Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-10-26
it is in cold blood that you have made game
of my wife. This is unpardonable
EsI ,y.s e,,,,6ad with ssSto,,:cl..

it is in cold blood that you have made game
Of my wife, This is unpardonablel
II was stuplfed With astonishment.
=" Here is your letter, monsieur con-
tinued the viscount. You say to my wife,
among other nonsense, that her kind words
and her manner toward you have authorized
the language that you here have addressed
to her, while you well know, monsieur,
that you have never exchange word with
my wife.
! Il looked at the letter, then at the Wis
count, without speaking, for | could not
understand the singular words which he ad-
dressed to me, except by a loss of confidence
in the viscountess. | can assure you that
my part in this transaction began to ap-
pear very awkward. [ never was one of
those men who can take pride and pleasure
IN the shame and confusion of another. The
strangeuess of my first encounter with the
viscountess had done all hitherto now, |
began to feel guilty. | reproached myself,
| and, without realizing how ridiculous | ap-
peared, remained silent.
g Come come = he at length exclaimed.
good naturedly, you confess your fault. |
was sure of it. A regular school-boy' S
trick. [ have often done the same myself.
But you see the viscountess took the mat
ter very seriously, and my faith! she colored
with anger You can have your letter,
young man. Here take it and we will say
no more about it. And SO saying, he left
the room as hastily as he had entered it.
That evening, at the house of the Baron
de Roselles, the signing of the marriage
contract of our friend Arthur de Raumont,
and the baron's daughter was to take place
| was invited as a witness, and [ could not
very well refuse TO go. 1t was, nevertheless,
very unpleasant step for me to take, for
[ knew that the Roselles and the Borns
were relatives. Rejecting upon all that
had passed, could not understand the con
duct of Madame de Born. except by an in
significant coQuetry, or, at the least, very
great leyity; and it was very painful to me
to be thrown so soon again into the presence
of a woman whom had so reverenced, and
who could not be more to ME, now, than a
broken idol, beautiful dream, which had
vanished. However, the very first eye that
met mine upon entering the drawing room
of NJ. &c Rosseles was hers whom / most
wished to avoid. Madame de Born APP
GOOD natured wit5dasff T af attbssction ttbsi and without
the slightest embarrassment l was indig-
nant, and felt that | could never pardon
her as long as l lived. My pride, however,
soon came to my aid and, after some su-
perhuman efforts, and the tortures of a
martyr, became so brilliantly gay as to as
tonish myself and [ certainly must have
deceived others.
AT length, we were passing into neigh
boring room, in order to examine the mag
nifcent trousseau of the bride. [ heard a
wellknown voice pronounce these words, as
if solely for my ear: What makes you so
unnaturally gay? You frighten me-.
Il turned in spite of myself, and truly
the features of Madame de Born expressed
so much anxiety that felt my resolution
fail. But l restrained myself, and answer
ed, lightly: L received visit this morning
which has made me the merriest of men.
THE yiscountess regarded me with sur
prise that appeared to nae very well played,
and we were separated, the next moment
by the crowd of guests.
"a few moments after chance threw US
again together. To escape the heat of the
crowded rooms, l entered little boudoir,
where there was an abandoned card table.
The viscouutess, who, fer the same reason,
had retired hither, was seated upon a
diyan, her back to the door, in an attisade
of profound meditation. My entrance
aroused her. She turned, and seemed much
agitated upon seeing me. [ male move
ment to retire, after e1cusing myself coldly
and briefly but she Immediately arose, and
| exclaimed, excitedly:
You conceal something from me q
misfortune, perhaps? You are not the
same. May be it is wrong for me to SPEAK
thus, but know not how to dissemble.
You know not how to dissemhle !
replied, with bitter smile. o, madame
| said these last words in such an incredu
| lous and cutting manner that she turned
1
very pale, and an unchecked tear rollet
down her lovely cheek. You must love, ny
dear Ellie, before you can appreciate th
power of tear-when the heart is full
when it abounds with the thought of a wo
man, with her image, with her love- Tha
tear had scarcely fallen, before was at tn
feet of Madame de Born.
oh forgive me! | cried, forgive me
But, tell me, how could you cause me to ap
pear so mean, so ridiculous, before you
husband?'
My husband! she cried with bewil
dered expression.
q Certainly l responded, without chan
ging my suppliant position, and L was pre-
ceeding to say more, when, suddenly, grut
voice behind us exclaimed:
"'Ohl hol A man at the feet of m
niece Zounds No, | am not mistaken
This is, certainly, the lover of my wife.
"And, rising quickly, l recognized tn
Viscount de Born.
Monsieur said be, gravely, L hop
this time you are not joking, and taat 70
authorize me to forewarn Madame de Bor