The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-08
A TURTLE.DOvE wIDowHooD.

A III hTLE.DOVE WlDOWHOOD.
The grief Of the princess of Sora at the loss
Of her husband is still remembered throughout
Paris. Within her doors, draped in black in
the Partisan. mourning emblazoned with
ciphers, there reigned the terrible despair of a
Spanish woman. The princess cut off her hair,
and secluded herself from every one.
In her mourning robes, with her youthful
head shorn Of it's looks, she had the appearance
of nun; it made her hotel resemble a convent.
She passed her days before the portrait of her
husband, and dined alone in the large dining
room where every evening the table was spread
for two. The cane and the hat of the prince
remained in the ante-room in their accustomed
places, as if the master, though he had left home
forever, had just come in. His presence being
thus recalled rendered the despair of the poor
wife more intense, and the void of his absence
even greater.
But of all that round of calls, balls, recep-
tions and concerts where they had met and
loved and which set as it were, their happi-
ness in fashionable society frame, she re-
tanned only one friend, the Baroness Ancelin, q
drawing room prima DONNA who was indebted
to her beautiful voice for having remained the
intimate friend of the princess, whose great,
inconsolable and noisy grief made all CONVEX
sation jar upon her mood, but who loved to
hear nging around her, as it helped to give
vent to tears.
Two years passed thus, and the widow was
still sorrowfu1, still austere. Her hair, how
ever was allowed to grow, ripping over her
head with rebellious life in luxuriant curls
and waves. Her mourning was thus lightened
and made more cheerful, and seemed now to
be worn only as caprice of fashion. 1t was
at this period that the nephew of Nine. Ancel;n,
meeting the princess at his aunts house, fell
desperately in love and began to dream of
marrying her. At the first word of love he
ventured to address her the widow became in
dignant.
To her the prince still lived and this offer
seemed an insult, tempting her to be unfaith-
full. For some time she did not see her friend,
the baroness. The young man went away and
tried to forget, but soon returned, and showed
so much love and despair that Nine. Ahcelin
took pity on him and resolved to overcome the
scruples of the princess. Blu how could she
persuade woman with so peculiar a nature,
who never reasoned, and who was led only by
impulse and enthusiasm?
She believed that passion SO exclusive must
necessarily be jealous, and tried to obtain some
old letters of the prince. This was not very
difficult, M. de Sora having written very many
before his marriage, and scattered his scrawls
throughout a multitude Of little boxes and
locked drawers. which, however, were SO we'll
hidden one from the other, that each might
boast of being the sole possessor of the per-
fumed coat-of-arms of the great lord.
In order to bring few sheets Of some COM
place TOMuHCe Ill ltttcTe WltNOut ud6 W
show to the widow, Nine. Ancelin bad the
courage to present herself again at that hotel
which was like tomb of the dead, silent
fiower-decked tomb, where all day long wept a
living statue.
1t was not grief, but the falling of her idol
that now became her pain. Poor little Prin-
cessl Her years of happiness, and period OF
into the same abyss of scorn and anger. Moth
ing remained but an intense desire to avenge
herself. The portrait was banished from her
room. The second plate at table by which
she had tried to delude her fancy that she was
not alone was now removed from before the
empty, sacredly guarded seat; and in the
crowded anteroom which was henceforth to be
open TO callers and passers to and fro. the hat
and cane that had been there SO long were no
longer to be seen.
There were fetes at the Hotel de Sora now,
balls and suppers. As changeful sky shakes
emerged in gray, lilac pink and blue, recover
ing all her former brilliancy. Then one eve
Ming while walking in her small conservatory,
she said TO Nine. Ancelin's nephew, who had
been following her about like gloomy shadow
since her return to the sunlight: Now will
be your wife whenever yon WISH" She would
have liked TO have the ceremony performed
that very moment in the conservatory.
/. They were married very soon after and were
happy. she, through kind OF rage. and he
perplexed and astonished at her sudden pas
sion, but enjoying his happiness without seek
ing to analyze it too closely. In society the
marriage was much talked about. The Baron
ess Ancelin, remembering similar phrases in
her romances, had ready q charming little
speech upon the subject: do you see the
princess? \ People thought
she was lamenting, whereas her lamentations
we're cooling. Hers was
turtle dove widowhood."
Six months elapsed. The newly married
couple were living In the country, in chateau
in the suburbs Of Paris, where the friend made
them q visit. Seeing them quietly manifesting
their happiness a. they walked among the
smooth lawns and silent paths, the charming
baroness, who was never far-sighted, having
her eyes open only to the present moment, sud-
denly said to them: 1T was who made you
50 happy. Well, do not regret my falsehood."
The princess gave asudden start. "What do
you say? What falsehood?"
Yes, dear, can tell you everything now.
The poor prince was not 30 black - painted
him. Those famous letters were dated Ave
years back. You were not married them"
us this what you have done?" said the prin-
cess, looking ct her husband and her friend with
an expression Of madness in her eyes. The
dead, forgotten prince, whose name she no
longer bore, wholly resumed his former place
In her affections. ~ her husband plainly saw
by shrinking motion as she drew back from
him.
All was over between them without word Of
explanation. The princess shut herself up ct