The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-02

mcnt Ubeyipr a sudden impulse she drew
a ring from her finger and gave 1t 10 nm,
saying: ..,o
DO me the favor of wearing this in token
Ofmy thanks, monsieur.
The Young mans face kinded with sud,
den glow; he poured i0rth hurrieu, proNeh
words, to which she responded by grave
bow, still without looking at him; then the
door closed, and the carriage rolled off, leav
ing him standing there with the sunlight
hlckering over his far locks and eager, hand
some face.
ut must have fallen from one OF my wraps
SAID Hortense, breaking the silence abrupt
ily: "but then how could he guess II was
mine?"
Nine. Lenormand hesitaed 1T the truth
were told madame" she SAID, II imagine lie
caught a glimps of US AS we stole out, ana
followed us home, was almost sure there
was carriage following ours al me way,
though would not mention 1t till now, not
to annoy you
IIortense sat flushing and paling.
Followed US ?' she repeated, But that
"Arrant impertinence," completed Nine
Lenormand "Doubtless you were right,
madame, and he is some romat tic tailor,
whom all his romance could not teach to be
a gentleman"
IIortense glanced sharply up, but made no
response. Nine. Lenormand Judged her to
he vexed with having overrewardcd such
man, dropped the subject.
Had this act Of presumption been the un-
known masquerader's last! But only the
next evening Horense stepping out on her
balcony saw Il man move out OF The shadow
opposite and recognized the voice that began
singing one of the airs she had heard at the
masked ball She retreated instantly, but
the figure still held Its ground, and when
cautiously peeping out after extinguishing
her light before gong to rest, she could dim
ly discern the figure still keeping its solitary
vigil.
And this was but The beginning. Day at
ter day she was pursued by silent, distant
apparition, till Nine. Lenormand halfjest.
ingly asked if they should call IN the aid of
q Sergent dc ellie to exercise it, llortense
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. Secure in the social barriers
that prevented his near approach, she could
afford to be careless Of passion that could
never trouble her pride.
| But at length the climax came one day,
when, as she sat alone reading, servant en-
tered with hesitation. Pardon, madame"
he said, deprecating!y, but there is peas
ant without who insists upon seeing Nine, la
! Marouse. He claims to come from her es.
tate with message of importance; SO l have
ventured to disturb madame"
at is well, Etenne,' relied Hortense, with,
out lifting her eyes from the page. Let him
enter"
Enter, then, friend Brazentace," grumbled
the domestic, soto C0ce, to a man at his elbow,
and, closing the door again, retreated, nut.
tering to himself about unmanncrly peas.
ants who would not know their proper place.
The man remained in silence by the door,
! till at Hortense's bidding he slowly advanced,
uncovering his head meantime. Then
| Hortense started, for with the removal OF the
| heavy slouched hat and shock of wild black
| hair attached, she recognized beneath the
peasant garb the unknown masquerader OF
fortnight before. She sprang to her feet,
dropping her book; instinctively both bent
to lift it, and their hands met The touch
seemed TO act on her like an electric shock
breaking the silent amaze in which she had
stood gazing.
| Monsieur" she half stammered, what Is
this disguise. What do you mean"
"Ah! madame he interposed, pleading
| ly "to speak to you tor one moment, TO be
near you-"
ITO be near mel" she repeated. Hold! il
is tor days you pursue me; you follow me
everywhere abroad, and now-are you then
mad, Monsieur"
Truly, madame, you say right" he an
,wered sadly. "Madg Was it not your own
warning to me on that nightg Since then
am II child that cries for the noon and she
ls so far above me-so far
Listen, monsieur" said Hortense in firm
voice, though with u face rs pale as the agit
ated one she looked into this is madness,
l. fyr uil hpt 4 CT 7
and although my husband is not beside me,
know how to uphold the honor OF his name
and my own. The Marquise d'Evrecourt
cannot suffer this pursuit OF her. Go; let il
end herc!"
The young man stood gazing at her In 81
lence, but with pleading pain in his eyes
that could scarce have failed TO move any
, woman's pity VINO saw it. But Hortense' 5
eyes never left the floor; she sat with clasp
ed hands and compressed lips, waiting in q
kind OF dumb obstnacy for him to depart
He seemed at length to comprehend this
II CO. he said; aud with no other word
moved slowly to the door. Five minute:
later Nine. Lenormand, entering the room
was frightened to find Hortense lying back
in her chair white and shiyering as it in an
ague fit.
+, "Madame's apparitlon," as the elder lady
was wont, laughingly, to style their fellow
masqueradcr, seemed effectually laid a
length. Two, four, five days passed and still
he made no sign. Nine. Lenormand, know
ing nothing of that last scene in the boudoir
wondered not "a little over this sudden dis
appearance, and invented several ingeniou:
, theories to account for it. well, WELL" she
1 finished, after discussing one OF these, "a
| least / fancy he will trouble us no more"
ale will trouble Us no more,' echoed Hor
5 tense and something in the tone made Nine
= Lenormand look up with sudden solictude
: Surely the mobile face had grown strangely
). still and pale of late, she thought, and reflect
on the girls loneliness half regretted eyer
the little ripple of excitement that madame:
appartion" had made ia her daily dull
I! pess,
1t was the end Of The same week, AMI tn,
r two ladies were sitting together, when ser
7 want presented himself with . card, which hi
, delivered to Nine Lenormnnd. No sooner
had she glanced at il than she started up In {