, 1872-12-01

face With tho grief from which nothing calls her
away, she goes down to the very depths Of the
abyss she has opened, measures it, and often
vas vas it With Eugenle. She initiated herself IN
her fate to feel, to love, to suffer, to devote
ones self, will always be the text Of woman's
life. Eugenie Was to be the embodiment Of
woman, minus that which consoles her. Her hap
pinees, if gathered up, like the nails studding
wall, to use the sublime expression OF Bossnet,
was never to all the hollow Of her hand. Sor-
rows are never accustomed to delaying; and
hers came coon. The day after Charles LETT,
the Grsndet house looked IS usual to every
body except Eugenie, who suddenly found it
very empty. Unknown to her father, she wish
ed that Charles room should remain in the con-
dition in which he had left it. Madame Grendet
and Nanon we're willingly accomp1ices in this
"Who knows but what be will come back
sooner than ne believe r" said she.
sob, 7 should be glad to See him here" said
Nauon. ~ had really gotten used to him. He
vas zeIX plsasant yfry perfect 3 gen5emanG
looked It Nanon. ;" Holy Virgin, Mademoiselle,
YOU have eyes which can damn your soul. Do
not look at people like that
Since that day, the beauty Of Mademoiselle
thoughts Of love, which slowly took possession
Of her soul, and the dignity OF the woman who
is beloved, gave her features that radiance which
painters typifY by the aureole. Before her cous-
ins coming Eugenie could hare been compared
to the Virgin before the conception when be
had gone, She resembled the Virgin Mother, She
had Conceived love. These two Maries, 80 differ
ent, aud so well represented by some Spanish
painters, form one Of the most radiant figures
| among those with which Christianity abonnds.
day after Charles departure, and where she had
made q vow to so every day, abe got, from
the bookseller in the city, map Of the world,
| which abe nailed up near her mirror, in order to
| follow her cousin in his route to the Indies, in
order to be able to put herself, for little while
| each morning and evening, in the vessel which
bore him there. to see him, to ask him thou
| sand questions, to Say to linn, Are you well
Do not sou suffer ? Do you truly think of me-
as you see that stcr, whose beauties and uses
yon taught me to know % Then, in the morning.
che stayed pensive under the walnut tree, seated
| on the wooden bench, worm-eaten and garnlshed
with gray mosses, where they had said to one
another 30 many pleasant things. and go much
| in Spain Of their pleasant domestic life. She
| Thought Of the future as she looked at the mar
| row stretch OF sEy which the walls allowed her
| to see as she looked ut the old piece OF wall,
word, it vas solitary love, the true love
which endures, which insinuates itself into
every thought, and becomes the substance, or as
our fathers would have said, the staff Of life.
When the so~ca1led friends Of Father Grandet
came in the evenings to visit, she WAS gay, she
she talked of Charles with her mother and
Eanon. Nanon had understood that she
young, mistress without failing to her duties
toward her old master, ehe who said to Eugenie:
:" + had had man Of my own, would have-
followed him to he'll. would have-why-. In
eelf for him; but-no. I shall die without
knowing what life is. Would YOU believe It.
Mademoiselle, that that old cornyiller, who is .
good man nevertheless, is hanging around my
who come here to scent out your father;s money,
willie paying attentions to you. se6 this be-
cause + am still smart, though am big as
tower; well, Mademoiselle, that pleasea me,
though it is not love"
life, once 80 monotonous, had been enlivened
by the immense interest of the secret which
bound these three women more closely together.
Tor them, under the grayish ceiling Of that
6ittingy-room, Charles lived, and still moved.
Evening and morning Eugene opened the toilet
case. and looked ct the portrait Of her aunt.
Ore Sunday morning che Mas caught by her
mother as she Vas trying to find Charles fea-
lures in those of the picture. Madame Grandet
vas then nitinted in tho terrible secret OF the
exchange mads by Charles with En5enies s
savings.
stricken mc*I1er M But what vii you 1a1a say 70
your fatter on He,v Years Day, when lie wants
to zee your gold2"
Ergeaie'S eyes became set, and theso two wo-
Al 1to4 tCI1o1 1o4 A1141 VI t0b
morning, Tkey were so troubled that they
missed high mass, and went only to
1ow masa. In three dsys. tho year 1919
would close. In three days there was to begin
out poison, or dagger, or bloodshed, but which
for the actors was more cruel than all the dramas
performed by the illustriouH family OF the
AIidae.
Grandet to her daughter, dropping her knitting
on her1ap.
The poor mother had undergone so many
troubles 1or couple Of months, that the wool
len sleeves she needed for winter wear we're not
get finished. This domestic incident. apparent
II insignificant had unfortunate results for her.
Owing to the want Of these sleeTes she had be-
como badly chilled, while in a perspiration
caused by frightful fit Of anger Of her hus-
band.
II was thinking, my poor child, that if you had
trusted me- with your secret, we would have had
time to write to Paris to AIr. des Grassins He
could hare sent US gold coins similar to yours;
and, though Grandet knows them perfectly,
perhaps-"
" But where could We have gotten 80 much
money!"
's would have pledged my own effects.
Besides, Mr.. des G1assins would certainly
s. 1t is too late" replied Eugenie, in a hollow
and q d changed voice, interrupting her mother.
room, aad wish him happy New Year Z"
y, but. my daughter, Why cannot ] 60 and SEQ
the Cruchots ?"
'.No, no, that would be giving me up to them,
and putting Us in their power. Besides, have
made up my mind. have done right. I re-
pent Of nothing. God Will protect me. May
His holy will be done. All, if you had read his
letter, you would have thought but Of him, my
mother
The next morning, the LIST Of January, 1920,
the utter terror to which the mother and daugh-
ter were prey, suggested to them the most
natural of excuses to avoid the ceremonial visit
to Grandet's room. Tho winter Of 1819-20 was
one Of the most severe Of that period. The
snow covered the roots.
Madame Grandet said to her husband, as soon
as she heard him moving around in his room.
"Grandet. please make Nanon make little fire
in here; the cold is so sharp that am freezing
nnder the bedc1othes. I have reached an age
where need some consideration. Besides"
continued she. after . brief pause. s.Eugerie
will COME and dress here; that poor girl may get
sick if she makes her toilet in her own room in
such weather. Then re will go and wiah you =
happy New Year, by the fire in tho sitting room."
'.1'a, ta, ta, to, what tongue! How you do
begin the year, Madame Grandet! You have
never talked as much; ard yet you have not
taken bread soaked in wine, I fancy" There
was momentary silence. '' Well" continued
=