The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-11

in a dead swoon.
Loudly she called for help, for Louise's fa-
Their. Help came, but M. de Noret, had left
Avoul one day only to account for his alb
sence. 1t was contained in a note addressed
to Louise, and was merely,
Hope Your FATHER"
They laid Louise, still insensible, on her
bed, and the distracted mother gazed with
the anguish Of remorse and despair on her
Meantime, M.-de Noret had taken the rail-
way to Tours. He has reached the city he
goes to the Usurline Convent 1t is there
that Nine de Noret had taken up her abode
He has not long to wait in the still, solemn
parlor; his wife enters the ROOM She is
tall, stern woman; still handsome, and she
greets him coldly, but without anger in her
voice or manner.
Madame" said M. de Noret, "years have
passed since we met; | have broken my
vows, outraged your feelings-yet dare
think there is generosity in your soul to help
me to atone for my sin, to help me to ward
off its punishment from an innocent head.
have daughter"
"She has no State nor name. | cannot
give her one; the laws, as long as you live,
forbid my adopting her, She is beautiful, in
the spring of life and life's illusions; her
heart is given to one worthy of her, but the
secret of her birth must forever. separate her
from the man she loves, the man who was to
be her husband"
IN. de Noret, husband said his wife,
"I have learned here in these years of soli-
tude that | was harsh and stern; that, per-
haps, had been otherwise, you would never
have left me. We have both erred. We can
both atone. I will recognize your child as
mine, as ours perhaps then she may some
times think of me in my gloomy solitude, and
there will be some one to weep tears of graft
tude, if not of love, over my grave"
g You will do this?"
"On one condition: Louise our child, cam
not have two mothers let the atonement of
the woman who wronged me be the sacrifice
of her child" -
"Noblest of women"
eve mistook life, mstook each other we
will be in heart reunited in the love of this
young girl, in the love of her children. Now
fly, save her happiness. Bring her to me
let her go from beneath these sacred walls to
her husbands home, hallowed by the sacri-
fees made for her by the prayers of this
: pure community"
NJ. de Noret pressed his wife's hands to his
lips, and tear fell on it. But his thought
9 was for Louise. He held her happiness, his
e darling child, the innocent sacrifice on the
altar of his guilt; she was saved"
a He hurried on his road. Quick as the
travel of the day could carry him, reached
Avoul. Louise lay in the stupor of brain
,. fever, unconscious of all happiness or misery
'; Still more impressed with the importance Q
r, restoring her to happiness NJ. de Noret
e quickly, and in. a. few words, told her mothe
n where he had been, and what had been tn
D. result of his visit
e " Lonise will be happy now, Caroline, m.
e poor Caroline, or she will have the choice be
ID tween her mother and her lover. | do no
is hesitate This is right. My sacrifice, m.
ID atonemcnt is merciful, for 1 secure my child
II happiness. l restore her to position as he
/ fathers daughter; but Ernest leave me alon
" now You can watch through this night b
1t your child; she is young the doctor says sh
i will recover"
t, NJ de Noret obeyed. Only since he ha
W seen Caroline had he become conscious of til
e. immensely of the sacrifice he exacted.
Louise grew neither worse nor better as b
III watched; the doctor was beside her and tol
h, him all was to be hoped from the deep stupC
as into which she had fallen. Morning came
NJ. de Noret stole to Carolne's room she WI
n not there, but Il few lines told all:
a "Farewell. will spare my child the te
rible choices never will / see her again.
Farewell, Ernest dear, true, tender, ii
death shall remember the years of hapr
t; ness we have passed together? Do not see
h me. We must never meet again. Tell lie
so tor to remember at what sacrifice Louise WI
given to him. Louise, Louise, oh F.! what ca
mother say when she leaves her child "a
as ever" CAROLINE
nd Mile. Louise is awake, sir, said an q
w tendant, "and sensible; she has asked
Madame and for you"
ew NJ de Noret rushed to her bedside.
he dearest father, can bear it."
me But happiness is in store for you; all
been arranged. Hector will be here to cla
'ur you. have written to him."
YER And my mother, my darling motht
BILE why is she not here?"
hat Louise, when you are well you shall KIN
all no sacrifice is too great for a mother =
my "What do you mean? is she dead?"
emo, no, my child"
in 'Tell me all now. can bear all but I
II. certainty and surprise"
10 Gently then Mons. de Noret told her a
ten told her the noble devotion Of one WON;
the sacrifice of the other. Louise listened
}, l silence, when he had done, she turned on
to pillow away from him without uttering
.fty word. NJ de Noret, thinking she was aisle
airs stole gently from the room. But present.,
but great commotion, as of many voices, strr
in on his ear Angrily he rushed down stat
,on- and there in the arms of his servants he
cart held, pale and rigid, the dead body of