The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-01-19


. lay down upon the couch which Elise
care had made soft and warm. Th
| lamp placed in niche, which shelter
ed it from the sighing wind, shon
steadily and calmly on the silve
crucifix, and Vivienne's eyes fixe
themselves on the holy symbol. The
in moment her weary eyelids closed
and she sank into slumber as pre-
4 found and tranquil as an infants. Al
through the,long, dark night she slep
till Elise reused her by her hurried
frightened calling at the door, ant
| Vivienne, as she unbarred it, wefcom
ed her with smile, and said, with ;
little glow on her cheek, "I have hat
such sweet dreams, Elise. Would yol
believe that one could sleep well ano
dream sweet dreams here 2"
Elise gazed upon her mistress will
eyes of mingled love and awe as she
answered warmly. Eyes, madame
those whom the saints love, and the
angels guard, may have fair dreams
and peaceful slumbers even here"
The faint smile fingered on Vivi
enne's lips, and her eyes held a ten
der, happy light in their depths, fol-
she had been dreaming eff Leon-and
it was no longer a crime to think ol
him.
Many different ruTors concerning
the death of Marquis de Haultieu, and
the strange life the young marquise
was leading, had reached the CAV and
careless court, and had even wandered
to the camp far away.
Some averred that Vivienne was
mad, others that she intended to con-
vert the chateau into a convent; some
that she was doing penance for ter
rible, mysterious crime and others
dimly conjectured the true reason, and
believed that she was condemned to
this death in life by her stern husband s
will. The new Marquis de Hautlieu,
when questioned about his fair cousin,
answered by careless shrugs of his
shoulders, and laughing hints, which
reflected anything but honor upon the
character of the young marquise. But
the words and looks of as unprincipled
a man as Philip de Hautlieu,. made
but little impression upon those who
remem bered the spotlcss purity and
modesty Of Vivienne's life at,court;
and more than once he found hfmself
angrily and haughtily reproved for
his malicious insinuations by some
Young cavalier who had admired the
''Child Marquise," but had never dar-
ed to tell her so. ~
Vivienne, however, was ignorant of
all this. Day after day she spent by
her mothers beside; night after night
was passed in the drear solitude of her
tomb-like cell, which was no longer
fall of horrors too great to be borne,
but had become a holy, solemn retreat,
where she spent long hours in prayer,
and in rapt ecstatic, trance-like visions
of the glories of the blest. 1t matter
ed little to. her that her body grew
feeble and emaciated that the clinging
vapor7 in her cell banished the bloom
from her check, and the light from
her eyes; that she seemed hurrying to
the grave while yet in the early dawn
of womanhood. She had done with
the joys of earth, she thought, and
heaven wass close before her. She
only asked that she might live soothe
her mothers dying moments. and
then In the holy peace of a convent
she prayed that her life might be end
ed. When she was .dead-when Leon,
in the distant camp, should hear of
her death, would it matter to him ?
w ould he give one regretful thought
to the woman he he'd once loved /?
Oh did he love her still If only
she could know that he sometimes
thought of her; if this terrible blank
Of silence and uncertainty could be
broken; if she could see him once
more The robe that shook her
wasted frame told plaillv enough of
the heart that still clung to earth,
thought she would fain have given it
all to heaven.
1t was midsummer. The flowers
5loomed again on the terraces of
Hantlieu, and filled with their per-
tune the chamber where Vivienne
melt beside her dying mother. All |
that fair summer day Madame de Be
ranger had lain calm and stIll, and |
faintly smiling, while her heart throb-
bed with pulsations that grew slower
Ind weaker every moment.
Priest and physician had rendered
their last services, and there was no
sound in the room but Viv.enne's low,
clear tones, and her mothers faint
whispers.
The dying woman held her daught-
,r's hands in her feeble clasp, and
ooked up with undying love into the
iweet, solemn eyes of her child.
So the hours wore away, and the
md was very near. The rays of the
lcclining sun penetrated the crimsons |
'fcurtains of the windows, and shed a
oseate glory over both the pale, worn
aces of the women.
The gloom faded, and twilight gath
red in the room; 3; but still Vivienne
melt there with her hands clasped in
hose feeble, clinging ones which
we're growing chill in death.
Suddenly Elise drew near, and
topping, whispered something in her
'oung mistress ear.
Vivienne looked up, and shook her
Iead but Elise still fingered, with a
isurbed expression on her face.
"What is it, my child 2" whispered
he dying voice. "Ahl I know!
Elise is right. 1t is time for you to go
rom me now?'
"No, my motherl" said Vivienne,
emily. 81 will not leave you now.
fy work is almost done; I will stay
nth you tonight" .
A smile lit up the wan face of the j
,other, and an expression of deep
eace and rest succeeded the moment 4