The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25
M0rnIng Star and Catholic Messenger.


way thither. Suddenly ber car caught tn
Bound of approaching footsteps; and BupPo'
ing them Adhenarts, she was just on the potn
OF venturinG her indignation when the mex
moment discovered her mistake. Young L0di
de Cspron and his mother stood beside heI
believed at not finding 10 her formiaabl
cousin, Blancbe's countenance and manner
expressed more coEdiality than she genersll!
accorded this young man, whose persistent at
tentions worried her. Encouraged by her mn
nsual affsbility, he ventured for the first tim
to declare his love, which n feeling of deel
pity for Che sacrifice he believed she was goinj
10 make of herself rendered still more impas
stoned. He and his mother, said he. had con
oeived plan, an hon orable plan. for withdraw
ing Blanche from her impending fate, and
knowing her indifference towards him, h'
hoped for no other recon pspse than the salts
faction OF having snatched her from misery.
Touched at the evident sincerity of this In
experienced yonng mana interest in her lot
she gently sought to convince him that such o
thought was injurious to herself. She would
never dream of breaking this saored engage
ment made by her father. but wished every
one to consider her the afisnced bride of NJ
de Belcastel- Then thanking Nine. de Capror
for her kind intentions, she firmly requested
the young man to keep aloof FROM her pre-
aence.
spectfal attach ment, aud Blanche insd, a
prey to her sad reflections upon the miseries OF
she human race.
She decided at last to rejoin the company.
greeted by bursts of laughter. Adhemar alone
did not share the universal Raiety Glancin &
At him. she noticed his pale detected air. Their
eyes met; she turned away, bat not with that
expression of displeasure habitual to her coun-
tensuoe the last few days.
Approaching her, Adhemar said gently {:
"You seem fatigued, adsmoselle. l fear you
have taken too long a walk"
"Yes," she replied with equal gentleness
believe have been too far. Are you quite
weu. monsieurp
Perfectly" he answered with heightened
color and returning animation.
The conversation then became general, and
urned upon different subjects, and no one
could have suspected from appearances the
sentiments of several who were present.
That evening, on retiring with Elise,
Blanche found upon her toilet letter from St.
Clair.
After reading it she cast it aside, exclaning z
indignantly: What andaeions PROPOSE
tion1 An elopemeutl How iusolent, and how
HIS vanity has misled him! He has certainly
mistaken me this time! See, dear Elise, he
fstters himself that ] am not utterly indiffer-
ent to his attachment! If l had not always
been utterly indifferent to him, this letter
would be quite sufficient to make me so. How
iitSle he knows my heart, as he pretends, or be
would also know that l consider misfortune
die"
'Proud Blanche I" said her cousin smiling;
"some people would say that yoa were uusc-
NO, Elise. rever could understand the
feeling that would prompt one to make such o
o0ntemptible proposition; and pretending to
desire my happiness too! Give me the letter !;
l am going to answer it, and let this ipsoleut
fellow know my opinion Of him. wish both
he and his mother were away fr0m here. She
is beginning to get . iittis tired of fistteripg
me aa che used to. Elise, AAttery is really 30
disgusting to me that greatly prefer NJ. de
BelcAstel's disAgreeAble oandor to the oficious
kindness Of these interested women. Do you
suppose do not see through it all2'
Next morning neither CapEon nor st. Clair
appeared at breakfast; urging important bus-
moss. both families had left the castle, in spite
OF the Counts reuopstrsnces to the contrary.
Mme. de st. Clair, attempting to conceal her
ohAgrin beneath an air of contempt, said that
che was obliged to renounce the pleasure of
witnessing the happy event so near at hand,
but che consoled herself at leaving her friends
with the assurance of their upquestionable fe-
licity.
Blanche understood the bitterness Of this
sarcasm, bat showed no sign of Iesentment;
for she " az too overjoyed to get rid OF her i'm
u. and Nine. de Clamart replaced shen- Up TO
the day of the ceremony Blanche hAi Tery
little oon versation with any oce ex:apG Elise,
who spared no effort to teScA her raai SuAsiou
and the scholar had 81 7ficieos selfcnu srnl to
ahow this much az least IN her cnun Eeu 1ace
She became gentle AID agreeable 80 ALL and
even appeared gay whao IA company VIVA her
father, whilst InseriortY dsr 4uf:rfaSs ~ we're
inexpreesible. Adhemar diyi1at aar 5dnu Eh "a
and, though noe Qua Wdrf rav.aisst 5Ii4 ku1 VI
edge, every oua cnTLd rsa.t upnu ma cn1n-e-
nance IA aaalisss&aai sElraasidH AZ ot5F ADD
interest,