Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-11-09
Selett Tale.
Twice Loved.

TO have been the home or all my lie the
husband that vowed to love all my life !;
his family that had become mine-to
leave all forever! To loose reputation,
friends, all ~ So spoke Estelle Vergen-
mes, as she walked slowly through the
small but neat apartment, to which it had
been the JOY of her husband to bring her
some two years previousl y, when she had
come young and happy bride from her
mothers home to his.
Then she had loved, then she had faith,
then she had hoped and dared to look for
ward to life. What long weary days and
months had passed by since then! How
one by one had her illusions faded how
had long WEAKNESS made her almost de-
sire death rather than the dull monotony
which, like a heavy pail, had hung over
her young life.
She walked on slowly and sad through
the small neat rooms, till at last she stood
in what was her husbands study, and
paused in front of full length picture of
herself that was hung above his desk.
" How will he gaze on this when he
returns and finds me not? Years ago
he would have. cursed me for he
loved me then; but now he will discard
not weep why should | am nothing +;
| have been long nothing TO him L 60 to
love and happiness, Kidding hum of bur
then on his life"
As she uttered these words Estelle drew
from her finger her wedding-ring and laid
it on the writing paper which lay open on
her husbands desk; then taking pen
she wrote beneath:
50 Farewell; forget me-
For one moment she bent over the desk,
then llnelling before it, she pressed ker lips
on it, and tear fell on It's polished sur
face.
q Now it is over!' she exclaimed !;
g now l have renounced all forever"
Then with firm step she passed from
the apartment, and, going to her own
room, threw over her dark grey dress a
large black cloak, turned from the mirror
which never was to reflect her image
again.
Madame is going out, said the po-
lite dapper servant, emerging from d
kitchen that looked like some elegant
amateur cooking plaything.
Yes" said Estelle, ''Monsieur will
be back tonight tell him there is note
from me on his table that will tell him
where to find me-
"A pleasant evening to madame" said
the woman, politely advancing to open
the door, and shut it after her mistress.
"Good bye, ,Jeunnette,' said Nine.
Fergennes, and thus it was that Eslelle
passed from her home for the last time.
In few minutes she was in the crowd
of the Rue Boulevards, and then passed
on with rapid step to the Rue St. Honore.
At the corner of the Place de la Made
leine, just beyond the place where the
muohe our ,feurs is held, there was car
riage waiting, and pacing the pavement in
front of it a gentleman who every now and
then would rush to the corner nearest the
boulevards and look with straining gaze
at the ever-moving crowd that came
toward him. At length he descries the
dark, unobtrusive figure making her way
with quick step through the gay and busy
multitude. Then he utters cry of de-
light and dashes not towards her, but
back to the carriage. He opens the door
himself, lets down the steps, and, bidding
the coachman be ready to start, he waits,
looking eagerly towards the corner of the
boulevards
The pavement by the church is entirely
deserted; the lady in the grey cloak has
turned the corner, she comes along, the
shadow Of the tall marble columns fall
ing on her as she passes, and at last she
reaches the spot where he stands. Her
breath comes quick and fast, her eyes
are wildly bright, and her cheek glows
She cannot speak, she holds toward him
two little trembling hands and tries to
smile. He seizes them both in his grasp,
then placing his arms around her waist,
he lifts her into the carriage. Another
moment and he leaps in himself, closes the
door, and in a loud tone bids the man
drive on The coachmar gives the horses
a touch with the whip, and with a start
and snort they start off at rapid pace.
Then for the first time the gentleman
turns towards Estelle, and putting his
arms around her presses her to his heart.
sMine now forevermOre."
"Yours alone Octave, for I have left
all else; the world is raught to me now
from this moment l am no one l have
even my name, and if YOU for
sake me, I have bat to die