Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-23
and sung. Oh, let me see him! Oh, let

|
me see him!'' z
Madeleine rushed forward, and, follow
ing the sound, entered the adjoining
room AS she stood on the threshold
she uttered shrek, and was clasped in
she arms of hel father.
"Father! oh father!"
"M lie Marquis" exclaimed Nine.
GODDARD, ''tuning my pianos, and his
daughter selling lace; this is too much"
Father, how could you hide this from
me?'
Darling, knew it would make you
wretched; but you, too, why are you
here?"
II had secret, too, father; / conceal
ed it from you, as you did from me. All,
father, do not shrink away. Why should
me, have worked for you; where is the
disgrace?"
Nowhere" exclaimed Nine. GODDARD,
nowhere; declare it makes me cry.
M. lie Marquis, pray come into this room.
Oh, my lord, that such an honor should
befall me. Well, none of the grandees
will visit me. Now, I've got the grand
est"
After little rest the Marquis. thank
ing his hostess, rose to 90, but Nine.
GODDARD was too proud of her guest
She insisted on taking them back in her
own splendid equipage.
From that hour there was not a day
that Madeleine did not receive visit
from Nine. GODDARD, and baskets of game,
fruit and flowers were each day sent
from the castle.
Some six months after their first ac-
quaintance, Nine. GODDARD, sending
Madeleine to take drive in her carriage,
asked private interview with the Mar
quis.
IN. lie Marquis" said she, "you have
known me now six months What do
you think of me?"
II think you noble, generous and
arm-hearted, full of truth, incapable of
deceit"
Gin fact, tolerably nice old woman"
| "Old woman?"
81 am an old woman; that is especially
what 1 want you to remember"
81 am an old man, older than you;
therefore age has no dement's on me-"
'No; you are sixty, am fifty. What
are you going to do with you daughter
and yourself You are poor"
"Madame-"
"Forgive me; am sincere and blunt"
"You are right, madame; I have moth
ing in the world"
eyes, your name"
THAT is worthless nowadays
"Some people would willingly pay for
it three millions"
The la Fresnayes have never either
| bought or Sold"
81 have, you see; therefore propose a
bargain-a mere bargain. l am dying to
have a title; I love Madeleine as
daughter. You can give both the title
and the daughter. Now do you under
stand?'
II do; but"
''For your daughters sake. 1t is but
form, this marriage ceremony; at our age
mere civil contract. We shall live like
old friends in your chateau Come, for
your daughters sake. Madeleine has told
me her history. A dowry equal to that
offered by Georges fathers shall be hers
on the day of our marriage"
''Madeleine-her happiness in my
power! Oh, Nine. GODDARD, the temp
tatior is strong; but how un gracious to-
ward you, my generous, kind, noble
hearted friend-my only affection in the
world is Madeleine"
''She shall be ours" said Nine. GODDARD;
and, with a thrill of delight, she said to
herself, 81 shall be Marquise after all"
Some weeks elapsed, and the MARQUIS
and Madeleine were in the home of their
ancestors, each happy in the others joy,
and Nine. la Marquise overwhelming them
both with love and gratitude, for she
pretended that the obligation was all on
her side
Yet Madeleine, in the midst of luxury
and prosperity, pinned and grew pale.
Her manner was distracted and sad, and
her father watched her with extreme anx-
iety.
81 think can cure her." said Nine. la
Marquise (Godard) "let me try"
GAS you like, my dearest madame. You
have been our good angel"
In few days the Marquise announced
that the cure for Medicines melancholy
had arrived, and, opening the door, intro
duced Georges Rigault.
Madeleine uttered cry and tainted in
her fathers arms, and Georges fell at her
feet.
Soon, however, Madeleine opened her
eyes. She did not smile on Georges,
but, turning to her step-mother, eXclaim-
ed:
els not this your doing? All, madame,
did you not let him know that l was
rich?"
"Well, where's the harm?"
"There is no harm. 1t has shown
Georges as he is"
"Nay, Madeleine 1 am my fathers
only child; could l make him wretched?"
mo; you were right, Georges; only
you love me not as my husband should
love. You love your father better, and
have livedti now without me. Farewell
I love my father; this, too, my kindest
friend; their love shall suffice me. We
shall never meet again"
Madeleine was memorable, and Georges
in despair left the chateau.
Two years later, on terrace Of one of
the houses at Nice, which change tenants
SO often-for, alas! all come to Nice to
delay y young girl, pale and wan. The
day was expiring, the sun setting behind
the hills, whilst the waves of the Mediter
ranean moaned on the sands. With that
day, the physicians had said, this young
girls life would end. Now a spasm
passed over her face, and she opened her
eyes.
"Father," said she, to the old man
who knelt beside her, 81 am going before
you. Forgive me that could not live
without his love-"
ooh! Madeleine, why keep him from
you? forgave the insult to our name"
81 could not forgive the insult to my
heart All! father, woman's pride is
greater than that of ancestry. Kind
friend-mother," added Madeleine, ICON
sole him-do not forget me-"
"Ah! my child, I would give all, even
the name VALUE so much beyond my