The Morning herald., 1876-07-22

if expecting the young girl to speak but
al she kept silent, he continued, in deep,
manly voice:
"Henriet;e, mine is not triHing, frivo-
lous love. loved you from the moment
when l first saw you courageously defend
ing your henor with prayers, with threats,
and with tears. 1 loved you from the mo-
ment your innocence appealed to my man.
hood, and i swear to you before Heaven,
that this love, born in an instant, shall
end only with my life"
"Oh, this is wrong-wrong," said Hen
riette, as the great tears of gratitude came
yelling up in her eyes. ~ have known
too long all that your heart was striving
to hide from me. and | have been guilty to
allow it to distract me. from the only duty
have in life. You. should not compel
me to confess my weakness"
"Henriette exclaimed the chevalier,
reproachfully.
"Leave me to my sacred task, and when
Louise is restored to my arms, I shall
have earned the right TO be happy"
"Henriette, dear Henrictte-" began
De Vaudrey, but he was interrupted BY o
knock at the door, and an instant after the
round, smiling, inquisitive face Of Picard
was seen at the half opened door.
"PicsrdP' exclaimed the chevalier, in
surprise ut seeing his valet.
"Yes, monsieur, it is Picard, only Pi-
card" said the valet, as he entered the
room.
"What do you want? What brings you
here?' and De Vaudrey's voice, usually
SO soft, was now harsh and angry.
"rhe fellow is my valet" he added, in a
low tone, to Henriettec.
eyes, mamzelle," said the valet, with
an equivocal bow. Il am Picard the dis
Greet" and he thought to himself, ''lhis
must be the chamber-maid, and he is in
her room. Oh, he is doing WE'LL"
"What brings you here?" asked the
chevalier, impatiently.
"a communication for you, sir, Of the
greatest Importance" answered Picard,
with an important air.
'I must take my work down stairs, they
are waiting for it," said Henriette, think
ing that the valet had something Of pri-
vate nature to say to his master.
"You will returnw asked De Vaudrey,
very anxiously.
"Oh, yes, in a few minutes"
'She will return," said Picard to him
self, "well, that is good. Mistress below
stairs, and pretty chambermaid up here.
This is the young man who was studying
philosophy" and a selfsatisfed smile
passed over his face as he thought that his
master was walking in the way he admi-
red.
"Well, sir" said De Vaudrey, as soon
as the door closed and they were alone,
Eve are alone now, what brings you
here?"
II took the liberty of following you,
MONSIEUR" replied Picard, in saucy tone.
"Follow me, you scoundrel" exclaimed
the chevalier, in an angry tone.
"Scoundrel is good, very good" said
Picard, in low voice. "Now he is some
thing like master"
"What do you say?"
III was saying monsieur that scoundrel
is not half strong enough, particularly
when I come to find ont that, after all"
"After all! What?'
And De Vaudrey was fast losing his
temper, st te in which the valet seemed
most anxious to see him.
"Good, he will kick me in minute" !"
thought Picard, as he said, in an impudent
sort of way.
"You must know, monsieur, that I had
become so disguised with your conduct
that I begged your uncle to relieve me of
serving you any longer, and if he had not
insisted on my remaining and watching
yOu--"
80 you have Become spy, Master Pi-
card, have you?" interrupted De Vaudley
in an angry voice.
Eyes, sir, spy on you. Why monsieur
| if had not, how should l have found out
that you was a gallant and 'reue?"
"Roue" exclaimed the chevalier, who
was now regaining his temper and becom-
ing amused. "Well, how did you find
that out?'
"By obcying the instructions of your
uncle. l followed you TO the house Of
your inamorata, and instead of finding you
with that much-honored lady, l discover
you enjoying the society of her chamber
maid"
"Chambermaidr' exclaimed De Van
drey, not understanding at first what his
valet meant.
"Oh, you have the fairest Of excuses"
said Picard, in light tom. "S.,e is as
pretty AS"
'Look you, Master Picard,' cried the
chevalier, now thoroughly enraged, "ano-
ther word, and will throw you out of
that window"
"Oh, that is going farther than bar
gained lor" said Picard, getting little
alarmed. Thrown out Of a sixth story
window"
| "Listen to me, sir" said De Vaudrey,