, 1873-05-11
his bad debts. This prudential, not to say
knavisb, aspect OF her conduct makes no differ
ence to Leonce, or, for that matter, to Browning.

knavisb, aspect OF her conduct makes no differ:
ence to Leouce, or, for that matter, to Browning
! Loonco says:
| Whatever be my lady1s present or past
Or future, this is certain Of myself,
love herl in despite Of all know,
| Defiance of the much have to fear,
venture happiness On what hope,
And love her from this day foreyernorel
| This devotion Of her lover turned Clara from
bad to good. She becomes O proper woman.
Ieonce and she cannot wed her husband stili
hVes,-but that makes no difference to such
pure natures. They will dwell together, and
hom eoit qui NAL pe4se. Her husband had
Paris. and, fearful that she would claim a share
in his bettered fortunes, had got q divorce from
bed and board. This, under French Ian, did not
permit Clara to marry. again., but who
cares? Even Leonce's mother, rho
seems to have been much more rigor-
ous about money-mattors than morals,
did not care. She uttered no word Of complaint
till Leonce-Whose father and brothers had op-
portunely died, leaving him heir to magnif-
old Priory. This had been the home Of her mar
ried life. It had been good enough for her and
her now aainted Miranda was It not good
enough for the unconventional Clara and
Leonce Then, for tho first time, abe uttera
disapproval. She laughs st
olaisyaux restored," and asked, "Whas means this
Do you tntsnd to 1oar to aeavsn from thence j.
From the sequel it appears that he had some
such intention. But, for the present, his only
thought is that life is not worth living, If his
mother does not like the addition he has built to
the house. He throws himself, rashly importu-
back to shore and Clara. His mother dies.
Then comes remorse. Ho reads tho let
ters which the guilty Clara had written
him. He resolves that he will purity
~ IL I 1-n3~+ -A-
them in the blazing grate.are saying, "Busn,
burn, and purity my past" Pulled away from
his mad self-cremation, he rushes back, crying,
Burn, burn, and purify. During the subse-
quent three months OF medical attention, NE are
told that his face wore smile Of ineRable Joy
he WAS purified. But no sooner is he well than
he goes back to Clsra. He could never part
from her again; but he tried to protect
his future BY vowing himself to the Virgin at La
Raviasante,-trying to serve two mistreeses, one
For two yenra he continues this dual devotion,-
refusing to give up lara,-trying to win absolu-
tion. For two years he wooed the Virgin /; he
adorned her image in the chapel with golden
crowns; he turned not his face away from any
poor man he made-and this was at Clara'e en-
uses Of the Church he prayed, and she-ahau
she not be forgiven because abe loved much p
prayed constantly at his side. And then thero
came morning when be was about to ride-a
Aa4& WILL nP11ut a4A WILL AoPSl oAp
would have thought, in the very air. Clara
was somewhat IL, and must be left behind He
bade her ood-bye-was there something III that
kiss which thrilled her lips with it's remembered
sweetness in the empty days afterward? Who
knows? When he had taken farewell OF her, ho
went up-stairB to the great tower, and stood
theirs looking of toward La Rayissante, Where
mas the beautiful Virgin-the Virgin Of his wor-
ship-whom, long ago, the angels brought there.
He looks toward the Virgin, and cries:
Behold me, Lady called The R.rtssante,
Such - am, gave myself to you
So long since that cannot aay ~ give"
He beseeches her to give him some sign she,
the miracle-worker, WAS borne to her place by
angels he prnys that the came angels will
bear him to her. He puts one foot over the
railing without fear. He believes that the an
gels will come; that he wil1 DO upborne; he
oven believes that his hands will be restored
to him; and that, some day, With them
be will lawfully we'd Glars. Meanwhile
he will abow his faith in his patron
Virgin. Flo puts forth his other foot, and from
tower to turf falls dead on his green lawn. The
gardener lifts him up, saying:
" Ugh-tho Red Night-cap!" {as he raifed the head)
This must b what be meant BY those strange words
While WAS wedding larkspurs, Yesterday,
Angels would take him i Mad7"
Not mad, but sane, says the poet.
Such being the conditions Of his life,
Such end OF life Has not Irrational.
Hold belief, you only half believe,
With all-1nomentous iasues, either way
And advise you initiate this leap.
Put faith to proof, be cured, or killed Ut oncai