The Lake County star., 1877-11-29

A. ~. 4 ~ u .. 40 Z 4 a y. A lt...l.L 1 el.-
| postillion resounds on the air. A car
rlage has entered the court OF thu
dwelling Of Lucie, and an officer, with
q black mustache, an imposing and
sOmber physiognomy, and Of about AZ
years Of age, demands an interview
| with Mdlle. de Merinville, ,as he wishes
to speak with her In private. The
heart OF Lucie beats with hope and
fear as she bids the officer enter he
presents to her note. 1t Is In these
words
"Oh, you to whom I owe my life,
how can / express to you my graft.
tude? Lucie, adorable Lucie! Happy
tune and his heart. Thank heaven
the moment has come for me to fix for.
ever my destiny. No more dangers
threaten my existence. 1 am young
and rich i bear noble and stainless
name; not u crime has soiled my
career. Oh, crown your goodness by
following the distinguished officer who
wishes to take upon himself the duty
of conducting you so mysteriously to
me for between us the law of mystery
must still intervene. Noble and gen.
erous Lucie! come to the old castle OF
my fathers. She who stands towards
me as mother awaits you and calls you.
Oh /! come; cOnjure you, come, and
append your signature to the act which
shall make me the most fortunate OF
lovers and the most devoted of hus-
bands. If you refuse my prayer,
adieu Lucie! Adieu forever!
UOIaARv
Mdlle. de Merrinville was not able
to finish this letter without several
times experiencing feeling of faint
ness. What should she respond to this
singular appeal" Should she follow
the officer deputed by Olgar? But
this would be an objectionable impru-
dence, and the usages of society were
formally opposed to it.. Lucie was go
ing to refuse, but, on the other hand,
this refusal would be an evident proof
that she had no confidence in Olgar,
and that she doubted his loyalty, and
an eternal separation would follow.
Frightful idea! What could she do?
The officer, witness of her secret
trouble, preserved stony silence. He
did not seek atall to influence her resO-
luton and his unscrupulous reserve
better served the cause of Olgar than
urgent entreaties would have done.
Olger wished apparently to owe the de-
cision of Lucy only to the promptings of
her heart. Mdlle. de Merinville beside
thought with secret pleasure that her
romantic position was one of the kind
of all those in which magnanimous
lady-lOves unfold such beautiful char
acters then, mistress of herself, her
actions were free. 1t was done her
course was taken.
Monsieur" said che to the officer,
"is his dwelling far from here?"
"In two hours we shall be there"
II Iconflde myself to you; 1 willfol-
low yOu."
Binding herself to what there was
of imprudence in this nocturnal ad-
venture, Lucie only stopped to throw
shawl over her shoulders and to put
on her travelling hat. She did not
allow herself to reflect; followed by her
maid, she entered the carriage and de-
parted. During the journey the officer
only replied to the questions of Lucie
by this phrase: ~ am forbidden to
speak," The horses were fast, and
towards IL O'Clock at night Lucie ar
rived at the place to which Olgar had
called her. The night was very dark,
yet Mdlle. de Merinville perceived, in
spite of the obscurity, vast habita-
tion with turreted walls. She heard
{ ie equipage roll over sort of draw
bridge. She recognized neither the
castle nor its surroundings. Her heart
beat violently.
The carriage traversed large court,
on which looked the windows Of the
manor; they were brilliantly lighted.
The horses did not stop they conduct
ed Lucie to the end Of little side
court and to the foot of steep stair.
case, far from the principal entrance.
Why introduce the traveller to the
castle by private stairway? Why
this new mystery? Lucie mounted
the miserable stairs rapidly, her guide
giving her his hand. He conducted
her by number of dimly-lighted pas
sages to the antechamber of the state
apartments Of the manor. There sew
eral Wallets in rich livery presented
themselves to her. and one of them,
opening large folding door, announc-
ed in a sonorOus voice, MadamOiselle
de Merinville !"
Oh, surprise! Lucie, greatly con-
fused, suddenly found herself in ga
loon magnificently illuminated, where
was gathered all the nobility of the
province. Ladies richly dressed, and
q crowd of young elegantes. Lucie
recognized among the guests, at the
first glance, all her neighbors, the
elite of the country. What flash of
silk and jewels! Lucle was in her
travelling hat and shawl, and her
morning costume, in the midst of
these brilliant evening toilettes, was
the more completely ridiculous. She
vaguely comprehended that she was
at this moment the victim of some
perfdious plot. She felt her knees
give way. Some one approached her
and bowed, 1t was the Chevalier de
Elbine.
{" A thousand pardons, Madamoi-
sellew said the young man, with q
sardOnic air, "for not having run with
eagerness to meet you but 1 am a
dandy, q young France, wear shiny
gloves, l lisp; these things are odious
"Will you excuse me-" cried in his
turn the Baron Eugene d'Anglas, =" II
I have not had the honor Of paying
my addresses to you for several weeks,
but. secluded In my study, / have
been cultivating the mythology of the
time of PompadouI, I have been col
lecting the pieces Of torn Madrigal |;
and forgetting my century and its
bellies. was hundred years behind
the times"
The master of the castle next ad-
vanced. Lucie trembled, 1t was Oh
gar!
What kindness, Madamoiselle,
said the unknown of Sombrecourt, In
a tone of mocking ceremony. Be.
longing, as I do, to the Jockey Club, I
regret very much not having been
able to send you with my carriage,
pure blooded race-horses you would
have arrived still more quickly. How
ever, no matter, you have been willing
to come without emblaz0ned equipa-
ges to seal my happiness by adding
your signature to my marriage con-
tract. A thousand thanks are due to
vOll ~