The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-06-26

il. said not that il was Charmel?'
It Is needless to speak Of the happiness o
that reunion, all the greater tor the mood il
which il toHnd me
II shall not lose sight of YOU again" sale
! VI LEstrange, "You will 60 home with IN
tomorrow to Strasbourg Marguerite-yor
remember and he smiled more bright,
than Marguerite will be glad t.
know my friend, Very often have | talked Of
our days together.
| Marguerite Shall | confess that for one
moment ! shrank as from coming pam;
hidden danger: Then every instinct in my
manhood rose in quick rebellion. My friend 5
wife was vestal to me even in thought; sacred
as if shrined and guarded by lnapproachable
distances. | would 90 with him.
Why had he not written me? Simply be-
cause he had lost my address-"Only this and
nothing more
1t would take too long to tell of our delight
tul journey, and | pass on rapidly 10 the
hour when the towers of Strasbourg rose be.
fore Us, and the lofty spire Of her cathedral
pierced the clouds.
My friends chateau was outside the walls
OF the city, on rising ground.
See" he said, with a sweep of his hand,
as the carriage rolled along, this is not so
grand, so fresh, as your great New World,
yet il is a fair picture"
He might well say so The seven gated
city lay az our feet; the blue Rhine wound
along between stored banks; the branching
III glided through the town, picturesque with
ITS many bridges. In the far distance rose the
Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest of
Germany
Ana now we are at the chateau,a stately pile,
ivy.clad and moss-grown, yet bright, seeming
~ with ad eteral youth.
"Marguerite this is the friend Of whom you
have 50 often heard me speak-Edward Rip
on said L'Estrange, as | entered the salon
an hour after, and fair, sweet, womanly
face, the face at the Madeleine, looked up
from tie bit Of embroidery over which il was
bending
rs she like the picture-my Marguerite ?"
asked my host, but before 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 whole
enchanted month, and, as is fitting. we are to
be to each other Marguerite and Edward and
lIippolytc Have not the kind Fates proved
that we are akin, as told you years ago?
Why else have they brought Us together"
l bowed low above the lady's hand, bu.
did not call her "Marguerite' Neither did
call her Madame L'Estrange." Some sub
tile, underlined feeling prevented that. COM.
promised by not calling her anything.
| must not make my story too long. You
anticipate all would say There we're no
other guests at tle chateau. We three We're
as isolated as Adam and Eve in the Garden
Of Eden. That was truly an enchanted week,
in which we rode, we rambeG, we talked, we
read, we sang-happy jewellers in Arcadia
And then-then--I awoke one day to find
here was no safety for me but in flight. This
Il II.
lear ], who pray daily, Let me not lie led
INTO temptation what business had | there,
tallying with danger:
| was not villain; was not an IDIOT; | |
lad no more colceit than my fellows; yet |
could not help seeing that Marguerite's soft
brown eyes grew softer still when they met
nine, and that the long lashes dropped over
hem with subtiler grace when l drew near.
did not look for this, but it was there and
Jaw i'll must go.
\ determination that ! made known to VI. |
Estrange The next morning.
But you are not going" he said. at is !
90 soon. Did not say you were to stay Il
month"; We Will have more guests il you
ire OF this dull life; and you shall see the
I'D chateau alive with dance and song.
Wy friend must stay"
No" | answered; your friend must go.
Pray do not make il too hard for him TO leave
'Ou."
He looked at me narrowly
Has anything gone wrong?' he asked in
low tone. Tell me, my friend i had
hought-I had dreamed Is there any
hing amlss with YOU and Marguerite?'
He spoke in his own tongue now, as he al
Ways did when any strong emotion stirred
lin. | answered in mine, my cheeks white
md cold but my ewes ablaZp.
"Amiss-anything amiss, NJ. LEstrange?
10 | hear yor Alright? You are speaking of
he lady who is your wife, and of one who
ain would he an honorable man! Anything
miss, monsieur?"
He looked at me for an instant as If had
rome mad. Then sudden light broke over
lis face, and to my anger anu establishment,
he laughed a genuine, hearty laugh. But
Je!ore could speak his mood changed, and
lie caught me impulsively in his arms.
80 my poor boy" he cried. II see it all
lew. And you thought Marguerite was my
wife? Bat | told you She was not when you
sked me SO long ago. Do you not remem-
,er2 | supposed you understood. The wo-
nan who should have been my wife lies in
he churchyard yonder. Mons Ripon, Mar
,ucrite Is my sister.'
covered my face with my hands. could
I
II so clear nOw-as clear as MONDAY. Yet, L
With my preconCelyed ideas OF their relation
hip, and in country with whose domestic
life and habits | was so unfamiliar, | could
lot 50 much wonder at my mistake. The
'G'ots OF the servants, too, had helped to mis-.
cad me-and | had seen no others.
dared not look at him. The gentle dig.
lity OF his last words overpowered me, even
While, Ia spite of my confusion and dIsmay,
ny heart was thrilling within with a new
,orn hope.
lifted my eyes at last, TO meet his filled
With inetiabe tenderness.
You know my secret" said. "Shall you
axe me at my word, VI. L Estrange-must l
20 away:
Nay, nay he whisped. 1T was tor this
hat we were thrown together that October
morning Was it not charmed, the token |
rave you? Stay now; and if you can win her
,entle heart will give youyet another pearl
my Marguertew