The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-01

Some six months after their first ac-
QuaintanCe, Nine. GODDARD, sending Mad
eleine to take drive in her carriage,
asked private interview of the mar
quis.
"M. le marquis y said she, "yon have
known me now six months. What do
you think of me %
u think You noble, generous and
warm hearted, fun of truth, incapable
of deceit"
81 !" In fact, tolerably nice old woman?"
cold woman ?"
81 am an oldwoman; atiscspeeially
what want you to remember
Il am an old man, older than yOu,
therefore age has no demerits Oh me-"
mo, you are sixty, am fifty. What
are You going to do with your daugh-
ter and yourself? You are poor e
"Madame-n
Forgive me ;; am sincere and blunt"
" 9on are right, madame; I have moth
ing in the world.'
Yes, your namc.n
"That is worthless nOwadays.n
Some people would willingly pay
for it three millions"
"The La Fresnayes have never either
bought or sOld.n
t" l have, you seeA therefore propose
a bargain-a mere bargain. I am dy-
ing to have a title; I love Madeleine
as a!3i daughter. Yo4 can give both the
title and the daughter. Now do you
understand r.
"I do; but
" For your daughters sake. 1t is but
form, this marriage ceremony; at our
| age q mere civil contract. We shall
live like old friends in your chateau.
Come, for your daughters sake. Made
leine has told me her history. A dowry
! equal to that offered by Georges fathers
shall be hers on the day of our mar
| riage.7
'Madeleine-her happiness in my
power? Oh, Nine. GODDARD, the temp
tatlOn is too strong buthOw nngraci0us
toward you, nay generous, kind, noble
world is Madeleine"
"HShe shall be ours,o said Nine. God
ard and, with thrill of delight, she
said to herself, "I shall be mare quise
| after all"
Some weeks elapsed, the marquis and
Madeleine were in the home of their an
cestors' each happy in the others Joy,
and Mime. le 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 luxu-
~ and prosperity, pined and grew pale.
| Her manner was distracted and sad,
and her father watched her with ex-
trenle anxiety.
~ think can cure her," said Mime.
la Marquise (Godard;) } "let me try"
AS you like, my dearest madame.
You have been our good angel"
| In q few days the marquise announced
| that fhn nYTT.a faI Mo1n1oiDnfc ,,o1o,
chofy had arrived, and, opening the
door, introduced Georges Rigaults
| Madeleine uttered a 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,
claimed: 49,.
"Ts not this your doing? All, ma
dame. did you not let him know that I
was riCh?"
We'll, where's the harm 2"
:" There is no harm. It has shown
| Georges as he isl
9. Nay. Madeleine. I an my fathers
only child; could make him Wretched q
No; yOu were right, Georges only
you love me not as my husband should
love. YO7z love your father better, and
have lived till now without ME. Fare
well. love my father; this, too, my
kindest friend; their love shall suffice
me. We shall never meet again.
Madeleine was inexOrable, and
Georges in despair left the chateau.
Two years later, on a terrace Of one
the houses at Nice, which change of
tenants so Often-for, alas all come to
Nice to die-lay Il young girl, pale and
wan. The day was expiring, the sun
setting behind the hills, whilst the
waves OF the Mediterranean moafl6d on
the sands. With that day, the physi-
clans 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, az am going be-
fore you. Forgive me that Icodld not
live WITHOUT his love"
"Oh! Madeleine why keep him from
yOu7 [ forgive the Insult to our na1ne.' ~
heart. All! father, W0nan's pride il
greater than that of ancestry. Kind
friend-1HOthef, - added Madeleine, econ
sole hin-don't forget me-" ...--
All! my child, would give all, even
the pane value SO much beyond my
millions, to save yOu.n #. = ''-" T..' '-- =
But it was not to bes and when the
marquis and maTQuise returned To thei1
chateau their carriage f0llOwedEa bier,
over which Was d white and silver pail
and virgin wreath, and in the tomb OF
her ancestors the heir of tile last of the
La FTesnayes was laid. @ts
"Ah!H said the marquis, "T Thought to
buy happiness for my Madeleine, I have
given her a grave" -.