The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-29
The THREE FRIENDS.

4
1 ---
The ball given last winter by tn,
| Countess de p will be long remem
bered by the bon ten of Parisian society
This fete was wonder OF splendor ant
magnificence. Nothing that lavish ex
penditure and exquisite taste could de
wise or procure was wanting, and thu
| scene, in all its extreme beauty, ap
peared like dream OF tairylEad.
Chance at this ball reunited three per.
| sons who had been schoolmates and in
| innate friends. The eldest was only
| twenty-five, the other two some two OF
three years younger. This was theii
| first meeting since they had said "Fare.
weip to the aristocratic Institute Of the
Champs Elysees. Their last adieus had
been spoken at the corner Of Rue LATTE
and Rue Caiilard.
81 "Do not forget me, dearest Estelle.n
love me always?'
"I,"said the eldest, "will often think oil
you both, and also OF the happy hours we
have passed together" As they ceased
speaking, the girls separated. Estelle
LEMON Joined her family at Bordeaux,
Pauline LIE Champs returned to her
home at Marseilles, and Louise Latour
returned to Strasbourg.
During the first year that followed
this separation an active correspondence
was carried on by the three young girls.
The second year the epistolatory fever
diminished, aud the third year they mar
ried, and gradually the letters became
less and less frequent, until, finally, they
ceased altogether. But although this ST.
lence had crept in it was, nevertheless,
a source OF sincere rejoicing to the three
To "a ha1 w ;t IA
one accord they left the ballroom and
sought refuge in retired boudoir, a
very nest OF lace, rose-colored satin and
brocatelle, and soon found themselves
most comfortably seated.
''Ah, dear Estelle," exclaimed Pau
line, sam not happy to see you once,
and you also, Louise? You are both
well married, l am sure. Now do tell
me everything-tell me you are happy.N
"Happy? On, yes" murmured Estelle.
Louise sighed, but did not respond.
Sand you, Pauline" continued Es-
telle, "are you happy? Has marriage
realized perfectly your dreams"
''Judge for yourself" replied Pauline;
"for over one year my husband and my
self have been separated"
SHOW is 1t with you, LouiseT
Madam Laramie remained silent, but
AT her companions.
"You do not answer me-" resumed
Madam du Pres, sadly.
'.My tate resembles yours, my friends, !"
continued Louise, in o trembling voice.
1.-The civil tribunal of .StrasDo pro-
npuneed separation between myself and
Monsieur Laramie"
"Why, them" inquired Estelle, "can
not my destiny become as yours? Why
shall l not follow your example? Why
not seek release, as both Of you have
doneW
"Why?" .retortetl Madam Laramie,
"Because there exists no more deplor-
able condition than my own. / am as a
widow, and yet married. The remedy
toe often proves worse than the disease
for woman. May Heaven, my friend,
protect you from the humiliation OF a lie.
gal suit. No matter how pure and un.
sullied your record may b., how ire
proachable your conduct has ever been.
you will not escape calumny. Ask Pau
line ii am not right"
"You are," responded Madam Beau
champs, "and l, in my turn, bid Estelle
be patient and resigned; bid her, ii nec-
essary, to display even the heroism of
martyrdom rather than seek refuge in
the law. Law is the work of man, its
redress is his prerogative, and, while.i it
may assist woman, it rarely protects her
when her claim upon it's power is ad
verse to man. For woman society has
traced straight line, and miserable is
the one who Wanders from its absolute
dictates, as condemnation is almost al
ways the result In some shape or FORM"
AS she spoke Madam Laramie furtiyeIy
wiped away a tear which had fallen upon
her pale cheek. ..
Sand yet 1 have suffered" resumed
Pauline Beauchamps. s.HoW, you your.
self shall judge. l linked my destiny to
that OF a gambler. In this admission
my agony is explained; it was hopeless
misery, endless neglect and torture"
''And l." continued Madam Laramie,
"married man who was a prey to jeal-
ousy. He was unjust; nay, more, he
was brutal. have shed more tears over
my sorrows than are known save to
heaven"
"This, then, has been the cause Of your
troubie?n replied Estelle du Pres. "What
would L not give il my husband but
his fortune and mine; or, il
he was jealous, even brutal, so he loved
me? The day that found du Pres en-.
tirely ruined would also find him beside
me. AS to jealousy, it is a proof OF love,
OF ardent love. now. understand why
you both regret the step you have taken;
but listen to me-. On the day after my
found that I had been de-
oeiyed, that my husbands heart never
had been mine, was, In fact, anothers,
His love, HE confidence, were all given
to another, and not even his tenderness
was mine. Our union ON his side was
one of social advantages He had d.made
what men call good bargain by gaining
money and position. /, on the other hand,
had married him because ] loved; and,
weak, miserable woman that / am, love
him STILL"
AS she said these words, Madam du
Pres covered her face with her hands
and wept bitterly.
"Dear Estelle," whispered Madam
Beauchamps, sin the soul of gambler
there is room but for the one absorbing
passion. Wife, children, and pure, true
instinct is engulfed In this sinister abyss.
Ii he is not at play he Is thinking OF what
be lost yesterday, and how much he may
gain tomorrow. Should he be unfor-
Lunate at cards home becomes an In
ferno. Ii he has won, his excitement is
feverish, restless and nervous-almost
worse than his despondency and anger.
Believe me, the passion is devouring and
Iatal to every law OF peace, every hope
,f happiness. You lament because your |
husbands hsart ls nNt yours, and xst ]