Smyrna times., 1881-03-02
naive manner Of the stranger, Loisa de
Sernages smiled.

"Yes, madame" responded Berthe.
"You know very little of the city"
Il an quite stranger"
Indeed, then, an sorry to say that
you will not suit" was the languid re-
sponse. 81 quite depend upon my femme
de chamber" she continued. II require to
have everything done for me, even to the
most minute detail of my toilet"
AT this instant the sound of bell wa,
heard, and Madame de Sernages bent for.
ward to listen, look Of joy lightning her
face, as though the coming of some one
was anticipated. Silence followed. Grad.
ually the light seemed to fade frsm the
eyes of the listner. A deep sigh escaped
her lips, and she would have fallen had
not Berthe caught her in her arms. In |
in the adjoining room, and voice familiar |
to Mademoiselle Sorhier was heard asking |
for Madame de Sernages. Rising, she |
would have effected her escape, but the de. |
tanning haud of her hostess was laid upon
her arm.
~ am convinced that my secret ia
known to you," whispered Madame de
Sernages. a. must see you later. Do not
refuse to remain"
Berthe, impelled by feeling she could
not resist, did not hesitate, and quickly
concealed herself behind curtain, where,
unseen, she could see all.
The voice of Marquis de Varville had
heen recognized by both. Pale and weak,
Loisa welcomed him with a smile.
You are ill., he said, anxiously.
"Wretched," responded his ljstner, wea.
rily. :" long for the country" she contin
ued. elf l could but leave Paris, think
would gain new life. If | remain here,
fear shall die. know of villa only a
few miles from Paris. 1t is surrounded by
trees, and flowers abound. If could only
90 there"
Would you really like to possess the
vilIa2"
YES" responded the listner. "This
very morning | was negotiating with a
dealer to buy my jewels and furniture. /
require sixty thousand francs, and will
deprive myself of everything to obtain it,"
"You shall not part with your jewels" 4"
whispered De Varville, "although your
beauty requires no ornament. The cottage
shall be mine, or rather yours
"Do you suffer?" he questioned. "Ars
you i'll, Loisa ?"
. eyes," murmured his listner
) my darling" resumed De Varvile
| "tell me when and under what circum
!. stances you saw the cottage you so much
/ desire"
{ 81 was there five months ago." she said
/. calmly.
f :" | was there when you left Paris withcu
informing any one of your whereabouts
g and leaving me to suffer kaenly."
y "You suffered then, Maurice; suffe
a now," murmured Madame de Sernages.
I" Had you not so mysteriously abandone,
+. me-" continued De Varville, bitterly, b"
i should be Tree to day, hut in a moment o
II eigue and despair, married.
"Ts your wife beautiful p questioned hi
!" listner.
B. YES; but let US rather speak of one
a. have deeply wrongsd. 1t is your wish t
ID leave Paris. Be it so, LoisR; but let m
ar hope, my beloved, that you will permit m
e. to visit you occasionally. Dear one, alon
together, we will forget the world"
1 "Yes," responded Madame de Sernage
| wesrily Withdrawing herself from his en-
ut brace, "you will come to me; but whi
N bitterly. "You are the husband Of anothe
:" To her you whisper words of love, whi
I'd for me there are only stolen interview
stolen caresses."
nd Maurice de Varvlle endeavsred to cal
As. the excited woman, but sobs convulsed b.
he frame and she trembled with emotion.
NJ. "Take me to her." continued MADAM
de Sernages. "Let me gaze upon her, ar
Or. satisfy myself that one more worthy h
IN. won your love"
,rt At this moment the curtain was draw
ed aside, and Berthe Ssrbier stood befo
Maurics de Varville.
ed "Who are yeu2" he exclaimed.
fiji. "A stranger" responded his listHsr, "b
lie one who has come to speak the trut
lie. You are deoeiving your wife, wasting 20
fortune and dsserting your home. | ha
m. said," continued Berthe, "that / am
he stranger to you, and yet we have m
ed before, for my father and his two childr
in were born beneath the roof of the chate
en. de Tallery--"
ted "De Tallery!" exclaimed Madame
red Sernages,
ZEN "It is because one of the children of I
r if father" continued Berthe, not needing t
de. cry of her sister, has remained pure a
honest that am here. 1t is because
have the right to say to my sister, y
led have sinnsd, but return TO- the home y
gps, long since deserted
in. "Berthei SISTER," exclaimed her
tener.
ellie "Yes, Loisa, your sister," resuE
al, Madsmoiselle Sorbier, "who has come
re- tell you 1t is time to end life filed W
the disgracs-ons that has failed to bring h
piness, Had found that you truly lo'
noi' the man you thus separated frsm his v
ous might have been silent, but know I
> Of as he has decsived that wife so have
doir deceived him. You desire to leave Pa
ised Shall | tell you why e. aN
t of Berthe e. responded Madame de
nagea, Ata.
! Of at is because you love another.
anne are i'll. Why are yeu illf 1t is beos