, 1872-12-29


] said she, with friehtful eagerness.
| "Deathl But you have great obligations to
fulfil to society, AIademoisele. Are not you the
mother of the poor to whom you give clothes,
| wood in winter, and work in sunlmer7 Your
| great fortune is o loan, which you must return,
and you have tolenn]y accepted it as such.
For you to bury yourself in convent would be
| egoism for remaining unmarried, you ought
| not to. In the first place, can you manage alone
your immense fortune2 You will perhaps lose
| it. You will soon have thousand lawsuits, and
you will bo entangled in inextricable difficulties.
| Believe your pastor; husband ia nseful; you
| should Keep what God has given you. I speak
to you as to cherished lamb. You love God
| too sincerely not to win your salvation in the
midst OF the world, Of which you are one Of the
noblest ornaments, and to which it is your duty
| to set holy example,"
| Just then, Madame Des Grassins was an-
nounced. She came-brought by revenge and
/! great despair.
| the Rector. I will be silent. / came to speak to
you OF business, and see that you are having
an important conversatlon:"
aladame," said the Rector. ~ leave the
field free to you"
"Oh!" said Eugenie. "come back in little
while; your support is Terynecessary to me just
now"
| "Yea, my poor child" said Madame Des dras-
sins.
"What do you mean ?" asked Mademoiseno
| G1andet and the Rector.
DO not know OF the return ct Of your cousin,
| anu m8 ulaII1AE6 10 MaQGlQOlE6u9 - AupElQA
A w0man's wits arc never asleep"
Eugene blushed and remained silent but Bhe
determined to assume for the future the impas-
sible face her father had worn.
doubtless my wita are asleep. for do not IN
derstand. Speak out speak before the Rector;
you know he is my spiritual guide.'
."Well, Madenoisele, this is what Des arss-
Sins writes me. Read"
Eugene read the following letter:
"My dear wife, Charles Grandet has returned
from the Indies, and has been i'll Paris for
4Dnu "a month /" said Eugenie to herself, letting
tho letter fall.
After pause, ehe picked it up again:
II have had to dance attendance twice before
J could speak to tho future Viscount D'Aubrion.
tue bans are published-"
: "So he wrote to mo at the time when--''
!: said Eusenie to herself. She did not finish ;
che did not ezclain', like Partisan woman, "Tho
| ecoundrell' But, though not expressed, the
: contempt was none tho less complete.
"-- this marriage is fer from being made !;
the Marquis D'Aubrion will not give his daugh-
ter to the son Of bankrupt. told him Of the
{ er'a affairs, and the sklful mannuvres by which
, we had succeedod in keeping the creditors quiet
, up to this time. And this impertinent little fell
had the face 70 reply to m'o s who for
b1a his MS fatbers 's'ss1s ars no es
) not his. 4 referee would have right to demand
St ha e ee G5 oa e
T debtedness. But patience!- he is legally ln-
, debted to the creditors to tho amount Of 1,2o0-
600 francs, and will have his father declared o
! bankrupt went into this business trusting to
thai old crocodile Of Grandet, and have made
promises in the name Of the family. II the Viscount
D'Aubrion cares SO little for his honor, mine in-
. terests me very much. So intend to explain
i my position to the creditors. Nevertheless, I
, have too much respect for 11ademoiselle
I Eugenie, OF an alliance with whom VIC had
. thought in happier days, to act until you have
, spoken to her Of tflis matter--"
Here Eugenie coldly handed back the letter
, | without finishing it. ~ thank yon," said sic
Tat"
"You1 voico was e1actly like your dead
: fathers just then" said Madame Dea Gras8ins:
one hundred francs in gold" said Eanon to her.
: "That is 80; be so kind "a to come With me,
M1s Cornoiller-"
, The Rector left; Mademoise1lo Grandet. went
:, to her fathers closet, and spent the whole day
there, not even coming down at dinner time, in
spite OF Nanon's urging: Sne appeared in tbs
: evening, at tho time when her usual visitors
i ieon as 1ull .s it was that evening: The new:
: Of the return and Of tho stupid treachery o1
3 Charles had been disseminated through the
= whole city. But, however attentive was the Gu:
: riosty Of the visitors, it VIE not satisfied. Eu'
! genie, who had expected 1t, betrayed on hcl
t calm features none Of the cruel emotions which
l l agitated hor. She assumed smiling face te
. reply to those who wished to show her their con
cern by melancholy looks or words. In short
. she was able to cover her unhappiness with the
: evil OF poiiteness. About O'Clock the gamer
i camo to an end and the players left their tables
;, paying their bets, and discussing the last plays
:. at whist, as they joined the circle Of takers
i When the aasemblage roso in a body to leave ths
room there occurred sensation which resound
ed in saumur, and afterwards in tho district
and in the four surrounding prefecturas.
+ "Please stay Mr. President" said Engenie tt
u Monsieur de Bonfons, as she SAW him sake hi
cane.
There was no one in tho large gathering wht
-, did not feel an emotion at these words The
u u President grew pale, and Tas obliged to 81
q down.
"The President will have the Millions" sait
j. Mademoisele de G1ibeaucourt.
% at is plain that the President will MARI,
= Mademoiselle Grandet," exclaimed Malam'
d d "This is the best play in tho game" said tn
- Able.
~ at is n fine Sian" )" eaid the notary.
o Each one said his say ; each one made hi
1t pun; all aaw the heiress mounted upon he
millions as upon pedestal: The drama begun
" nine years before had reached its denoument
d To tell the Presldent in the face OF al Saumur
to remain, WAS not it proclaimng that sh
81 wanted to make him her husband? In smal
n towns, the proprieties are SO strictly observed
n that violation of this kind constitutes Their
If the most solemn OF promises.
" "Mr. President" said Eugene to him, in 81
Is agitated voice, when they wore alone '' / know
t. what pleases you in me-. Swear to leave me- fro
10 during my whole life, and to remind me Q
.. none OF the rights which marriage gives yo'
N over mo. and my hand is yours. Oh II continues
. she, as she sAw him kneeling, :" have not sal
: ill. / must not deceive you. Sir, l have an in
y e1tingnishable passion in my heart Friendship
+ will be the only feeling can give my husband
!, wish noither to offend him, nor to act counte
r to the laws Of my heart. But you cal
~ possesB my hand and fortune only at the pric
10 Of q great SERVICE"
= "}ou see me ready for anything" said til
!. President.
ic s.Here aro 1900, 600 francs" said she, talzin
" from her bosom certificate OF hundred share
j. in the Bank Of France. "Leave for Paris, no
Or tomorrow, not tonight but Immediately. G.
! to Mr. Des Grassins, find the names of all m
e. uncle's creditors, get them together, and pa
the full amount OF tho indebtnoas Of hi
to estate, the principal With interest a
1e per cent from the day the debt WAS incurred t
ID the day Of payment; then you will please hav