Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-19
THE FIRST AND THIRD MARRIAGE.
A Canadian Romance.


lCOnctuded-I
1t is time to go back to ~ Valentin, and see
what become of the fond husband, the cOura-
geous adventurer. AT first he was almost dis
tracted at the thought of parting from Hortense,
but once the Rubicon passed he became more
calm A few years. he thought, would find
them together never to part /; and perhaps they
would be all the happier for the separation.
Full of hope he went to the gold mines of
Australia. Day by day he wrought there, en-
during hardships never heard of before, but
bearing them with the courage and fortitudc of
a hero. Ever before him was the image of
Hortense 1t neryed his arm in the rough
mines when he struck his iron into the gold
yielding soil; it soothed him when he lay,
burning with fever, in rude shanty in the
mountains. His thoughts by day and his
dreams by night were of Hortense. Not word,
however, ever reached him from her, and often
he shuddered at the fearful probabilities that
arose to his mind. Hortense might be sick
suffering might deem him dead or unlaithful );
no that could never be, she would have faith in
the sun. Come what would, she would not
be shaken in her trust. But as he lay in the
miserable shed which held his sick bed, he
would have given worlds for one glance from
her eve, one pressure Of her hand to show that
| he was not forgotten and as he watched the
stars overhead, shining through the erevices of
the low roof, he thought that If HOrtense were
dead, she would appear to him then in his
need.
The rude miners were too intent upon gain
to watch beside his bed, and many were the
long days and nights in which he lay unattend
ed. Aid came at last in the shape of child
young boy whose father is at work in the
mines, and whose mother supported herselfand
child by washing. Hours cid little Ben Cole
sit beside him, watching every movement, and
striving to give him ease or bringing water
from the spring he would bathe his fervered fore
head with his little hands. A tender nurse, in
deed, was little Ben, and on his recovery, N
Valentin made the laundress happy by pTovid-
ing for the boy.
NJ. Yalentin had been richly rewarded for his
enterprise Gold had showered in upon him in
almost fabulous profusion; and now he Sc
riously thought of returning home. Somewhat
enfeebled by his late illness, he was struck
with dismay at being again prostrated, and to
find that his disorder was the dreaded small
pox. That he lived through this was only be-
cause his constitution was so excellent that
even this enemy could could not vanquish it. He
did live, but his own mother would not have
known him, SO deeply scared and disfgured
had he become. With his first returning
strength he set out for home. Hortensel Mont
real were now the beginning and the end of
his aspirations. One thing only marred his
iov on the homeward route. Would Hortense
love the SCARED and disfgured face that looked
at him from the little glass IN his cabin Would
she endure the long shaggy beard with which he
was enabled to cover part Of the deep scars.
He had taken passage in an American vessel
bound for New York He arrived safely, and
the next hour saw him on his way to Mont
real. He bent his course to the neighborhood
where Hortense had proposed going after his
departure. He inquired everywhere for Mad
anne Valentin. No one knew her. He himself
was not recognized, even when he haunted the
old place of business. Another name, of course,
was upon the familiar door; and hither he turn
ed his steps TO see if haply some old friend of
former days might not have heard of her. Even
the name was unfamiliar, or pretended to be
and yet the person he asked was one whom he
remembered as plotting zealously to be invited
to his dinner parties.
They will remember me when they find
that 1 am rich again" said Valentin to himself,
bitterly.
He turned into by street, and saw beggar
sitting in the sunshine. 1t was the most cordial
and happy face that had met his gaze since he
came back. The man did not ask for anything
either, or show him the withered arm that hung
loosely under his coat; and hopeless as the !
question seemed, he thought he would ask it. |
As he dropped money into the ragged hat that |
lay on the ground beside the beggar, he care
lessly asked
q Can you tell me where Madame Valentin
lives now, my man I"
g used to know her when she lived in Queen |
street, was that the one %
1t was the street where NJ, Valentin's grand
house stood
She Is gone from that house, but she didn't |
forget old Jack, and many's the penny she has
gwen me since. Glad enough was | when |
heard she was married again"
. Married )" exclaimed NJ Valentin.
Bless you, sir, yes married to Mr.. Stan