Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-09-07


nothing of the struggle in her heart.
You want to know what think p SIZE
said in her quiet voice. 4 can tell you in
a questionable you love him g
Yes said Nathalie, with the color deep.
pening in her face.
'Then marry him, Nathalie. II you
love him, there is nothing 1 so much de-
sire.'
And IIortenso spoke tho truth, though
Nathalie did not know the real meaning of
her works. lie would be happy. That
was enough for 1Iortense. Tho goodnight
kiss she gave Nathalie was warmer than
ever, because she loved him, and through
her cause she loved him, and through her
his happiness would come. Was she in
that moment less a martyr than those Of
oldcn times, who gave their lives to tor
ture rather than he false TO the thing they
| lovcd2
AS Nathalie closed the door, IIoltensc,
without n word, sank down whcro she
stood. Shc was utterly crushed. Her
sorrow was beyond expression. All through
tho long hours till morning she sat there,
conscious, but stunned with eyes wide
open in a vacant stare. She was very
quiet; no sigh escaped her. It was not
until the sunlight streamed into the room
across her eyes that she moved, and then
she got up calmly, smoothnd her hair, and
went downstairs, looking usual, except
that her lips were slightly compressed.
Nathalie was an orphan, and had,
therefore, no ono but her aunt, Mime. de
iOrmc, to consult about her marriage,
and she was delighted that her nieco should
marry so well. A month later Nalhele
became Nine. St. Croix. At Natlalie's
desire, they went to England for their we'd
ding tour. They desired SO mucl, to see il
again. She also wished IIortense 10 nc.
company them, but this was too much for
her TO do, but she proposed to visit them
on their return. She was obliged to re-
deem her word, from tho fear of rousino
suspicion of the truth by such determined
refusal. So when they had been married
year, Hortense went to stay with them.
They had beautiful country-house long
way from Paris, so that the journey SEEM
ed intolerable to uortcnse with such ago
nizing thoughts as hers.
She WAS welcomed with open arms by
both, and Victor treated her always as his
sister. Victor was very fond of society,
and always had as many people as possible
at bis house. The most frequent visitor
there was Dir. Sanclos. IIe was very
handsome, very witty and very fascinating.
le did not, hover get on very we'll with
1iortense, who disliked him from the first
time she saw him. so at last, whenever
he came, he merely noticed her as much
as politeness required, and took refuge
with Nathalie. lie was always with
her.
Nathalie was changed. She avoided
ever being alone with IIortensc; in fact,
always avoided her. IIortense was panied
at this, and utterly at loss to understand
it.
One day letter came to NJ. st. Croix,
summoning him to Paris on important bu-
siness. lie was not to return for week.
Three nights after this Horense was rous-
ed from her sleep by pistol shot. She
sprang to her door and opened it. She
heard Victor's voice for a moment, then q
door was violently closed, and all was ST.
lent. She listened for some time, and then
heard violent sobs. She went uoiseIessly
down stairs and listened at the door Of the
library, from where tho sounds came. 1t
was Victor, and in sorrow. Without an
other thought she opened the door and
went in.
He vas leaning upon the table, with his
Lace buried in. bis hands, and convulsive
eobs shook him with n violence which
seemed to choke him. He raised his face
as she entered. Such face !-aII hag.
gard, and pale as death.
Victor, what has happened 2 she gasp
ed!ri I : II ar g.. %. .,ed 8 .;-,r
aIIortense - AHo'tenseI my wife-th
woman have loved so sdevotedIy--she is
false, false, false!' 81 ls# ~
Hortepse isbuddered with horror. s@s.
What do you mean, yictor' In Hea.
ysns pane, explsiaF a=l =. q
= 'ffavi6g accogipplialeJ my business 10
sl9's Pstis " .shSss asys sosps .hans snpsssed
hastepsd home % Nathalie. fors avery. hour