Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-02-18
New Series-VOl. 8. No. 4

80 Miss Rose. cried, "are you sure you are
able9"
ayes, am able. can just creep to his be,
and kiss him, and then come back. God be
praised! My dear Arthur herer' La -g-.s
She trembled SO she could. scarcely dress her
self; but assisted her, and at last she went out
trembling but happy. Even then she did moi
forget me. l.-
"Don'tgo with me-. dear. Madame may be
displeased."
| But what cared for madame then: Twas il.
| the midst of a revolution, and intoxicated BY
success. Invent with her to the door, saw he's
totter up to the bed, heard his glad cry of Alice
Alice" and then sat down by the door an6
cried in Sympathy.
She came out in little while, and led hei
back TO her room quite exhausted; but sht
rallied soon. Joy had indeed endowed her with
life. The next morning Miss Rose appeared al
| the table, and when breakfast was ended, said
quietly: M F.-- l
Madame Victoire since have discovered
that one OF your invalid officers is my owr
brother, trust you win not refuse me the priv
ilege of nursing him."
Madame's countenance blanched But when
was her self-possession at faultf She recovered
herselfgraeefully.
! Your brotheri Mydesr mademoiseIIe, what
"a charming accident! Your brotherr All, the
young captaineI Mademoiselle, Icongratulate
you. He is my ideal of handsome. bold
knight" ..-.- L--1l.
What made Father Antoines face darken at
| came for the nonce another being. new puz-
zie. But then everything about madame was a
puzzle
In the varied events of the DAYS Terese and
forgot.it. In the irst place, the surgeon pro-
nounced Captain Roses convalescence so fan
advanced that he was able to sit up, and ne beg
ged of his sister to let him See the young Iady
| who had been instrumental in reuniting them
SO was privately brought in. I'd. --
! - am glad to know you, Miss Peyton." And
| he casped my hand and looked up at me- Tht
haggard face would soon be handsome. Ny
/ hero pleased me. can't thank you enough =
| he added. Consider me your sworn kn7oht
henceforth and forever"
softly, Arthur" said his sister. "She is a
"she is a woman and loves you 1 forgive
Eor .E loving % meT,. s said Miss Rose, archly.
~ don want any forgiveness for that"
said, my Southern blood rising.
| "I'll forget it then" said he gently
II can never forget it, ," said, a tide of recol-
lection rushing upon me. my father gave his
should be an ungrateful daughter If ceased to
! love that cause"
| He looked at me pityipgiy.
| Forgive me, Miss Peyton. would not for
the world wound you. / desire only to show
my gratitude to you for your great service to
politically enemies"
I could not resist this, and so 1t was settled.
This was one event. In the next place Col
onel Fielding did me the honor to INQUIRE for
Miss Peyton. He had known my father in Com
gress, and would be glad to pay his respects to
might be, madame was obliged to send Tor me
| That was the beginning of series of pleasant
The pupils who were not already gone departed.
In fact. Madam's school was virtually broken
up. But Terese and /, because we had nowhere
else to go, remained. The great house was now
no longer silent or kept In restraint. a halt
dozen officers, and among them Colonel Field
ing, took lodging with madame, and her income
from the rent and board must have been EQUAL
TO that drawn from her school.
And she proved princely hostess. The real
power OF the woman came out now. Her social
tact was wonderful She charmed all, and rnled
SO gracefully that her subjects submitted with
and petite dramas; We danced and sang, and
Terese hirted as it was her nature TO do. Ant
amid it all Father Antoine came and went, the
same grave, silent, pale, gray shadow.
don't know when 1t first dawned upon me
that in ali this gray company there was no pres
ence that Colonel Fielding loved SO well as that
Of Alice Rose His eye sought her the moment
ne entered.the room. If she was there he was
content; II not, cloud was upon him till she
came. But found out the secret before Miss
Rose suessedit. Twas happy to give my dear
friend 70 this handsome. stalwart Yankee SOL
der. But what did madame think?
Suspicion made me sharp-sighted 1 soon
came to the conclusion that madame had what
her people call grande passion Tor Colonel
Fielding, and that she would sweep Miss Rose
aside. if she came in her way, as carelessly as
she would q cobweb. tested her one day. The
"I wonder how Captain Rose likes his sisters
prospeets?" said carelessy.
tProspects! What2 That ugly Yankee word.
MademOiselle, explain yourself" said madame
bending fiery glance upon me.
.surely madame has noticed Colonel Field
ing s pcrchoH for Miss Rose" said, softly
They are a charming pair, her blonde fairness
contrasts so beautifully with his tawny beauty"
Penchant! Ha, ha! Miss Rose is forward
--these Northern girls are. But the colonel
Mademoiselle does not know. Mademoselle is
new-so new to society. / beg she will not so
misinterpet any attentions she may herself re-
ceive."
could see that madame trembled from head
to foot. But she had given my pride sharp
least, saw no difference in her demeanor.
A few days after this Miss Rose did not come
were through, and found her still in bed. She /
was looking i'll. There was bright color on I
the peculiar whiteness which indicates disease. /
But had hardly time to ask a question before
the door opened and madame came in.
and bent to kiss her. Then she shook up the /
pillows and opened the window for fresh air. \
utterly.
Alice Rose did not come down that day nor
the next. Then madame herself asked the sur
geon to look in upon her. He did So and pro-
nounced her illness of small account-a lftfI~
debility arising from the warmth Of the wea h.
q y
the past few days rest and some simpl..
tonic would cure her.
nanny men could % m not bear to ieays smspielon a
alone with her and yet il was impossible for
nue. TO hinder II. She was indeed q capital nurse,
light-footed, vigilant, deft and calm. Miss Rose
declared that her mother could not tend her
more kindly.
Yet she dropped day by day. The surgeon
looked grave. Newsymptoms arose that baftied ,
Has she taken anything to-day excent the |.
NrtNn
Nothing. doctor, except a few spoonfuls of
chicken broth. Doyou think that could have
brought the bowl for his Inspection. Il
The doctor looked, tasted, and set it down al
most impatiently.
He walked back to the bed, and looked long
and earnestly upon the patient She had lost
sunken; there was pinched, worn, suffering
look, that became every hour more marked. 1t L
was clear that the doctor was baffied He went
away at last. madame attending him to the
door.
I had been a silent witness of all; but now
preached myself for my cowardice. Why did
I not boldly divulge my horrible suspicion even
OF myself she had gained over me, as Others, an
which 1t was almost impossible to
resist. But hated myself for my weakness.
and sat down by the bedside, and, hiding my
face, cried away my shame.
heard madame open the door and look in,
then softly shut It and glide away. She was off
consider what was to be done.
1 opened the door and looked into the entry.
Madame was not in sight; but there was Col
onel Fielding. just coming in at the outside
door. took q sudden resolution. beckoned
to him. He came up softly.
"How is she this morning." he asked, with a 4
look OF tender an xiety. Il
Come In and see." a,
He seemed surprised for o moment, but pres
emily followed me into the room- saw his [
change as he drew near the bed.
my GodI Is she so ill., And then he stoop- ;
ed down and kissed her, muttering some mar
riculate words. She never stirred tom the !
stupor in which she lay. Presently he up. \
His eyes were streaming. 40, what is it:''
"She is dying-she is being murderedr' said
IL
He gazed at me in blank establishment. Ii
Murdered - he echoed, in n strange voice. 4,
At that instant heard madame's voice in the |
antry Nv instructive fear of her arose in :