Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-30

whole atmosphere of the place was bewi-
dering.
As stood near one of the great bronze
doors a lady, veiled and gathering the
folds of her mantle closely about her
throat, passed me with q light step. The
figure was exquisitely graceful and l
watched herewith young mans idle GU
riosity as she knelt at prayers, wondering
if her face was worthy of her form. As
she rose fresh breeze from an opening
door blew back her veil and l caught a
passing glimpse of her features.
All the blood in my veins rushed madly
to my heart Surely it was the face of my
dreams-the face of my friends Margue-
rite! Yet il seemed a younger face; per
haps less Madonna-like than in the piet-
ure, haloed by cloud-like drapery. You
see had not forgotten the slightest pecul.
iarity of the photograph. l could have
sworn to the very pattern of the lace.
Before | recovered my senses she had
disappeared.
For three days | haunted the Madeleine
in vain. On the fourth caught glimpse
of her again, STOPPING to drop coin in
the hand of pallid child. But it was Il
fete-day aud the crowd swayed in between
us. After that | saw her no more.
went on to Switzerland, lingering for
month among its mountain passes made
short run into Italy and came back. |
was lettering along Les Champs Elysees
one evening in fit of homesickness, half
inclined to take the next steamer from
Havre, and so end this rowing life, when
| became aware of being watched
watched by dark figure under the
shadow of the opposite trees. The red
sunlight fell full and strong where | was
OF ;rrl,t
| changed my position hurriedly and
hasiened on.
But in moment l heard quick foot
steps behind me- then a run and shout
An arm fell across my shoulder, hand
clasped mine, and well-remembered
voice cried
:" 1t is you! l have found you'll AA,
mon ami! mon ami! But it was the pearl,
even as | told you so in that wild Calu-
met" And Hippolyte L'Estrange pointed
to the scarf-pin | wore that day. But
you are grown older, monsieur You are
| changed and / was not thinking OF YOU
at that moment. But the great pearl
shimmered in the sunlight, and it drew
my eyes to the face above it. Said l not
that it was charmed?"
1t is needless to speak of the happiness
of that reunion, all the greater for the
|
" | shall not lose sight of you again. -
said NJ. L'Estrange. "You will go home
with me tomorrow to Strasbourg. Mar
! guerite-you remember"-and he smiled
more brightly than before" Marguerite
will be glad to know my friend. Very
often have talked of our days together -
Marguerite! Shall confess that for one
moment | shrank as from a coming pain,
a hidden danger? Then every instinct in
my manhood rose in quick rebellion. My
| friends wife was vestal TO me even in
thought; sacred as if shrined and guarded
by inapproachable distances. l would go
with him.
Why had he not written me? Simply
because he had lost my address" only
this and nothing more"
1t would take too long to tell of our de-
lightful journey, and l pass on rapidly to
the hour when the towers of Strasbourg
rose before us, and the lofty spire Of her
cathedral pierced the clouds.
MY friends chateau was outside the
walls OF the Guy, on rising grounu.
"Seep' he said, with sweep of his
hand, as the carriage rolled along, this
is not so grand, so fresh, as your great
New World, yet it is fair picture"
| He might well say so. The seven-gated
city lay at our feet the blue Rhine wound
along between storied banks; the branch
| ing Ill glided through the town, pictur-
esQue with its many bridges. In the far dis
tance rose the Vosges Mountains and the
Black Forest of Germany.
And now we were at the chateau, state
ly pile, ivy-clad and moss grown, yet
bright, seemingly with IN eternal youtn.
Marguerite, this is the friend of VIII pm
you have so often heard me speak ed
ward Ripon, said L'Estrange, as l en-
tered the salon an hour after, and fair,
sweet, womanly face, the face at the Mad
eleine, looked up from the bit of embroid-
cry over which it was bending.
"Is she like the picture-my Margue.
rite ?" asked my host, but before l could
reply he went on: by that name you
first heard of her and by that name you
are to know her now. We are to live in
| Arcadia for a whole enchanted month,
and, as is fitting, we are to be to each 9th
er Marguerite and Edward and Hippolyte
Have not the kind Fates proved that We
are akin, as l told you years ago? Why
else have they brought us together?"
| bowed low above the lady's hand, but
l die not call her Marguerite" Neither
did | call her "Madame L'Estrange." "
Some subtitle, underlined feeling prevented
that. l compromised by not calling her
anything.
| must not make my story too long
You anticipate all | would say. There
were no other guests at the chateau. We
three were as isolated as Adam and Eve in
the Garden of Eden. That was truly an
enchanted week, in which we rode, We
rambled, we talked, We read, we sang
happy dwelers in Arcadia. And then
then-I awoke one day to find there was
no safety for me but in flight. This "Mar
guerite" was growing too dangerously
dear. |, who pray daily, Let me not be
led into temptation" what business had
there, dallying with danger?
was not villain; was not an idiot
l had no more conceit than my fellows
yet could not help seeing that Margue
rites soft brown eyes grew softer still
when they met mine, and that the Ions
lashes dropped over them with subtilel
grace when | drew near. / did not lool
for this, but it was there and | saw it.
must go.
A determination that | made known L
NJ. L'Estrange the next morning.
But you are not goingr' he said.
is too soon. Did | not say you were Il
stay month? We will have more guest
!. if you tire of this dull life; and you shall
see the old chateau alive with dance ant
song. My friend must stayl"
"No,"I answered your friend mus
go. Do not make it too hard for him Il
leave you"
He looked at me narrowly.
Has anything gone wrong?" he asket
in low tone. "Tell me, my friend!
had thought had dreamed Is ther
anything amiss with you and Mar
: gueriteY"
He spoke in his own tongue now, as h
always did when any strong emotion
stirred him. answered in mine, IN
cheeks white and cold, but my eyes ablaze
Amiss-anything amiss, M. LES
, TRANCE? Do hear you Alright? You ar
speaking of the lady who is your wife, an,
of one who fain would be an honorabl
/ mani Anything amiss, monsieurY"
He looked at me for an instant as ii h
thought had gone mad Then a sudde
light broke over his face, and, TO my ange
and astonishment, he laughed genuine