Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-10

longer years to follow, years that are heavy
and weary, indeed, without the respect and
esteem of the world, without the sympathy
of social life. Consent to the counts pro-
posal. Consent, for your mothers sake"
81 willn' exclaimed Helene, rising stern
and determined; Il will consent to Henri's
proposal. Twill marry the man he offers
me, but on condition that at the altar he
leaves me, and never see him MORE"
Il will bear this condition to the count.
and, Helene, l think tis one he will grant"
Helene, my own Helene" said Henri to
himself, after Nine. Firmin had given him
Helene's decision and its conditions, she
loves me still; she has OWNED that these
marriages forced by circumstances are not
to divide u.s."
One morning, at the o'clock mass, a
party entered the Church of the Madeleine,
and, going to one of the small lateral chap
els, stood before the altar. There, with as
brief ceremony as possible, the priest
performed the marriage rites.
The bride was Helene de Nauteuil, the
bride groom the Italian Count Luigi Van
ini.
"Now," said Helene, ''all is fulfilled. /
am your wife, by the ceremony of the
church and the law, Count Vanini, and here
we part-never, trust, to meet again."
"Such are our conditions, and am ready
to fulfill them, only" rg E7
"Only will make no exceptions" Gao
"No," said Vanini, " ask none; only 1
would say when | agreed to these condi-
tions was in hopes that the memory OF
my boyish love for you long years ago in
Naples" ..-. .-...r
II do not remember.
"Do you not remember the boy, who
lowered ever near you and your mother?
10, l,o l,,N 81 -Nan..
plunged into the waves where you, child
eight years old, fell from boat into the
blue waves of the Mediterranean ?"
s. remember that, but not you; but be-
lieve you, and now receive my thanks it
was buta sorry return to give you such a
wife for all your courage and devotion.
Farewell, farewell l cannot give you the
love or duty of wife, but l will swear to
you, here beneath this sacred roof, to'keep
the honor of your name unstained and un-
touched till you read the name you have
given me on the stone that shall cover my
grave"
: So they parted. That day Henri de
Valblanc had gone to London, where his
father was ambassador, there to fulfill his
promise, and become the husband of his
fathers ward. .I.
Six months went by. Helene, Countess
of Vanini. content to have fulfilled the exi-
gcncies of society, had disdained its ad-
vanccs, and lived in retirement at Vile d.
Avray. -...s
One still summer evening she sat alone
gazing from the open window on the calm
moonlight landscape, when the door of the
room opened softly, and, ere she could ut
ter his name, Henri de Valblanc rushed in,
and clasped her in his arms.
Helene, my own Helenew he exclaim-
ed, "once more l hold You in my arms"
With desperate effort Helene freed her.
self from his arms, and gazed at him witha
look of imperiOus scorn.
."You forget, Count de Valblanc, in
whose presence you stand; the young girls
life and reputation you destroyed; the
wife's you shall not leave this house in
stantly, or 1 shall summon assistance"
"There is no need J" exclaimed Luigi
Vanini, as he pushed open the window from
the terrace, and entered the room; "there
is no need; your husband is here to defend
you."
What do you meanp and how dare
you'll" ...
Sam not Helene vanini's protector and
husband?"
"But on what conditionsP" exclaimed
Henri, "shall tell Helene the conditions
on which you became her husband?"
"No, l will tell her myself Madame-a
desperate and ruined gambler. met the
count in my hour of need; he offered me q
fortune for life to give my name to wo-
man who wanted its protection; consented;
yes, was vile enough to consent. When
in the bride thus given me recognized the
woman who had inspired me with the only
pure sentiment of my life, then l repented
then awhow vile thing Twas. l full
filled the conditions never to live beneath
the same roof with you; but Ihave never
ceased to watch over you, and now am here
to give you the protection of husband"
"Now," exclaimed Henri, "you know
him, and Helene, you understands me; Ihave
loved you ever"
"And you sold me-"
"And he bought you."
"No; for not one franc of your money
have touched. To Helene L sent the rev.
enue, and here now bring the title deeds
of this foul bargain, for Helene has vowed
to keep my name pure from all stain, and
will not sully mine by this compact of vice
and degradation. Madame" added Luigi,
turning to his wife, "here are the riches
with which your lover bought your hus-
band, and now that husband leaves you
forever"
"Stay," said Helene, taking the papers
from his hand, stay till you have driven
this man hence.p
Helene J! ..HI.H
"Use filter name, Monsieur de valblanc;
am what you made me, the Countess
Vanini, an unworthy bride, but an honor
able wife,"
"Helene, then you do not love me-"
"Would l had never known Henri de
Valblanc; all l ask is never to see, you
again." '.Imi
"Count Vanini, there is no need for you
to drive me hence, Madame Vanini's will is
my law; CO." s
"Yes, but first take these" said the
countess, "these deeds of all the riches with
which you thought to buy honor-these;
the jewels you gave me, shall be sent to-
morrow, and now farewell forever, Count
de Valblanc." ti..tf
The count mechanically seized the pa
pers, then with one long look at Helene, he
left theroO 'rrp.qd f
"Luigi Vanini," said Helene, as soon as
the count had disappeared, "you know the
error into which love led me l know your
errors, too, but we both have atoned, we
both are poor, pure from one taint of i'm
pure gold ;will you take to your heart a
repentant true and loving wife?" 1ot
s'Helene ~ said Vaninl and he clasped
her to his heart.
Tn the quiet little town of Sienna, where
there are no resident foreigners, the Count
and Countess Vanini forget the past In the
happiness of the present. 1t was strange
That as the Due de Valblanc passed through
Sienna on his way to Rome, ten years after
his last meeting with Helene, he should
bravo. aait M lo eog
! "Does it bring a pang to your heart?p
said Luigi, as he related the event to his
Sc q HHaN