The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-07-31

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''Of the age of Helene"
| "a delicious blonde" added the gentlemen.
~Her hair just the shade Of Helenes," said
the marchioness. Almost the same name
almost the same tone of voice. A resemblance
most striking. Everybody took them for SIS
ters"
/ Il do not know if two sisters ever loved
each other more tenderly than we did, 2 muir
INJURED Helene, with tears in her eyes.
"But how happened il" asked the marchio-
ness shat we never heard this famous Count
| Albert dc Roscn spoken Of, when we saw the
| Talbots every day Z"
! Helene blushed aud dropped her eyes
Il suspect, Mademoselle de Boistrudan ha
heard him spoken of, said Henri, in low
voice.
"You are not mistaken, sir, replied the
/ young girl, in a cold Tone ELLEN has written
to me once from Baltimore, and the name of
Count Albert was in the letter. As to the
circumstance which astonishes you, mamma,
she added, turning to the marchioness, syou
know that we passed the entire winter Of
1916 at Nice"
cit was, in fact, during the winterof 1851"
said George
THAT is true" said the marchioncss.
''We regretted that we could not embrace
dear Madame Talbot and her charming daugh
ter before their departure for the United
States.,'
"Have you known Ellen, sir p asked Helene
The young girl had become pale-but the
look with which George regarded her was so
ardent and at the same time SO tender that
lively carnation again spread itself over her
checks.
George answered.
swell enough to know that more pcstlect
resemblance never existed Almost tie same
name, the same age the same voice, the same
beauty-the same soul, perhaps"
He added, turning abruptly to Henri
elias notmonseur the viscounb told usthat he
lived in Baltimore Z"
"a little while, replied NJ dc Villicrs in
careless tone. at did not happen to. PIC to
meet Miss Talbot At the time when these
ladies knew her at Paris, I had already COM
menced my travels. Why do you ask this Z"
$40 have your evidence, sir as / have fur
nished mine. | was going to add that, iii sa-
luting Madelnoisellc de Boistrudan sort Of
dizziness came over me- believed that
was looking at Ellen Talbot herself; and /
have curious idea that love even could de-
ceive itself by this marvellous resemblance
Your opinion on this subject, monsieur Wis
count, would have been valuable to me-"
Sorry to be compelled to refuse you, sir"
answered the yiscount, with shade Of hau-
teur 4 repeat that have never had the
honor to meet Bliss Talbot"
''For the rest, resumed George, whose me-
lancholy look fixed itself upon Helene, s'the
illusion could not be Of long duration Two
twin flowers cease to resemble each other
when the one remains bright and brilliant
upon It's stem, full fife, while the other,
wounded anddying drops its decaying leaves"
"What did say you, sir?'' cried Hclcn-,
oppressed.
George pronounced gently, and with an ao-
cent full of sadness
Miss Ellen Talbot was very sick when |
left Baltimore.
stSick? Dangerously 2" interrupted Helene
whose checks were whittier than the lacc-work
upon her neck.
George did not answer. There was silence
in the boudoir. Tears were shining upon
the eyelid Of Helene
NJ the Viscount Henri dc Villiirs alore
preserved an attitude Of indifference
There are some men, Of scrutinizing and
searhing looks who see through all masks and
find out ones thoughts under the most ingeni
Gus disguise. If such man had been intro
dueed suddenly into the boudoir Of the mar
chioness, perhaps he would have seen that the
Viscount Henri dc Villicrs was not the least
moved person in that assembly.
: George glanced at him secretly. He had
precisely those eyes that look down into the
bottom Of ones heart A bitter smile passed
over his lips. He broke the silence:
II did not wait, he said, 'sfor this sad ad-
dtion Of interest which circumstances give to
my narrativc-so far from the country where
it was given to me to know Albert de Roscn
and the angel who was his afianccd. If ma
demoiselle does not desire it, | will not con
tlnue.
con the contrary" said Helene in bro
ken voice. II wish-I desire to know-to
know all.
perhaps" said the marchioness. who was
more easy to be consoled, and at an age when
nature has so many resources, perhaps the
dear child is well again now Continue, Mr..
Leslie the ladies arc listening"
George resumed, without addressing him
self particularly to Helene, although he was
conscious that he was speaking especially for
her:
s'This family of Talbot had been rich
Mr.. Talbot, the father Of Miss Ellen, was
ruined, as you doubtless know, by the general
bankruptcy which shook so rudely the credit
Of the country itself. He wrote to Paris for
his wife and daughter, and the Count Albert
followed the ladies to America. His love for
Miss Ellen was intense. Mr.. Talbot thor
oushIy ruined, sent in his resignation as s
member Of Congress, and conceived the de-
sign Of going to repair his fortune in Cali
lornia. Albert asked him FOR the hand Of his
daughter The father answered him:
uWhen we shall be rich. Go with me to
the West
aThey started.
I'm passing through Washington, Mr.,
Talbot engaged in a quarrel witha political
opponent, who rcproacheei hlm on account
Of his votes in Congress. They argue there,
pistol in hand Mr.. Talbot lost his life in
one of those igpobIs duels peeuEarto Ameri-
ca which resemble an assassination
ss'rhe Count Albert went back to Balti-
more He clasped the hands OF Ellen and
her mother, and said:
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