The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-31

g filed them with terror.
. At night-fall the baron arrived. H
l was ann. unced. The maid lighte
g several candles, closed the broad shut
ters of the windows, and placed sea
1 beside the door; not chair for friend
but chair for a stranger.
The Cuban uttered long drawn sigl
, and approached Madame, who was seat
ed before the fire, calmly surveying the
motions of the girl she seated herselt
at Madame's feet and fixed her eyes
upon the door.
Madame ad justed the nearest candles
: With her own hand, carefully arranged
the pillows which supported her, and
drew the folds of her dress so that il
embellished her figure to it's best de-
gree. During these preparations it
seemed as if the fire of youth had as ain
descended upon her; her head arose,
her eyes burned, and new energy was
impaired to all her motions.
The light fell upon the persons of the
two ladies and also the chair beside the
door. All the rest of the apartment
was in partial obscurity. Madame bade
the girl admit the visitor and then to
withdraw.
There then ensued one of these mo-
ments whose intensity provokes the
blood, oppresses the brain, and sharp
ems the ear and eye one in which the
walls seem to live, the timber-worms to
crunch, and particles of dust to MUIR
muir as they float in the air.
A step approached. Madame's body
was seized by convulsion i'll spite of
herself, and she closed her fingers upon
the freezing hand of the Cuban.
There entered a slight man of me
dium height, whose hair was somewhat
gray and whose bearing was that of a
soldier. He wore long gray coat,
and he carried his hat and his cane in
his hand. He had quick eye, small
mustache, and face Of faultless out
| line.
He was easy but not careless. His
| glance rested for an instant upon the
white and clear visage of his aged
wife, who regarded him steadfastly, and
then he bowed deeply.
! After an instant of quiet he again
raised his eyes, and encountered those
of the Cuban.
He retreated step, parted his lips
as if about to make an exclamation,
raised his hand and his hat few
inches but here he caught himself. The
came to the surface He bowed for the
second time and remained in that po-
| sition. He seemed to expect an out
burst
None came.
The two women in close embrace con-
templated him as if he were an appari-
ton. Their faces were outwardly illu
minated by the candles, but their keen
vitality emanated from within. Their
features radiated upon the baron all the
heats of sublime scorn; their eyes gave
out flames of bitterness their pallid,
waxen, and immovable visages emitted
the very spirit of reproach, even though
the smallest muscles lay undisturbed.
The profound silence was occupied
by that subtle graduating of tempers
which finally leads to speech that I'M |
conscious descent to level where the |
heart may declare itslef.
But Madame retained the growing |
impulse; it seemed as if she were re- |
ssting a food. She permitted only a
few words to pass her lips. he adj
dressed the baron =
You see that we two have en-
countered each other"
"Yes," replied the baron in good |
English, and with an undisturbed voice, |
"I see that you are there"
"Then presume that what appears |
to be true, is true?" inquired the wife.
Perfectly" responded the other.
The hands of the two women clasped
more tightly, and another significant |
pause ensued. The guest retained his
position; he still kept his face secreted.
aud still presented the top of his head
to the light. He did not move hairs
breadth; lie seemed to take refuge be-
hind himself.
Madame produced from beneath a
napkin on the table small decorated
porcelain box, Ornamented with elabo-
rate edges of quilted metal. She placed
it on the side of the table which was
nearest the baron, saying at the same
time in soft and equable voice -
"Here, Lucien, is something desire
to present to you. The box contains
some jewels, and perhaps you, who are
to remain in the world some time longer,
may find them useful. They are the
last 1 have, and think they are valua-
BILE. Come and take them now, for /
wish our connection to be severed by
this final surrender of the remnant of
the pillage. [ cannot rise aud give them
to you. Come and take them"
The man, after an instant, advanced
slowly with an easy tread. He laid his
hand upon the box. He raised it an
inch, but it slipped. His fingers trem-
bIed, though his pace was immovable.
His perturbation appeared, as it were,
through a crevice.
He seized the cask a second time,
and then he retired backwards to his
first position. He smiled, and he now
regarded the two women with steady
scrutiny. He rose superior to them
he had achieved his best object without
conflict, and he had encountered the
worst that could possibly befall him
the door and his carriage were close at
hand France and Paris lay beyond.
He hadsbut to turn his back to rid him
self forever of two disagreeables, there
fore he looked leniently upon their final
attacks.
The Cuban was prostrated her sobs
and sighs filled the air, and the convul-
sions of her face and hands afforded the
only stir in the quiet apartment.
Madame's little flush of strength be-
gan to fade even after this short trial,
and what suffering had done reappeared
above what she had assumed. The
scars which she had hidden come to the
view again. Her back grew bowed, the
hollow in her neck grew deep, her head
nodded, and her hands shook from side
to side in her lap.
She kept her eyes fixed upon her hus-
band.
eve have come to the end, at last,
Lucien," said she in low and uncer-
tain urder-tone, "and for me nothing
more remains. l have lived have
performed my task ; 1 have borne my
burden there are no more blows or joys
to be given to me. But am still alive;
I have my senses and my reason. Let
me see if 1 cannot do something more.
(She looked down for an instant at the
girl at her feet, and tenderly placed a
hand upon her head.) eyes," she
continued, 81 can prevent people from
saying of this poor child, She and an
other are the wives of an adventurer.'
How thev may regard me does not mat
ter now I do not care it is al one if
they discover that I have no proof of
my marriage. II pleases me to imagine
can vanish, and by so doing add to the
reality of her position towards you. If
they should say to her child, You come
from wrongful marriage, he will be