The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-09-04

Madame LenOrmand arm.
Doubtless it was the unaccustomed ex-
citement that drove sleep from the pill
low of the conveut-bred girl. At all
events, when Madame Lenormand the
next day noticed the languor and paiior
of her charge. it was this freak she blamed
for them.
at is vsrv well, she said, half jesting-
in gly, shat madame need but play at be-
Fit is stupid play, answered madame,
sand one shall play ut no more. What
are they all, then, these people," she con-
tinued after a moments pause; 'griSstte
curriers', eb, cousin?
"And students, advsnturers-who
knows what, besides?'
but never of our class-no, cousin"
"Who knows? Madame herself was
there answered Madame Lenormand,
with an arch glance at Hortense who
flushed, and rejoined quickly.
bah! that was madcaps freak; it
has nothing to say to the others Her
handkerchief slid from her lap, She
stopped to recover it, and added, "That
droll, for example, who haunted us soi
no doubt you fancied him II prince IN
disguise?"
"Who knows repeated Madame Len.
ormand, laughing. "Tbe prince Of
school. boys al least
"And |, )" said IIortense, throwing up
her chin, 81 believe him tailor with II
head turned with too much Beranger.
Oh, it was too stupid | will have no
more OF it,
This was ilortcnsc'S strain throughout
the day, constantly recurring to that
caprice of hers, and as constantly avow-
ing her WEAKNESS of 1t. She was rest
less and titful, giving orders only to
countcrmand them, and proposing plans
she could not wait I" see executed. AZ
length toward evening, having for the
tenth time decided to take Der daily
drive, she was passing TO the carriage
when II Young man, stepping quickly
forward, arrested her progress with Il
Pardon madame.
AT the sound Hcrtensc turned wiz II
start to recognize the iacc she had look
ed into for a moment ion the preceding
night, and in that full light which touch
ed into brightness his amber waves OF
hair she saw the pullor of suffering on
his face, and i'll his eyes, rs they met hers,
n sort of passionate appeal that almost
stirred tears in her own.
"Pardon, madame hc repeated and,
it seemed 10 her, with an almost re-
proachlull accent Oh the last word; "thls
is the property Of madame, imagine
handing her fancitul little pocket book
bound in blue and silver. HOrtense
opened it and stood turning over the
cards and few trifcs it contained, her
eyes cast down, her face flushing.
Wholly ignorant OF his position she was
in doubt what to do. She felt ii inposai-
Die to offer him money, yet was 10th to
let HIM depart with IA mere common
word of acknowledgement. Obcying Il
sudden impulse, she drew Il ring from
her finger, and gave tito him, saying
$40 me the favor to wear this IN token
of my thanks, monsieur"
The young mans face kindIcd with Il
sudden glow; he poured forth hurried
broken words, 10 which she responded by
grave bow; still without looking at
him; then the door was closed, and the
carriage rolled OF, leaving him standing
there with the sunlight hickering over
his fair locks and eager, handsome face.
at must have fallen from one OF my
wraps" said Hortense, breaking tn" 81
lencc abruptly, but then how could he
guess it was NINE?
Madame Lenormand hcsitatci. ,"lf
the truth were told, madame she said,
81 imagine that he caught glimpse OF
II. as we stole out and followed Us home.
| WIS almost sure there was carriage
following our, all the way, though !
would not mention it till now, not to an
noy you
H6rtense sat flushing and palrng.
Followed US" she repeated. But that
is"
"Arrant impertincncc," completed
Madame Lenormand. "Dsubtless You
were right, madame, and he Is some ro-
mantle tailor, whom all his romance
could not teach to be gentleman
Hortcn-c glanced sharply up, but made
no response. Madame Lenormand,
Judging her to be vcXel with having
overrewardcd such man, dropped the
subject.
Had this act Of presumption been the
unknown masqueradcr'> last But only
the next evening HOrten,e, stepping out
on her balcony, saw man move out OF
the shadow opposite, and recognized the
voice singing one Of the airs she had
heard at the masked ball She rctreated i'll
stuntly, but the figure still held ita ground
and when cautiously pceping out, after
extingu-hlng her light before going to
rest, she could dimly discern it keeping
its solitary vigil.
And this was but the beginning. Day
after day she was pursued by silent
distant apparltion. TIL Madame Lcnor-
mand half jcstingly asked if they should
call in the aid of Il Scrgentde riYe to cXor-
else it, llortenSc only shook her head.
She had chosen throughout to ignore
the meaning OF this pursuit to be blind
to the wistful eyes that sought hers. Sc
cure in the social barriers that prevented
his near approach, she coald afford to be
careless of II passion that could never
trouble her pride.
But ut length the climax came one
dav, when, rs she sat alone reading, II
servant entered with hesitation. "Par
don, madame he aid, drprecatingly,
but there i. peasant without who IN
>ists upon seeing Madame la Marquise
He claims to come from her estate with
message of importaucci SO | have ven
turcd TO disturb madame-
at i well, Etiennc, replied lOrtensc
without lifting her eyes from the page.
"Let him enter
Enter then, friend Brazcnfacc," grum-
bled the domestic, soto rocc, to man nj
his elbow, and, closing the door again,
retrcutcd, muttcrug to himself about
unmanncrly peasants who would not
know their proper place.
The man remained in silence by the
door, till at Hortensc's bidding ne slow
IL advanced, uucovcring his head mean
time. Then Hortense started for with, the