The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-08-10


Merret at La Breteche wa on the grount
floor. A little closet, abo'ut four feet deep
let into the wall, served for her wardrobe
For three months before the evening tn
events of which ! am going to relate t.
you, she had been seriously indisposed; ant
her husband had, accordingly, slept in ;
chamber on the first floor. By one o.
those accidents which it is impossible tt
foresee, he returned, on the evening in
question, two hours later than usual fren
the clab which he frequented. His wife
thought that he had come in long before
and gone to bed, and that he was asleep
But tire invasion of France had been the
subject of an animated discussion; the
game of billiards had been exciting, and
he had lost forty francs-an enormus sum
at Vendome, where everybody lays his
money by, and where the habits of tho peo-
pie are contained within tho bounds OF
a praiseworthy moderation. For some
time past, u. de Meret had contented
himself with asking Resale if his wife had
gone to bed; and after the girls answer,
which was invariably in the affirmative, he
had retired at once to his chamber. But
this time it occurred to him to go into
Madam de Merret's room to give her an
account of his ill-luck. Instead of calling
Rosalie, who was at this moment in the
kitchen, looking on while the cook and
coachman played difficult hand at brioque,
NJ. de Merret set down his hand lamp up.
on the bottom step of the staircase, and
walked by it's light toward his wife's room.
His step was not difficult to recognize, as
it echoee along the corridor. AS he turn
ed the handle, he thought he heard some
one close the door Of the closet; when,
however, he entered, Madam de Merret
was alone, standing before the fireplace
The husband, in his simplicity, thought at
first that Rosalie was in the closet; but
when he looked at hB wife, he found in
her eyes and indescrib,ble trouble and dis
may.
"You are very late, she said.
Her voice, generally so pure and sweet,
seemed to him to be slightly altered in its
tone. NJ. de Merret id not answer, for
Just at this moment Roalie entered. This
revelation struck him ike a thunderbolt.
He began to walk up and down the room
between the windows al uniform pace,
his arms folded before HIM.
"Have you heard anything to annoy
you, or are you unw'll''' his wife asked
him timidly, while Roalie undressed her.
He was still silent.
"Leave me-" said 1adam de Merret to
her maid. 81 will cul my hair myself"
The expression of Ter husbands face
told her to prepare br some misfortune,
and She wished to be alone with him.
When Rosalie was gon, or supposed to be
gone, for she renlaine' some instants iii
the corridor, NJ. de Meret took seat in
front of his wife, and sid coldly:
Madam, there is ,ome one in your
dressing-closet.'
She looked at her hsband calmly, and
said, with and air of Simplicity
"NO, monsieur"
This "no" dumbfouded 81. de Merret.
He did not believe it; nd yet never had
his wife appeared to I'm more disnitied
and innocent than athls moment. lie
rose to open the close but Madam de
Merret took his hand, nd him back, and
looked at him sadly, sTing to him in
tone Of peculiar emot on
eff you find no one, member that all
will be over between us.
The incredible dignitof his wifc's at |
titude created in him pfound sentiment
of esteem for her, and inbred him with
sudden resolution. /
"Then, Josephine, Vi not open that
door. In either case, wshould seperate'i y
forever. Listen to me! know all the pur-
ity of your soul; 1 know at the life YOU
lead is religious; you wdd not be guilty,
of deadly sin to save yG llte'
At these words, MADAME de Merret look -
ed at her husband with Hgard eyes, nv
"See, here is your crucx,' he went or W.:
"Swear to me before Gothat there is ~,
| one there; will believe III will new
open that door, ~
,,o;fx let I
said: w
al swear it,"
LOUDER" said her huaid, "and w.
peat my words: 4 sweaneore God Il
S,o .., -, his "
| mari
az. ill.,, =, a.,,.uo. IA The
., been
q Ill ii I'D
which T b,ro 49,. >, b,H &C \ bongl
amined the crucifx. Itw q ebon. W." ~:
laid with silver, and 'hs~rk 81 ''O sN
great artistic skill. ,,T
81 picked it up It uivierIe ..;,,
bought it of Spania NH whee ..Isa,
prisoners passed thrash VelonSt a., -
year." | 'i"i %
"Oh!' said NJ. de MERE hghp not W,
the crucifix again upa its nil. has re
He rang the bell. 2osalieliueep The
him waiting. He wat hastl tner, davs
took her into the eYrasure d 7 ow sounds
which looked out on the find ,JosepI
said to her in 10 %t'c': for me
81 know that as flot waatfrry would
you, and it is Q !LnaIs,,verty tAents but al,
you from settlipl r Mnn; you hah him "Y,
that you will bs bm ,fe until lnade that IL
himself master e'd Well efind
him, and telt ,one h. his AN
'ro"ei anu " 'ooisI caio beques
no' 70 a"af f aslii e'Se ipouSe' my pr
HIS ioisane Cierit " cai eldest
WISH ~0m oo' Aeepnsue der, al
quiet as yt NJ otherwis' rost