The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-10-20

ln%uI's, and | intend to make all out of |
it cam"
"What do you mean? ?"
81 mean that could claim your place. |
/ could dcspoil you Of your happiness
Of your husbands love. ] could make !
your children illcgitimatc. What will
you give me for my silcncc?"
"Werc YOU ever his wifc?" cried Ma
tlialic, sinking into chair.
ayes. What, hasn't he told you the
| history? Well, he married ME when
he was young. lie was dcccived-frst
by my father, then by myself-untii,
winning on his mothers affection for
him, obtained her consent to the mar
riage, and we were married. Madame,
| was brought up badly. I was the as
sociatc of thieves and the lowest OF my
own sex. | pined in the pure atmos-
phcrc of domestic life; it seemed to me
! insipid. l returned to my former as
sOciatcs, and with them was arrested
and sent to the gallcys. Nothing could
save me, not even the revelation of my
namc. | was condemned for five years,
and all that he could obtain was miti-
CATION Of the nature of my imprison-
mcnt. But all this did not dissolve our
marriage-I was his wife still. But of
what avail was that to me-? thought
it better we should be forever parted.
| told him ! was dead. With me the
legal papers We're soon manufactured,
and so he married and tried to forget
me-"
"Not his wifc-not his wife! Oh,
Heaven, and can this be true ?"
"Scc the copy of the ccrtificatc.'
Nathalie held out her hand for the
paper, and with despair in her face read
the confirmation of the truth.
"Now, don't look so desperate: I'll
leave you your husband, but | want
money. You needn't tell him"
" Not tell him ~ repeated Nathalie.
. Yes, it is better that he should never
know my degradation; ii is better that
he should never know that have been
told all this bitter past. Yes, it is all
; better thus: but am not his wife--not
his wife! Woman, how much money!"
"Why, five thousand francs now, and
five thousand francs whenever l want
them"
81 will give You twenty thousand
francs if YOU will never trouble me
morc-ncvcr trouble him"
Him him-Gontran! would not
see him for ali the world. You may be
: sure of that"
al will give you the money; but not
=, now. [ cannOt-T hnve it notnow -
"To-nOrrOw, then, for | am in haste
-. tomorrow"
60 Yes, tomorrow"
"I will come hereagaiR Mt this hour"
,, "Go now-you may rely on me-"
= 81 know you cannot bctraY me; YOU
interests are all mine; you care foryoul
position and this fine, nice place
Strange to think that once should hav,
;, been Il grand lady, and that once h'
- should have loved me-"
: Go-gOW
a The woman shuillcd from the room
Then Nathalie fully realized her posi-
# ton, and all its horror came over her.
a "Not his wife, At this instant Con
tran entered thcroom, and Nnthalicrush
/, cd toward him as she would have don,
7 in all veXation and SORROW to seek protec
Il ton and help, but A. his arms enclosed
y her she shrank away from him ant
f burst into tears.
# "Tcars, Nathalie; what is it?-ar
y the children --"
= Nathalie uttered a scream. Gontral
+. bout over her in great alarm.
y "What is the matter, Nathalie: ?"
"Oh, Gontran, could you live withou
= mc?"
j. Nathalie, my darling, what has hap
Is pcncd?"
"Gontran, can you imagine life with
Is out me. if some obstacle should sudden
ID ly and forever divide us""
ii 81 should prefer DEATH"
Il "Gontran, if |, your pure wife
m should lose the worlds c4teem:"
Ii, "What do you ?'
=, clad been your mistress instca
~ of your wife, would You have love,
y. mc?'
~ $50, darling, no; for tho purity tina
20 surrounds you Is Il portion of yourself
m ! cannot think of you but rs the pure
holy influence of my life, the pur
or mother Of my children, the wife tina
~, has hallowed my hearth and home. NJ
ar Nathalie; rather would l see you dead
- But these are dreamsi nothing ca
ri touch you; but something has agitatc
~ YOU"
nt Nothing, GontrNn; we have bee
be- very happy; you will never forget me"
~ " Forget you--forget you, Nathalie
~, What do you mean ~
~ Nothing; forgive me. Let me re.
,n my head on your shoulder and all wi
j. be we'll"
EN- The next day Nathalie was calm an
Ie- sad. Gontran watched her with ankle
Is, waiting for her 70 conildc in him III
~ sorrow that had seemed to oppreSS he
ia He had full confidence in her; he knc
ir. that, like bird dying to his home, 81
lc would hy back to his arms and to h
a. heart.
40 Meantime he left her to herself.
Late in the evening Of Tire next d0,
NathuIlc, who had been absent son
hours, and had, ON her return, secludl
Ior-,Ir In bar rnau, .nut C,V t,nntrun.