Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-30

eyes that could scarce have failed to move
any woman's pity who saw it. But Hor-
tense's eyes never left the floor; she sat
with clasped hands and compressed lips,
waiting in kind Of dumb obstinacy for
him to depart, He seemed at length to
comprehend this. 6 Co." he said; and
with no other word moved slowly to the
door. Five minutes later Nine. Lenor-
mand, entering the room, was frightened
to find Hortense lying back in her chair,
white and shivering as if in an ague fit.
Madame's apparition," as the elder
lady was wont, laughingly, to style their
tellowmasquerader, seemed etfectually
laid at length. Two, four, five DAYS
passed and still he made no sign. Nine.
Lenormand, knowing nothing Of that last
scene in the boudoir, wondered not little
over this sudden disappearance, and in
vented several ingenious theories to ac
count for it. Well, WELL" she finished,
after discussing one of these, lat least |
fancy he will trouble us no more"
He will trouble us no more" echoed
Hortense; and something in the tone made
Nine. Lenormand look up with sudden
solicitude. Surely the mobile face had
grown strangely still and pale of late, she
thought, and rejecting on the girls lone
illness half regretted even the little ripple
of excitement that "madame's apparition'
had made in her daily dullness
1t was the end Of the same week, and
the two ladies were sitting together, when
a servant presented himself with d card.
which he delivered to Nine. Lenormand.
No sooner had she glanced at it than she
started up in furry, very foreign to her
usual placidity.
Heavens!' she cried; "he has re-
turned"
Hortense had leaned forward, her
hands tightly clasped on her lap. ale"
she repeated, in voice scarcely audible.
"Ay, he himself, Monsieur lie Mar
quis--"
Ali" Hortense gave sharp cry and
fell back white as death among her cush-
ions. Nine. Lenormand went on, run
ming her eye rapidly over some words
penciled on the card. He has arrived
unexpectedly and sends to me to prepare
you. Madame, shall give orders to adj
nit him hereg"
admit him." said Horiense, in the
same low, unnatural voice; and Nine.
Lenormand glided from the room.
How many moments, how many ages
fore the door re-opened steps came toward
her; she counted them one by one, TIL
they paused close beside her. But a lead.
en- weight seemed to press her eyelds
down; she leaned back, faint and breath
less, in her chair, till a voice said:
Hortcnsen
The blood rushed back with a lean al.
most of pain as she heard, her eyes were
ru nj Inv tl,av lao,
where, this time in the guise of the Mar
quis dEvrccourt the unknown masouera-
der stood before her, his eyes fixed on her,
no longer with the halfdefiant eagerness
that had filled them when they first gazed
into hers, nor the sorrowful reproach she
had last seen in them, but tender tri-
umph soitening their amber brilliancy.
"What Hortense, not word for meg"
He stretched out his hand, and the ring
she had given him caught the light, and
flashed out suddenly He drew the Jewel
from his finger, and, placing it on hers,
lifted the trembling hand to his lips.
THAT is our true marriage ring" he said.
F." You will not Danish me again--my
wife?'
BY and by Madame Lenormand entered
-discreetly.
SO, cousin" cried Hortcnse, turning
to her with a tremendous laugh, "you,
too, were conspirator against mes'
But, madame" said the good lady,
eagerly, had no choice, indeed. The
thought OF your husband was growing
daily greater pain and dread to you, and
when Monsieur lie Marquis comes and con
fides in me, all eager to surprise you with
his love, what am to do but help him to
conquer prejudice know founded on
nothingy And then so opportuncly comes
madame's masquerade"
Enough, my good cousin" put in M.
d'Evrecourt, with laugh think we
must forgive madame her masquerade
for this once"
And considering monsieur's share in
it, said Hortense, with saucy demure-
ness that made him laugh again.
Madame is served,' announced Ell
enne, bowling on the threshold, in the
midst OF their mirth; and Hortense, on
her husbands arm, passed out to rcpast
where the viands seemed all fairy meats,
shared with the fairy prince.-Ha,per's
Weekly.