smoothly." You see I gave up my college course after I had met you, and since that time I have been thrown on the world"s mercy, almost a penniless waif. I have no wealth to offer you, no luxury of any kind, no abundance, but love and devotion, and that cannot satisfy you."
"O Bijou!" the girl cried out in a pa.s.sionate tone, "you wrong me, you do indeed. Give me your full heart and your empty hands. I am rich in the world"s wealth, let me share it with you; give me that abundance of love you speak of, and I will be--Oh! so satisfied!"
A sinister smile pa.s.sed over the averted face of the stranger, but the next moment, his arm stole around the slender waist, and raising the tear-stained face to his own, he pressed a long lingering kiss on the warm lips.
"If you will have it so," he said, "my love makes me selfish enough to comply, we can make each other happy by following such a course, is that not enough? If I had sufficient means at my disposal, I could complete all arrangements immediately, and there would be no further suspense for either of us."
"But, Bijou, see how fortune has favored us. Last Tuesday was my birthday, and papa, to reconcile me to my fate, gave me a cheque for my whole dowry, which I was not to have had for two years more. You can see how circ.u.mstances favor our attachment."
"It looks like it darling; I hope we are doing the right thing," and his voice implied a painful sense of conscientiousness.
Before parting they agreed to meet once more. Fifine persisted in offering her wealth, and Bijou did not decline. She might bring him the cheque at their next meeting and trust to his fond affection for the rest. He then bade her a tender farewell, and as she watched his departing footsteps, she was delighted when he turned a last time, sajing gayly, "_Au revoir, ma pet.i.te, a demain._" Then he disappeared in a bend of the road, and she walked slowly back to the house, lost in the delicious labyrinths of loves young dream.
CHAPTER XXIII.
"Oh, Love" before thy glowing shrine My early vows were paid-- My hopes, my dreams, my heart was thine But these are now decayed."
--_Byron_
It was a dark, heavy evening in midsummer. Great volumes of leaden gray clouds were piling one over the other in the sulky sky, the air was laden with an unshed moisture, and a threatening breeze rustled through the dry, dusty leaves of the crowded elms. There was an unnatural stillness in Nature--everything looked drowsy and tired, the boughs swayed and nodded, and the flowers hung their sleepy heads like worn-out midnight watchers.
Fifine had hoped madly for the storm to keep off, and now as her fleet steps brought her nearer the rendezvous at the end of the avenue, her heart misgave her, and an indescribable feeling of awe, that had something of a dread presentiment in it, filled her very soul. She pressed the cherished gift for her lover close against her heaving breast, and when she reached the shady nook where they were accustomed to meet, her breath was coming in wild gasps, and her eyes were dilated far beyond their natural size. She was a little too soon, but in her anxiety, watchmg the clouds, the moments sped quickly by, until the arrival of the man she so madly adored.
He could not restrain a look of admiration as his eyes rested on her dark beauty. She had put on her daintiest bonnet, with cardinal ribbons tied under her chin, and a bunch of crushed camellias of the same becoming hue nestled against her sh.e.l.l-like ear. A light cashmere overdress surmounted a petticoat of crimson velvet, and tiny jewels were fastened at her ears and throat. The flush of excitement that mantled her fair young face, lent an additional charm to her countenance, as she looked into her lover"s face with all the eagei joy and confidence that filled her heart.
Bijou looked a little more serious than usual, as he knocked the ashes from the end of his cigar.
"_Ma foi_, you are enchanting to-night, Josephine," said he by way of greeting, "but as it looks like a storm, we must make business brisk. I have come to-night, Fifine," he said, taking her hand, "to ask a proof of the words you I uttered last night. I want you to show me bravely that you do think a little of me."
"Only say the word, Bijou. Anything that is in my power. I will do it--anything that is not her voice faltered.
"Is not what?" he asked very tenderly, bending over her, and then she regretted having doubted him. How could _he_ ask her anything that was not right? Poor Fifine.
"Never mind," she stammered, "I will do anything I can to prove the truth of last nights words."
"Darling" was the muttered answer "Come here, Fifine, nearer to me, I have something to show to your eyes alone--something that has no real worth at present, but I which will be a sacred thing in a little while."
Fifine, her eyes open wide, and a curious expression of wonder in her face, bent over his broad shoulder. She saw nestling in its bed of ruby velvet, a plain gold band, tiny as her slender finger, but rich and heavy.
She was slow to understand this silent surprise, and only said in a girlish way,
"How lovely it is."
Then Bijou looked earnestly at her, and his voice was almost mournful as he said.
"If it is beautiful as it lies there in its folds of velvet, meaningless and comparatively useless, what would it be, do you think, were it a bond of union between two kindred souls--if it laid the duties of love, honor and submission on one, those of love, respect and kindness on the other, if it were the outward sign of a man"s intense devotion and the safeguard of a woman"s honor, if it was a love that bound two creatures to each other first, and then to their Creator--what then, Fifine?"
"Oh, Bijou "" she cried, "you excite me with such grave speeches. If it were all these things it would indeed be sacred."
"Come, Fifine, you have said you will do my wish; let me place this golden band upon your ringer, and insure you to me for the days to come."
What sensational story she had ever read could equal this? Was ever any thing so purely romantic or exalted? In that moment all the dreary days of her lonely life seemed blotted out by the exquisite realization of a new happiness that was stealing over her. But still, there was an inward struggle in her soul. Thoughts of her father"s wrath thrust themselves between her and her gratification. She lifted up her hands in fear, and said in a hushed voice.
"Bijou, I do indeed love you, but _this_ I dare not do, _this_ is too much. It is all so sudden, so soon." She recoiled a little as she spoke, and his face darkened ominously.
"Then your words were false!" he said in a cold, cruel voice, "and since you have deceived me I will ask nothing more. I did not deserve this from you, but we part in time."
He stood proudly up and prepared to leave. There was a struggle in the breast of his victim--that he could see. In another moment she was close beside him.
"Do not go, Bijou," she said piteously, "after you have taught me to love you as I do, oh! do not leave Fifine. Tell me what you wish, my Bijou I am ready to do your will."
There was an unpleasant smile of triumph stealing over his handsome mouth. He stretched forth his hand, and took her trembling one in his.