The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-10-20
BLUE BEARD'S KEY.

DLUE DDfhD = hI l.
MADAME DE MARGUERlrTE's LAST STORY.
"TEN years, my life, to-day, since we
were married"
Yes, really ten years, and am twen-
ty-eight, Gontran just to think Of that"
Nathalie, my own Nathalie; and
yet ours was but one of the common
place alliances, such as is contracted
every day by fathers and mothers,
81 Then you are perfectly happy, my
own Gontran?"
9 Look at me and try and remember
what ] was when you first saw me-a
morose, melancholy mana spectre in
appearance. wonder / didn't frightcn
you"
81 wonder you didn't" replied Nath
allie, laughing but somehow | took a
fancy to you from the first time | ever
saw you. / rather like Knights Of the
Ruefui Countenance; then all at once
growing serious, she put her arms round
him and gnzcd up into his face. "Ilave
j made you forget the sorrows that
brought that shadow to your brow, the
blight that fell on your early life?"
Gontran pressed his lips to her fore
head-an utter change came over his
face. For an instant he did not reply.
At length, still gazing intently at her:
Nathalie" said he, "ncver refer to the
past; nothing can compensate me for
that, but you have made the present
and the future SO bright that l never
look back on the past"
Il have never inquired into the past,
have I, Gontran? The present, the fu-
ture, you and my children, ill UP my
time, my thoughts, my heart. Then
one word from you, my life, is law to
me; if you had been Blue Beard, and |
had the key, there would have been no
fairy tale, for | should never have looked
into the secret closet"
"Never try, my love, for it would
kill us both; it would"
At this juncturc servant entered the
room.
"a gentleman to see Monsieur le
COMPETE" said the servant; "this is his
name"
"Victor Lemoinc" said Count Con
tran Lascars, reading the card-a name
with no particular Specification, for there
must be at least five hundred Victor LIE
moines in Paris"
"Some petition, | suppose" said Ma.
thalie; "you had better not keep him
waiting"
Gontran left the room, and in another
moment stood gazing at man who rose
at his approach, and came over to him
without word.
$50, Monsieur le Compte Gontran dc
Lascars, luck has not deserted you; yol
are still on the wings of prosperity, ant
am"
81 thought you were dead"
"And hoped it ."
eyes, hoped it, for both your SAKE
and mine"
What do you Want?"
"This is a pretty way to receive ONT
of your former friends; the witness OF
your former marriage; the"
~Silencc! Dare not mention nam
that has never been pronounced in thcs
walls-that have not heard for years.
81 must speak it to you now, for
CiiIe lOr lllul NtlS Iui pO9N NSl"44HN
Countess of Lascars-"
"Silence! do not rouse her from tn
oblivion into which her guilt has plung
cd her. To all who ever knew her tn
grave has closed over her. Again,
say, let her rest"
"She may rest as she likes. hope
for your sake, she will; but not in he
grave, for she still lives. She is on, an
mot beneath the earth"
'"That is Il lie!'
d'That is the truth. ] did not com
Yere to notice insults. expected then
j came here because | want money!
"And do you expect to get it frol
me?"
al do"
"Then you are mistaken, for | wi
give you none"
"Then l will go to Mm', de Lasear
who is, believe, as rich a. you are"
"Stop, wrctch, )" said the Count " OF
moments sorrow to nay wife l. no
than / can endure. Sit down, and :.
what you have to say"
"Caroline is not dead"
AGO on"
"After she had served her time
Brest, where you know she was GO
demned to the galleys--"
e you torture me. | know all Ia
After this she died, did she not, Il
was buried at Brcst, in "a corner Of