Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-06-05
turer: ian elderly, respectable man, -


NJ lie Cure de St. Rambert all this time
was standing in the window, blankly be-
neyolent, with his hands meekly slipped
into his sleeves. Little Mathilde had sub
sided into a chair near the door of an inner
room. What a comfortable interior it was,
rich and warm, with the prosperous lady
tucked up in her satin dressing-gown by the
fire, with clocks of every century ticking and
pointing to the hour -. "This is
Mademoiselle's hour for receiving. they
seemed to say-three O'Clock, three clock y
They seemed to be as obsequious as the rest
of the household. Nlademoiselle went on to
explain -
This gentleman. not knowing of my poor
brothers death, has written to him on the
Subject of a machine, that confess we had
put away without much idea of future use.
| have invited him to come over end examine
it for himself, lie makes me an offer for it
which | consider sufficient. for my dear
brother had initiated me into his affairs. \
large offer. So much the better for your
poor, NJ. lie Cure she said, arcbly, speak
Ing in the sing-song voice which is so much
used by the extra good in common CONVEX
sation. At one time of my life was inclin
ed to respect this tacit profession of superiori
ty, but now doubt whether anything which
i not in itself superiority is of much use,
either to the impressor OF to the impressed,)
My poor viii pray for you day and
night. said the Cure. "Chore Mademoiselle,
| have not vet seen our dear child -
"She is in the next room, NJ. le Cure;
NIathilde will call her, if You wish to see
her. You will find her very happy, very
firm in her determination. It i very heauti-
full she said, turning to us; Il have two
sisters in converts. and this dear child,
orphan daughter of my brother, is now
about to profess She has come home to bid
Us larewell-a sweet farewell for her-but
for me the sacrifice j. terrible-iS it not,
Mathilde ?'
''Oh, yes, Mademoiselle tell her it Is
too much = said Mathilde. nervously; and,
appealing to the Cure Monsieur, persuade
them To defer this beautiful sacrifice.
Mademoiselle needs the society Of her niece
She often tells me that it Is a new life to
her
The Cure, thought, looked Slightly puz-
zled he was about to speak, when the door
from the inner room opened, and the
Blanche of whom they had been speaking
came in. She was dressed in a white dress
Of some loose and soft material; She wore
big white apron, and her long sleeves fell
over her hand, - that nothing showed but
five little pink iinger-tops. She came gently
into the room, looked round, and then, see
ing the Cure. deliberately turned away
again. passed back into the room from which
She had lust come, and softly closed the
4 |. IL u, 4 ls,+
We none of Us knew what to say, untilthe
Cure suggested "timidite" after her long
Seclusion. NIademoiselle laughed, show
ing a row Of white. dazzling teeth. II.
flushed up, and said it was time to 20.
Il hope. -he said. as She took leave,
''that You may be able To make up Your
mind to keep your niece with YOU. ] quite
understand your feelings a child with the
gift of life and with years OF happiness and
usefulness before her-it is fearful re>pon-
sibiiity that you take when you put her
away from it all" II. stoad looking into
the old lady face, with kind, constrlinius
eyeS.
ooh, yes. indeed. Madame" said
Mademoiselle, solemnly; and indeed She
spoke with some emotion. But who would
dare 10 70 against a true vocation Blanche
i, not the first in our family TO give herself
mp to this holy service of love and | who
am the last of the latoueheS, must not shrink
from my share of the'sacrifee. -
II. could not trust herself TO speak She
was almost crying, and quite overcome, and
was glad t. get her away. There were all
sorts Of stories about the family at the
Chateau. Madame Nalentin. our iandady-
worShipped 'the grnde Mademoi>ele, as
some ot the people in the place used To call
her. She was one oi the privileged ADMIT
ted to her presence. The castle was lett |