The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-09-16

II xOQ 0ov0 mlI0lx0
mo; Why did you 60 10 the ball2"
THAT 10 ny secret oonfussdly replied Louise
'"rhen ustil you reveal il I shall Judge You Il
be in the wrong; 1t the same time censur.
your husband for giving way to jealousy; bu,
with some men il 10 - incurabls % con
sumption.-iti 10 born with them,-they exercise
it proof Of their love, and to arouse it to it,
full extent il to render some men almost insane
that must evidently have been the case with
| your husband"
"You arc At subject to be married Mirelle
your opinion of men is Just what would suit
them. But must correct your impression OF
my husband; he never gave me any indication
OF being OF jealous disposition, and he never
gave me an opportunity to exoaerate myself, for
ne never, like you. asked me Why went to the
oall. l have vowed never to tell anyone but
him, snd if he never asks me it will never be
known"
THAT doe. 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 capable of loving other.
wise. pity you in your presenoe-it is sure
cure for all ills human-man is womans great.
est human ILL.,"
"Yoa are a contradiction, Mirelle."
mo; man is contradiction, and under
stand them perfectly-you do not, any more
than you understand yourself when you say you
have ceased to love your husband; your love
has naturally received shock but let the father
of your boy come back and beg forgiveness, your
love would return to yon with greater intensity
than ever"
Louise was silent. She knew not what to say;
to contradict Mirelle she did not dare to ac-
knowledge her right she would not.
"Now, until we hear OF your husband we will
not again speak of him. will ascertain his
whereabouts, and We will see if he be worthy
penitent-if 80, we will forget and forgive-if
not, we will forget"
"You make me cheerful IN spite of myself,
Mirelle; am so glad came to you"
81 wish had come long ago."
II wish had"
"But as you did not you must stay all the
longer"
snow, Mirelle, tell me of your affairs You
wrote me you were on the verge of matrimony-
tell me all about it,"
81 long to, I assure you; want your advice;
am in love, I am sure, but don't know ex.
actly with whom"
''That lie odd"
"Quite common for a widow
'Difficult to advise upon"
"Let me tell you the circumstances. There is
duke, Of middle age, who sees fit to take up his
abode close to me; he lives alone with his sec.
rotary, whom he treats as 3 brother. Now, both
duke and secretary pass their lives in devotion
to me but I cannot tell whether the secretary
makes love for the duke or for himself, nor can l
tell whether the duke does the same for his sec.
rotary one has said no more than the other
but they both have, in every way but words, ex.
pressed their love and intentions. Now, what
makes me think one must be acting for the other,
ia the fact that they give each other every op.
portunity; they are the best of friends, and once
or twice I fancied that they compared notes in
I'd thntp NIT NJ
know all what am to dor"
(Which do you prefer Show your preference
and the hopes Of one will then be ended"
II think prefer the secretary, if it were not
for settled melancholy which is apparent IN Ill
his ideas conversation, and actions; it renders
love to him impossible, that is If he CONSTITUTES
love to mean happiness
LET me he the judge in your affairs as you
constitute yourself in nine"
EXACTLY what wish, and"
Mirele had rot finished her sentence when
the ootman, with pomp, announced "1'he duke
of r and Mons Ernest"
"The duke of T-?" repeated Louise.
Eyes. Do you know him 7" asked Mirelle.
"Mons. Ernest !" said Louise.
"What is the matter, Louise ?"
Before Louise could reply the duke OF T
and his secretary appeared upon the scene.
MY husband !" screamed Louise, at sight of
the secretary but the announcement was need
less, for little Ernest was clnging to the secre-
tary and repeating in ecstatic JOY "Papa-papa
my papa-I have found your long hide"
The duke looked aghast, Mirelle the same :
but the secretary seemed beside himself with
joy; he clasped little Ernest to his heart, kissed
him, Rugged him and then burst into tears.
Mirelle was the first to regain her self.posses-
sion, when che said:
"Are you the husband of Louise, Mons. Err
nest p
II am" replied the secretary.
"You were," interrupted Louise.
II did not know you were married, Moss.
Ernest" said the duke sharply.
IL confess l am at fault, but the circumstances
| surrounding my marriage were such thct could
not explain them, and thus kept the fact of
being married from you, and retained only my
first name, in oider to conceal myself from my
wife, whose faith had reason to doubt"
mons. Secretary, you cannot insult my cousin
in my house. You have done your utmost to
ruin her happiness; but you have failed. You
now endeavor to shame her before her child and
the duke. You fail again, for your entire con.
duct condemns you as unworthy the name of
man."
Brave madame, you but echo my ideas"
hastily exclaimed the duke.
"You do not know the circumstances, my
WIFE"
"Your wife, monsieur, secured for YOU YOUR
present position. That you have disgrsced it is
no fault of hers" interrupted the duke
"What !" exclaimed Moas. Ernest, almost drop.
ping at the feet of the duke.
Yes, at masked ball this lady saw me, spoke
in your behalf 30 fervently that at once Sc.
cured you. She exacted secrecy; promised it,
But had known the character of the man, or
had she, am sure"
IS no more, duke, implore; but you, Lou.
Use, 10y our past love-for the sake of this dar.