Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-15

But there were times when, In spite
of all this, Hilda DE Bonne Fortune asked
herself whether her grand marriage had
been worth whilel To be sure, she had
not been guilty Of the bascness of marry
Ing for her own mere meat and raimcnt,
but all the same she had learned by a
wearisome experience how infinitely less
were these than the demands ofthe soul.
1t bored her To death to be a fine lady.
IL seemed TO her that she was n very
ghost of her former self; that that had
died long ago, when she had closed the
door upon the real things of life-the
art she had surrendered. the mutual
love she might have worn like n crown.
She grew quiet and pale. and her hus-
band noticed II, and reproached her for
II fretfully. Had he not married her
for her youtli and freshness? She must
exert herself; she must go into the
world; she must dress in n manner be-
fitting her station. lie did not choose
his wife To be Il dowdy. When he re-
preached her he dropped the mask Of
his smooth gallantry. lie was ~ out
spoken and rs rough and coarse ms though
he had not been educated in the foremost
Of modern civilizations.
The poor little duchess was in despair.
Whom was there 10 turn TO? She
against the hard. cold world! There
was church not fnr off. A fancy
seized her TO go there. She had seen her
mother come out Of church sometimes
with wonderful look Of peace On her
face. She might might find peace too.
She took her maid with her-sincc she
never more went quite free now-and
strayed into the great. quiet cathedral.
She dropped down on her knees. She
thought of \ storm, and Of voice that
came in the storm, and of the calm that
followed. And presently there was IA
calm with her.
A calm. and strength that is only
born of calm. She went about her ways
sercncly; she ruled hcr kingdom bcauii-
fully. If she had made grave mistake.
she did not sit down with folded hands
in its shadow. Poor little soull she had
strayed into hadcs but she became the
light. the tranquil moonlight, Of the
place.
In n day Of unfaith and of matcrialism
and of mammon worship, she was true
To her own ideals of goodness and lowell
ness. She never lost her childlikc ma
turc, her innoccn her simplicity.
The worldly men and women about her
treated her with certain Multiplying
reverence.
So she made her peace with life, with
nature. ~ the psgans would have said.
and rs we Christians still may phrase IL,
with "A dcyouter and more filial signiii-
cameo.
But in So making her reconciliation
she must also find her way back 10 her
old place in the heart Of the bright-faccd
little woman across the ocean who had
sent her forth 80 reluctantly Ia her mar
ried life She had written to her mother
cold and studied letters during the first
months Of her married life. II was n :
until she had conquered her disappoini-
mcnt and her loneliness that she could
write Ia her hs she used 10 talk TO her,
with the uuipouring of her heart.
One evening NJ a crowded reception at
her hotel. = tall. fair man. with the
slightly stopped shoulders of the student,
made his way through tho throng. and.
hesitaiing slightly, bowed presently over
her hand.
e was by no means SURF II was YOU.
Madame Dc Bonnie Fortune" Dr
Douglass said. And in truth she was
sufficiently altered to have made recogni-
tion difficult. She had lost her fresh
color; the mild rose bloom had given
place to the pallor Of the lily. There
was an outlooking patience now in her
eyes. and there were shadows under them
that told Of slecplcss nights and restless
days. But II the luster of her youthful
beauty was dimmcd, perhaps the splcn-
dor of the setting suiiiced 10 make
amends. Her palace was very splendid !:
her toilette was n triumph in its way !:
her fair head was diahemed with dia-
monds. She looked the queen that she
was in the world Of fashion.
seem 10 he in dream" Dr. Doug
lass went on; "or rather ii seems to me
that IL must have been in dream that
we once took country ramhlcs together
down shady lanes. and gathered wild
flowers. and rowcd about in boat. and
did various other rustic things. Part Of
the dream was that YOU wore a white
straw hat trimmed with scarlet poppics
Your dress is trimmed with scarlet pop
pies tonight, see
"Poppics are said to he the flowers Of
dreams A. flr as that goes. this scene
tonight il the dream for me. | am not
accustomed 20 my grandeur yet it Is still
unreal. Oh. Dr. Douglass dropping
her voice" how Is my mother When
did YOU 500 her ?"
Poor little queen there were tears in
her eyes. Looking into her earnest face,
AAs
deed appear n though her fine clothes
and her jewels were mask. and as
though she were holding court in yeri-
table place Of shades. Or. Douglass had
thought hard things of her lac had called
her mcrcrnary wording. He took 1t
all back now; he forgave her; he piticd
her
Amer that, IIilda never rested until
she had seen her mother face to face.
Her conversation with DIR. Douglass
brought up the past so vividly that she
could not be satisfied without. So in the
spring she crossed the Atlantic. with her
little retinue Of man and maid. two years
after her marriage.
She knocked at the door Of the shabby
little house she used to call home. late
one evening. II was May In the twi-
light gloom she could distinguish famil-
lar flowers in the small garten--heart's =
ease and daffodils. She stopped and
plucked n daffodil. her favorite flower.
as she waited for them 10 open the door.
Its fragrance carried her straight hack tu