New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24

1
ITO that question, sir, have no right to
give reply"
THAT is to say, you know you would
compromise yourselfl'
81 assure you, uncle. it is not SOL
| "Then where is shel"
| 81 must not cay"
| "Sir, l am not to be trifled with. You
are ore of De PreAles habitual guests, and,
therefore, you are as bad as he is. Yon
saved this girl for your own purposes.
warn you that will have her found. You
will do well to make virtue of necessity"
| Il have given promise, and you know
that in our family promises are kept"
| They are; aud l have promised my self
that l will make an attempt to arrest
your waywardness by commanding you to
marry"
TO marryl Whom!r
| THAT is not question for you to put to
me. Your father, my younger brother. is
dead, and, as l am childless, you are my
heir. l, therefore, exercise my family rights
| over you, and command you to marry as
shall think fit. 1t is for you to obey -
"My lord, the times are changing; men
| are not ordered into marriage. | have
learnt enough of the new life which Is com
ing upon us to be sure that l am right in
having my own will in such a matter. l
will not, at your command, marry any
lady"
"Will not, sir? Do you forget a French
nobleman, being the head OF his family.
has powers which are of a terrible naturet'
"My lord" cried the Chevalier, II know
| YOU can obtain iettre de- cachet from the
King, and that l may be safely imprisoned
at the royal pleasure without having the
power to obtain any relief; but trust your
honor will save you from such an act of
| cowardice."
''Tut, tut!' said the minister. ~ have no
desire to uss harsh measures But beg
you to understand insist upon your i'm
mediate marriage. 1t is well that we
should set them beneath us an example of
seltrespect and obedience. 1t is my will,
| and it is enough"
why, what has happened9' here said a
the two men turned in the direction
| whence the inquiry came. Each saw grief
worn lady OF about thirty-three, still very
beautiful, but oppressed by a melancholy of
a most marked character.
II am glad you have come. Martre," said
the Count, hastily, approaching his wife;
| "tor, perhaps, you possess more influence
over our nephew than appear to have"
| II am sure he loves us BOTH said the
lady, gently.
Indeed, yes" replied Armand. But my
uncle wishes to have me married, and have
| no desire to be we'd"
| Persuade him, Martre, how wise it will be
for him to marry one of his own rank and
fortune in lite, and to glide peacefully into
| pleasant domestic life"
The grave lady nodded her head slowly.
| "If he can love, let him marry" she said.
"Wha!, would you advise him not to
| marry If he can not lover
| For moment her eyes sought her hus-
| bands, then they fell, almost remorsefully
it would have appeared to mere locker
on, and she said, Il will do my very best,
| my lord!"
II thank you heartily" he said, in low
| voice to his wife; and then, suddenly turn
| ing, he left the aunt and nephew together.
She made the young cavalier sit down
| upon a stool at her feet, and in gentle tones
began whispering the conven tiOnalities
about marriage, such as have been used
| perhaps in many cases with the greatest
wisdom, through the later ages.
He said not word until her soft voice
drifted into silence.
'Is that all, Martre!" he asked.
"All," she repeated, her lips quivering.
II must say Maltce- can not call you
aunt, you are still SO young, only thirty.
three-l must say that though my father
and my uncle married two sisters, you seem
| to me more az a sister than of any other re-
lationship. There was such a difference be-
tween my mothers age and yours. We have
loved each other very much. and now you
| counsel me to marry without love-"
ut is for your good
WAS it for yours that you married with
out affection !"
Armand
~ know all; my mother told me Just be-
fore she died, for she feared you might want
judicous friend, and hoped l might grow
to be useful one. Martre, would YOU ad-
wise me to marry without love-you whose
lite has been wrecked by such q union Be
lieve me, never revered you. so much as
when l learned how great your sacrifice had
been"
~ have so prayed to die-yes, l have
been coward enough to pray for death "
"Marure, / love, and, as you once did, be-
| low me. l can not resist this passion: and
it is you-you who have go sutfered-whom
l entreat to help save me from wretched-
ness tor life. Plead with my lord; he can
| not resist you, for he loves you deeply, iron
willed man as he is. Do not urge Inc to my
ruin! Save me from perpetual misery!'
The poor lady had been SO overwhelmed
by the suddenness of her nephew's infor-
nation, that she was not in a condition to
say much; but battling against her emo
tions, she said, softly, you are right.
will help you. 1t is impossible to struggle
against nature, to conquer it, and to be
happy"
At this moment the Count returned to
the room.
He started, and then said, II return to
business for an hour or two; but perceive
you have already agreed as to essentials
DOES he still oppose my plan, dear Mar
tre!"
He has pleaded 9Th and conquered me,
my lord. l can not advise him to marry
without love. The thought is horrible"
"He knows the secret" thought the
Count. ale has told her he is acquainted
with the mystery, and he has conquered
her. Ever this boy knows what my wife
has kept from me during sixteen years.
Meanwhile he was smiling.
"Very well, dear Countess" he said;
''since this is the case, and your nephew
has converted you instead of you influence
| ing him, your mission is at an end. Let
| me lead you back to your apartments
Nephew, stay here; l have something to say
| to you"
The Chevalier waited but a very short
| time before he was rejoined by his uncle.
armand" said the Count, who was
much the elder of his wife-in fact, almost
| twenty years-"Armand, concession for
| concession. l will yield the authority
possess to compel you to marry, if you will
| give me word for word the conversation
that has passed between you and your aunt
| Ha, you startw
That he had finched was not to be de-
| MED. He considered for some moments,
| and then he replied, "Sir, can not repeat
| the conversation between myself and the
| Countess"
"What if insistl'
II know no means short OF torture which
would compel me to speak, and, fortu-
nately, even we have got past the torture
privilege"
"Listen to me. There is means by
mhioh anuld 1aaru whot I wonf IN Lrour