Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-07


white-robsd figure by his side Her fac'
was turned upward and Illuminated Will
the most perfect love and happiness. Thei
hands were interlocked, and in the fullnes
Of her contentment she laid her golden curl
upon his breast, and her soft, blue eyes lin
gered upon his mid might ones as if she
could read lifetime of honeyed happines:
there.
! The two strangers had turned the corner
of the house at the instant, and Nathalie
( grasped the hand of the old woman so for
chilly as to almost cause her to utter a Shrek
of pain !; and the next instant shower Of
water-lilies fell at the feet of Lavasier. The
light Of the hanging lamp, beneath which
he and his bride were standing, clearly re-
vealed the snowy blossoms, and Estele
stopped and gathered them up, while her
husband made a step forward, and looked
out into the gloom with an anxious face and
a curse G thering upon his lip.
''See, Claude, DEAR said the bride, as
she held them up for inspection; "see these
beautiful lilies. How naughty to use them
thus They arc all crushed and broken by
the fall. Poor lilies Father would say it
was bad omen for me to be the recipient
of such broken and faded things"
The halfsmile faded instantly from her
face as she glanced into that other husband
It was whittier than the flowers upon which
his black eyes we're fxed-faseinated as it
we're, by their crushed bloom.
''Mon Dieu! p he began-but before he
could proceed shrek of agony rang out
upon the night air, rose even above the mu-
sic, and stopped suddenly the whirling of
the walters.
"What can that be p gasped Estelle, as
she clung to the arm of her husband.
II don't know-will 60 and see," he re-
piled, az the wild outcry gave way to
mournful wall. go in to your father and
the guests; I will return in a moment" .
And scarcely waiting for her to disappear,
he sprang from the verandah in the direc-
ton of the sounds.
A few steps brought him to scene he
was but little prepared for, land one that
thrilled bis cart to the very centre. The
old woman was standing there with the
fainting form of the girl in her arms The
purple light Of the lamp in neighboring
tree fell full upon the ashy face, the unclos-
ed eyes, and the bloodless lips In an in-
slant Lavasier comprehended all, and,
snatching the foru of Nathalie from her
grandmother, he dashed down the secluded
and shaded path they had trodden buta few
moments before, followed closely by the old
woman.
The face that lay above his swiftly beat
ing heart was scarcely whittier than his own
the long, Clark hair was blown intesand
elung to it like scrpents 1t was as soft
and silky and perfumed as in the days when
he used to caress it, and it fastened itself to
his lips as il pleading for kiss such as it
had received thousands Of times, in other
days. Despite of all his nerve he shudder-
ed, and pressed yet more rapidly forward
until he reached the little lake, silvered
softly by the light Of the moon, and with
many star imprisoned in its waveless tide.
Kneeling upon the brink, he laid down
his fair burden. and, dipping up the spark
ling water, began sprinkling the up-turned
face, repeating the action until the old wo-
man came up, who, throwing herself beside
the inanimate form, walled out in the bitter
ness of desolation
':Mon Dieu mon Dieu! She is dead
deadw
dead" he repeated, hoarsely, as he
laid his hand upon her heart, that beat not
responsively.
"Ah ! yes, she is dead p
dead It cannot, shall not be-"
The old woman struggled TO her feet,
drew up, her form as tall and unbent as it
had been in her prime, looked fully at him,
and, pointing her long, skinny finger, said,
in the most impressive manner;
eyes, Claude I4avasier, she is dead, and
you killed her But it is better so than that
she should suffer on as she has done since
you deserted her. And now hear me-aye,
you shall !" she continued clutching his arm
as if fearful he would attempt to escape
"Hear me, for I would curse you while |
have strength"
"Hush p'
Il will not hush. I saw your young
bride with her pretty baby-face, and your
petted beauty will, before many years have
passed, wound and stain your honor even as
you have that of the fair, trusting child that
lies dead at my feet I read it upon her
puerile face [ read it in yonder stars Go,
and take my curse with you! May it hang
like a milestone about your neck by day,
and haunt your pillow by night Go. and
leave me alone with my dead!"
She dropped again beside the chilling
form, and all the decrepitude of age came
over her as she smoothed the damp hair and
gave way to her bitter grief. But Lavasier
could not 60. A power he could not break
through bound him to the spot, and his eyes
were rivited upon the face, rendered still
more CHASTITY by the moon light. Like
flash of lightning came the memory of that
time when, but couple of years before, he
had seen her sporting like butterfly, all
song and beauty. in her own land of sun
shine and vineyard, and he shuddered to
reflect what she was now. A tear, perhaps
the first he had shed from babyhood, fell
from his eyes and dropped upon the marble
brow. He stopped, and, touching the
shoulder Of the moaning woman, wits ered
"Grandmere, indeed [ pity your sorrow
and, for the sake Of one who repaid my
heartlessness With such devotion, tell me
what I can do for you and her ?"
"Mon Dieu there is nothing to be done
except to bury her out of my sight before
die"
"Would you bave strength to 60 back
with her to the old home on the banks of
the Seine If SO, will send my valet,
whom you used to know, and who loved her
for her sweet face and winsome ways"
$50 you can still sing her praises, even
though you are q bridegroom !" replied the
old woman, with her eyes flashing and lips
curling with scorn.
"Aye, can; and, as God is my judge,
I loved her better than any one in the wide
morld and foolishlu thonnht 10 fornat har