The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-18

I structive Of this painful mistrust; besides, 1T
| would put them upon their guard, aud give as
an opportunity of assisting them the more
effectually in removing the i'll grounded preju-
dices of othcrs." y
-"Your theory, monsieur, 10 a very pretty one,
but think il impracticable for the tret re-
suit of such warning would be q challenge,
and believe you are opposed to duelling, are
| you not Z"
"Certainly, madame; but it is not necessary
| to mention Names"
81 would doubt the truth in that case," said
Mime: de Raneau, laughing; especially II tne
| slander related to myself"
81 Confess" replied Adhemar, also laughing,
81 had not foreseen q circumstance of that
| nature-a refusal to credit my words. shoad
have to consider the matter before deciding
Nine. de Laneau did not easily abandon the
combat. She was about to reply, when the
Connt, anxious to start. called Adhemar, and
they went ont together.
Several days passed without apparently af-
footing any change in the sentiments of the
parties assembled at the castle.
The Count pressed his guests to prolOng their
stay. Blanche joined her entreaties to his,
fearing that q diminution of NUM- bers would
bring her more in contact with her cousin.
From day to day she found him more diffioult
to understand. His presence worried her for.
without acknowledging it. she stood i'll awe OF
his opinion, which she felt was not al ways
favorable to heraelf.-Yet he was 30 respectfal
she could not suppose for an instant that he
wished TO offend her; and . why" she often
repeated to herself" why do / fear his disap-
probation only let him thoroughly disapprove
of me, and he will abandon the engagement;
let him despise me, and he will leave me ih
peace! Ii 1T could only be sop For all this,
! no sooner did she mingle in conversation when
he was by than her eyes involuntary sought
his countenspce, to read its unmissakable ex-
preston of approval or disaPpro robation. If the
former, her flow of spirits frequently impelled
her to the length of venting itself in ridiculing
some respectable individual or opinion then
his grave, severe air, when every one else
laughed, placed her i'll at ease, and destroyed
all the pleasure of her tramph over others.
"Those downcsst eyes, that long face, when
we have a little fan" SAID she TO Elise, " are
an undisguised reproach to us all, even my
father"
"M. de ST. Ciair is to be blamed" replied
Elise, He knows Adhemar's strictly religious
principles and his aversion for that propensity
in SO many worldly people for turning iuto
ridicule what should be honored and rever-
enoed yet he necessarily leads the converse
tion upon that strain, with the unmistakabe
Intention of annoying your cousin. Iou must
aGknowledge, Blanche, that the latter com
pletely vauquishes NJ. de St. Clair in argument,
| leaving him nothing to say in reply except a
few miserable sophisms or silly jokes that be-
tray the weakness of the cause he advocates"
" M. de st. Clair only seeks to amuse Us, aud
really means nothing serious whilst the Che
Waller, always diguifed and sedate, seems
snxions to give a grave cast to our converse
tions."
He does, it is trne; but that does not pre-
vent my preferrng his society to that of n. de
st. Clair. 1 have always found those men
| who treat women as reasonable creatures and
| their equals far more agreeable than those who
! act other wise. You, my dear cousin, get so
| offended at M. de BelcastePs frankness because
heretofore you have known nothing but fat
terry and admiration"
mo, Etise," said Blanche, weeping, "I do
| not crave artery, but indeed cannot get used
to continual blame and fautt-fnding,- and
must acknowledge that it has wounded me
deeply. He desplses mel"
my dear Blanche. you are greatly mistaken,
believe me. If you knew much as do OF
the real state of his feellogs towards you, you
would say that he loved you Lenderly, and felt
the deepest interest in your happiness"
"Whst an idea I" exclaimed Blanche, spring
ing up with vivacity. " For once you have
succeeded in convincing yourself of what you
wished to believe. Loves me tenderly, indeed
His behavior proves that beyond doubt-for
instance, when be catches every word utter,
for the express purpose of letting me know
that his opinion Is just the contrary And
what was it he said this morning about you ung
women who were blessed with beauty and
wealth sometimes forgetting they were reason
able Croaturesf Hs considers me q spoiled
child, governed only by caprice. o Elise!
: know he despise5 me; and. since cannot
resist the impnlss to confess it, he has taught
me to despise myself; for, on reflection, mus
ADMIT that his OPT ion is not altogether unjust
You exaggerate the dark side of things, my
, dear; and since you 80 carefully note ali tha
: is unfavorable in the matter why not do thi
same with the favorable itemsf You remem
t ber what he said this morning a6ont one o
his neig boCs Nine dc St. G0illaume II
z Perfectly; and that look, when he turned
to me as no was speaking, it said plainly
Y Listen, foolish child, who idle away YOU
f exsceuce--!sten, and compare Your life witt
| that Of this useful, pious woman, this faithful
L daughter, sister, mother. friend, this proVi
! deuce of the poor I shall be introduced t
this marvel, aud no donbt she will be propose
Q as my model In company with hor 1 mus
y | visit schools aud look after the poor. Fu
l, assisting them with money is the least PAL
g of our duty towards them we should convlpc
% them of our interest and sympathy. oh
If recollect his expressions weil-every ore
Y them"
n "But, my dear Blanche, what !s there
= blame in thisf'
n 'Ohl nothing at ALL"
,r "Now, am going to tell you what ho sai
u to me about you"
"About met"
"Yes; after exciting my admiration by h
enumeration of Niue. dc st. GuilIaume's man
1T virtues and charitable deeds, he added in 10
D. tone, think your Cousins natural dispositi
le very much like this lady's, and, judging frol
W the little 1 have seen, she needs only to hav
r. been educated, this sstiinable woman wa
e in the school of adversely, to have develope
ir iust such an admirable character"