The Hartford herald., 1875-03-24

Hdily see DOtniuB dOOVe virtue, Wnen
see it at all, which is not often. Further
more, madame. j feel confused at the inn
portanee you attach to my opinion. The
secret of my likes and dislikes is quite
simple; have, as was telling you, the
most religious respect for virtue, but all
mine is limited to deep-seated sentiment
of few essential duties which prac-
tise as best / can;lI. could not therefore
ask any more OF others. As to the intel-
ieet, ] confess that value it greatly, and
life seems too serious a matter to be treat
ed on the footing Of perpetual ball, from
the cradle to the grave. Moreover, the
productions of the mind, works of art in
particular, are the object of my most pass
sionate preoccupations, and it is natural
that l should like being able to speak of
what interests US. That's all.
as it absolutely necessary to be forev-
er talking of the ecstaeies of the soul, of
cemeteries. and the Venus of Milo, in or
der to obtain in your opinion the rank Of
a serious woman and woman of taste2
Bnt, after all, you are right; / never think:
if did for one single minute, it seems to
me that should go mad, that my head
would split And what do you think
about yourself. in that old convent cell2"
81 thought a great deal about you,"
replied gayly, ION the evening of that day
when you hunted me down so unmerci-
fully, and abused you most heartily"
II can understand that" She began
laughing, looking all around her, and
added: what a lovely valleyi what a de-
lightful evening" And now, are you still
disposed to abuse me?" t4.
snow, wish from the bottom Of my
soul were able to do something for your
happiness"
''And for yours" she said quietly.
l bowed for an answer, and a brief
pause followed:
"IfI were man." suddenly said Mad
anne de Paine, 81 believe would like to
| be hermit"
''Ohl what pityw
"The idea does not surprise you?'
"No, madame"
Nothing from me would surprise you,
suppose. You believe me capable OF
anything-of anything, perhaps even of
being fond of your
"Why not3 Greater wonders have
been seenl Am not fond of you myself
at the present moment? That's fine ex-
ample to followl"
"You must give me time to think
about it?' ..----r -- ...
''Not longl"
GAS long as il may be necessary. We
are friends in the meantimeT
IF we are friends, there is nothing fur
ther to expect" | said, holding cut my
hand frankly to the Little Countess. !
felt that she was pressing it lightly, and
conversation ended there. We had reach
ed the top Of the hills; it was now quite
dark. and we galloped all the rest of the
way to the chateau.
As I was coming down from my room
for dinner / met Madame de Malouet in
the vestibule. ..,.-. .t...
SWELL" she said laughingly, "did you
eonform to the preseription?" ---
"Rigidly, madame .s--.
Excellent She is satisfied now, and
30 are you" ~
"Amenl" I said.
The evening passed off without further
incident. l took pleasure in doing fol
Madame de Palme some trifling service:
which she was no longer asking. She lef
the dance two or three times to come anC
address me some good jests thai
passed through her brain, and when
withdrew, she followed me to the dool
with smiling and cordial look.
ask you now, friend Paul, to sift th,
precise meaning and the moral of thil
tale. You may perhaps judge, and
hope you will, that chimerical imagina
tion can alone magnify into an event thii
vulgar episode of society life; but if yol
see in the facts have just told you th,
least germ of danger, the slightest ele
ment of a serious complication, tell me 80
I'll break the engagements that were t,
detain me here some ten or twelve days
and I'll leave at once.
l do not love Madame de Paine; I car
not and will not love her. Ny opinion o
her has evidently changed greatly; lool
II upon her henceforth as a good little wo
man. Her head is light and will Away
be so, her behavior is better than she get
credit for, though perhaps not as good a
she represents it herself: finally, her hear
has both weight and value. l feel som,
friendship for her, an affection that ha
something fraternal in it; bat betweel
her and rue, nothing further is at all likely
the expanse Of the heavens divide us. Tn
idea of being her husband makes m
burst out laughing, and through senti
ment which you will readily appreciate
the thought ofbeing her lover inspires m
with horror. As to her, / believe sh
may feel the shadow Of caprice. but no
even the dawn OF passion. Here | an
now upon her etagere with the rest Of tn
fgure-heads, and think, as Madame
Malouet, that may be enough to satisf
her. However, what do you thing of
yourselfs I. -,
Continued next week.