Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-08-25

/ SIldii be az hdHi'y d ne tS you are. L
| expect you at once.
| MIRELLE RAMBELLE."
OF course a good cry followed the
perusal OF this letter; but so did a
| speedy packing and departure, much
| to the delight of Nine. Rambelle, who
had ever entertained great affection
| for Louise, who was several years her
| junior.
Good gracious. Louise, you look
old and faded !" was the greeting of
Nine Rambelle.
d" shall recuperate in your lively
society,"" mOurnfully answered Louise,
shrinf ing from the task before her of
explaining to her cousin all that had
happened.
Where is your husband ?'
In an instant, Mime. Ramble diVin-
ed there was some trouble between
Louise and her husband, and with the
goOdhtaTtness which made her liked
by all who knew her. she RETAINED
from questioning, gave Louise dOub-
lie amount of caressing, petted Earnest.
and in every way eHdeavOled to show
her cousin that she had a friendly i'll
| terest but no idle curiosity in all con-
corning her. Glad of the respite,
Louise did not attempt to further eX-
plain on that day; but the following,
when she had become settled in her
new home, she voluntary preached the
subject of her husband,
Il see you are determined to tell me
and | will not deny that / shall re-
ceive your confidence with pleasure
You must allow me, however, to be
the Judge of who is right and who is
wrong" remarked Nine. Rambelle.
Il wish you would tell me precise
ly what you think, but do not let my
feelings influence yo9 ( do not love
nv husband any longer! except as the
father OF my chiid-alI other love he
killed when he left me-" said Louise,
tears filing her eyes despite her asser-
tons of indifference, which Mime.
Rambelle trusted were imagined
Without elaboration or cOncealment,
Louise told her cousin all. When she
had concluded, she was surprised at
the silence of Nine Rambelle, and SO
she expressed herself.
81 am waiting for the entire truth,
Louise"
You have it, Mirelle."
mo; why did you go to the bail ?'
THAT is my secret" cOufusedly re-
piled Louise.
''Then until YOU reveal it | shall
Judge you to he in the wrong; at the
same time / censure your husband for
giving way to jealousy; but with some
men it as incurable as cOnsumptiOn-it
Is born with them-thCy exercise il as
proof of their love, and TO arouse it
TO its full extent is to render some men
almost insane; that must evidently
have been the case with your hus-
jand.n u h.
"You are a fiji subject to ,befmarTted,
MirelIe-yOur opinioIof men is 5ust
what would suit IE4em. But | must
correct your oppression OF my hus-
balfa ne never gave me any indica-
ton of being of n jealous disposition:
and he nevergave me an opportunity to
eXOnerate myself, for he never, like
YOU, asked we why | went to the ball.
| have vowed never to tell any one
but him, and if he never asks me it
will never be known"
"That does alter the case somewhat;
but ] still think it was through love
YOUR husband left you true, it was
Selfish'love but then he might not
have been capableOf loving otherwise.
| pity you IN your preSence-It Is
>sure cure for all ills HUMANITARIAN is
wOmau's greatest human i'll"
you are contradiction, Mirelie."
"No. man is a contradiction. and
understand them peTfectly-yOu do
not, any more than you understand
yourself when you say you have ceas-
ed to love your husband; your love
has naturally received a shock but
let the father of your boy come back
and beg forgiveness, your love would
return to you with greater intensity
than ever"
Louise was silent. She knew not
what to say to contradict Mirelle she
did not dare; to acknowledge her
right she would.
:" Now EntiI we hear of your hus-
band we will not again speak of him.
I will ascertain his whereabouts, and
we will see if he be worthy penitent
if so, we will forget and forgive-lf
not. we will forget"
" You make me cheerful in spite of
myself. Mirelle; l am so glad l came
to YOU" ,.,.,,noror
a. wish / had"
"But as you did not, you must stay
all the longer"
&" Now. Mirelle. tell me Of your af-
| fairs. You wrote me you were on the
verge of matrimony-tell me all about
| it,"
| mI long to, I assure you; l want
your advice; am in love, | am sure :;
| bat don't know exactly with whom. >
That is odd"
"Ouite common for a widow"
" Difficult TO advise upon"
LET me tell you the circumstances.
There is q duke, of middle age, who
secs fit to take up his abode close to
me: he lives alone with his secretary,
| who he treats as q brother. Now, both
duke and secretary pass their lives in
! devotion to me; bat L cannot tell
whether the secretary makes love for
| the dixie or for himself, nor can l tell
| whether the duke does the same for
| his secretary; ore has said no more
| than the other; but they both have IN
every way but words, expressed their
| love and intentions. Now, what makes
me think one must be acting for the
other is the fact that they give each
| other every opportunity; they are the
best of friends, and once or twice !
| have fancied they compared notes in
! regard to their progress with me. Now
YOU know all; what am | to do? ''
which do you prefer? Show your
preference and the hopes of one will
then be ended.
Il think I prefer the secretary, if
| it were not for a settled melancholy
which is apparent in all his ideas, con-
/ versatiou and actions it renders love
| to him impossible, that is if he con-
strues love to mean happiness"
Let me be the Judge in your affairs
as YOU constitute yourself in mine"
- Exactly what | wish, and"
Mirelle had not finished her sentence
when the footman, with pomp an
nounced 1.-The Duke Of and Mon
seur Ernest"
THE Duke of T? repeated Lou
| ise
"Yes. Do you know him ?" asked
| Mirelle.
Monsieur Ernest" said Louise.
"What is the matter, LOuise?"
Before Louise could reply the Duke
of T and his secretary appeared
upon the scene.