The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-01
" Nothing"
" "NOfhing.n

Nothing! OhIoh! Then I see you
cOndescensiOn was a mere trap to es-
cape giving yOHr daughter a dowry;
thank you, Jacob Rigault is not to be
taken ill.," With these words NJ. Ri
gault bOlted from the room, and in an
other instant the wheels of his carriage
We're heard grating on the gravel road.
Madeleine, pale with astOnishment and
apprehension, now rushed into her IA
theirs presence.
" Father, he is gOne-wlat does it
mean? 2"
1t means, my child, that you must
try to be satisfied with your fathers
love. The marriage is broken off"
Broken Otf?n
'' lie exacted Il dOwry."
And you refused to give one D.
81 refusedn
ooh, fatherw exclaimed Madeleine,
p" have deserved this? | have borne,
without murmuring, the privation of all
my birth and your fortune entitle me to.
| have respected your weakness, re-
fused to think what all the world said
OF you. But oh! father, can you prefer
your money to your child's happiness?
Oh! it will be hard to love you now"
added Madeleine, in bitterness of spir-
it, her bosom heaving, her nOstrils di-
lated with passion, her eye flashing.
The marquis rose. Madeleine, my
child" said he, " forgive you, for yOu
speak without knowing. | am not IL
mlser, but ruined man.
Madeleine turned around to him in
wonder.
A ruined man-ruined years ago to
save an only brother. For him | mort
gagged my estates and lost them. Yes,
the chateau Of La Fresnaye, the home
OF my ancestors, the home where you
We're born, Is gone forever; sold, passed
into other hands,"
"Oh, fatler!" exclaimed Madeleine,
falling at his feet, ''forgive me. Georges
isnothing more to me; yOu-you are all to
me; we will live for each other. Oh!
why did you not tell me this, dearest,
most patient father Sometimes Ihave
doubted your love, doubted you; now
we can, be happy again, very happy in
this peaceful retreat"
"Ah child, that may not long be left
us. Yet ] could not say to this man
am ruined. am beggar; no, knew
the popular opinion OF ME, and rather
passed for what he thOughtme-am miser'
Never, from that hour, did Madeleine
again refer to Georges. IF she wept, it
was in secret her father never saw her
tears.
Not long, however, were they des-
tined to enjoy their calm retreat. The
creditors of the Marquis, having seized
everything else, had at lengh discovered
this last remnant of his property. and
once again the Marquis disappeared
from Montague, never again to return,
for in a few weeks they leveled the cot
tage, and btl1t on its site a factory.
oh Il
spite of the absence of its masters, was
in a state of brilliant magnificence. It
had been bought by the widow of a
hardware merchant, a fine, robust. flOr-
id buxem dame, approaching her tiftieth
year, but bent upon enjoying the three
millions her husband had left. She had
hut two sorrows in the WOrll: one was
that she had not been a widow twenty
years. sooner, the other that she had not
been bern in the higher ranks of society.
Since she had entered inte the posses
sion OF the chateau de Fresndye, her
aim had been to- assume the state Of d
great lady. She had taken great pains
to engage such servents as had former
ly served i'll the chateau. Nine. GODDARD.
for such was theiname it was her sorrow
to bear, was naturally kiffi-hearted
woman, and having heard that-the late
Marquis! was. exceedingly charitable,
she gOStenfafiO iOsuly yOverWfelmed theten-
! ANTS with her kindness.
This, however, could not prevent her
original love- OF d great bargain. One
day Mmes Goddard, was called OH to re-
ceiTe, q young WOrk-wOman from Allen
con, who had brought her some speci-
mems of the beautiful lace that bears
| this name. ...E
| >, A. NJ, No,9o,,,9 .r,,~o.s 90. Il e. u 7.
| suits, it was her delight to dazzle those
she did receive with her magnifcence,
! and she ordered the young girl to be
shown into the great saloon. On enter
ing, however, great was Nine. 'Godard's
surprise to find the young girl standing
bathed in tears, before the portrait Of
the late MarquiSe de Fresnaye. ....
'Madem0iselle," said Nine. GODDARD
calling her attention. to the entrance,
chow could you know the marquise,
she has been dead SO many years ~
Yes, MANY years, but I can never, new
er forget herr
"tShe was your benefactress 2"
Alas no matter, madame; will you
look at the laceP .. III, :;
"Mademoiseellle, what is your name
"Madeleine." ,....-.., ...
Madeleine y At this moment a SER
| want entered with message to Nine
| GODDARD, and. seeing Madeleine, he start
| ed'back, exclaiming, "Mlle. de la FFes-
1raye y -, e.. ..u -.., 49,
Mime. GODDARD, rushing toward Made
leine. For heavens sake, mademOi-
selle, sit down. Good gracious, what
an honor! How can this be ?" =.
Madame, we are poor very poor
ana!my father is. proud. l work; with
out his knowledge and so disguise my
| If the world knew-~=-=7--"' i. .-.......... ...
/ "Peor! A marquis poor, and GODDARD
made three millions by selling kettles
.sSnd .saucepans? y .s ....... :, ,g..s.t-
." WHAT'S that ~ exclaimed Mad deIeine
.starting up as the sound of music from
an adjoining room broke In upon them
| "It is nothing; only an old man tun-
| ing one of my pianOes." 90. ...... .....- ii
| That is an air my mother composed
and sung. Oh. let me see. him! Oh, let me
see him IT,: .. - ........ ...
| Madeleine rushed forward, and
| following the sound, entered the
| adjoining room. As she stood on
the threshold she uttered a shrek, and
was clasped IN the arms of her father
| "IFatherv OH father" ~. .....
IN. le Marquis = exclaimed Nine. Co
| dard, tuning my pianos, and his daugh.
| ter selling lace this is too much"
! Father, how could you hide this from
Darling. knew it would make you
| wretched; but Yon, too, why are you
II had a secret, too, father T. con.
cealed it from you as You did from me
All, father, do not shrink away. Why
should yoI be ashame{f7 You have
| worked for me, 7 have worked for you
| y1yI,iarn Is 41lc disors9mfs 9f II