The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25

|
allowed me to open my heart to you. All m
attempts at an explanation which might eve
have assisted you in recovering your libert
have been repuised and my letters you neve
deiRned to answer"
Your letters. monsieur! I never receives
one of them"
"Yoa did notW said Adhemar, much sur
prised. al wrote you three, seeing that th'
oply way left for me to indicate the means o
breaking off an engagement for which yoI
eyinced suoh repugnanoe."
| 81 never received one. To whom did yor
give them monsteurp
| To Mile. Martin, your maid"
"Could any one have had the audacity tc
intercept themf Bot wbo7 It is impossible
This is very strange Mile. Martin to so At
| tached to me-"
They determined to investigate the matter
at once The carriage was stopped and ser.
want sent to request Mile. Msrti1's immediate
| attendance upon her mistress. Slowly de-
soending from one of the carriages in the rear
she advanced with o troubled air.
| "Mademoiselle," said Adhemar, "do you not
rememb ber that q: three different times gave
] you letter for your mstressV
"Yes, monsieur" replied Mile. Martin "you
/ gave me one yesterday evening""
| 81 And what become of them. mademoselles'
/ said Blanche with an air of displeasure els
it possible that you tampered with themf"
mo, no, my dear mistress; not for q king.
dom wonld do snch thing" replied Mile.
| Martin, shedding tears. "In accordance with
your fathers instructions, gave them to him,
thinking him the proper person to place them
in your hands"
livery WE'LL" said Adhemar kindly, "that
! was no harm; you can 90. All! Blanche, 1
see now how much reason you have had for
treating me so coolly: 1 am NO longer as
tonished at your linking my conduct unpar-
douable, when you have been all this time un-
der the iuprt ssion that 1 persevered in
carrying ont my own plans, without the
sh ghtest regard to your wishes or the least at
tempt to restore your liberty"
Your conduct unpardonable, monsieur |!
! l now see only too well that it is who have
need of your indulgence. If you can suspend
your Judgment against my father, Am sure
he will convince yon that his motives were
honorable"
have no doubt of it, my dear Blanche, A
lsttefs addressed to bis daughter whilst she is
still under his protect The letters wrote
were assuring yoa that the PROMISE made my
father was binding only in case of your con-
sent. thought the knowledge of this fact
would allow you more freedom of decision"
Z" My part of the engagement was never con-
ditional; SO nnder no circumstances was free
"That would have depended somewhat upon
my course of action"
" But it is all too late now"
I" My dear Blanche if have been guilty of
en- error in linking your lot with mine, shall
do every thing in my power to diminish the
painful consequence. You shall be inst as free
as you were st Beloastls. Your cousin Elise,
and any other friends you wish, can stay with
you whenever you desire them, and my amt
will cease to make my house her home, unless
it be agreeable to you, Only make known
yonr wishes, Blanche, and they shall be graft
fed."-
"As to myself, 1 hardly know what to say
or 10 what light to beg that you will consider
me-. The ceremony which has just taken place
ought to establish our mutual relations; but /
appeal to your heart alone, and beg of you to
lay aside YOUR prejodces and judge me for
Yourself Regard me as an absolute stranger,
but one who srdently desires o place in your
ssteem Will You do so. Blanche ~
Yes, aud request the same of you"
After this conversation Adbemar was less
embarrassed. He gave Blanche a description
sorrows, her resignstion, and the active life
she now led. "She will tell yon herself" he
added, "the source of her resigns aud
cheerfulness" The conversation gradually
turned upon other subjects, and Adhemar was
SO respectful, 80 entertaining, that in spite of
herself Blanche was pleaAed and began t.
talk With hrm qaite f:eely. Could this indeed,
she shoaSha. be she formidable Adhemar-this
kind, attentive, Agreeable mani Even when
taelr opiulous were widely different, he 'ex
presHet nIa WITH 80 much susvity; and argued
40 gently, that .Ge really began to find his SO
cIery charming.
A they approached the castle she became
pausiUe, and ro5 WLsooos Yeason. Though a.
surs6 OF her hash8n6'a kindness, she was still
uncertain OF the rece psion awaiting her frem
hIs sGuE; And the idea OF being installed IS
mistress Of hoass wbe&s all vas strange had
csrtaSn!g nathtag reaa1ring to her Asi sated
teAtIr "a Athena Ar II interrupted her revene.
Ny dsas B.Aache," said be II must pre-
pare 9oa for 4ooae established usaEes as St.
-, SbIcd, being different from what yoa
GAvs been Acc1stoned 20, may appear very
sSc Ea!Ar. Iaey are tae reanlS OF my opinions
AoG pc G:I ptss- Yo1 would do me . favor by
enc tacnIax TO them for my sake, until you will
aaI. Isarue6 80 appreciate them yourself; !;
sI7 IL Atser = SSile, yoa all eoademn them
z.es As ~ interrupted by cries OF joy. TIE
5g5.lgere of ST. fScked 10 meet the car
"a r., Ee.Lai sLs air reSo1nded With their ac-
:iAsIAS0yas- Th~ noss elderly asked permits
sly- 30 cS51 ZTAS1IAie the yoapg eolple and iu-
g.E. sac S,s4aink or heaven u pom them. De.
gaE@i4'3 al s%ayug sae b:Ids, they ~isbed her to
sss = TI.1eaa of She TesPecE and affection they
bsags Ter aasbAad- Bat Adbemar, fearing that
tes$e Ss1OosSrAS;ens we're little in accordance
SIIs BlAncts's feeliu s., grSciouSiy imposed si-
Ieree, saying that hts wife was fStigued. and
oa thai accourt PeTbsPs il would be better to
defer their congratulations to another day.
Pardon, monsieur" replied an old man;
II did not knoz that ono coQld manifest too
uuch joy in your presence
AdbemSr blushed and lowered the window,
after giving orders to his servant to impose 81
lepc. uPod she yillagers, who, arrsyed in their
holidSy attire, stood upon the threshold of
sher dwellings. They contented themselves
With q respectful salutation, but it WAS almost
nn possible to restrain the children.