River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-22

marriage, and | was at the convent
There was nothing to be done with hei
misery but endure it, knowing that she
owed it all to her impotence. Can you
wonder that she is unforgiving?"
He is leaning on the small table be-
tween them with folded arms and down
cast eyes, and he is very pale, even
through the bronze of ten African sum-
mers.
Il loved her always" he saws, almost
inaudibly, then pauses: nor does ne flu
ish his sentence, though she waits for
him to do so.
''You love her? You could not have
wrecked her life more utterly If you had
hated her. Can you wonder that she has
grown to fear the thought of love that
has been so cruel to her as yours and her
husbands? Monsieur, my brother-in-
law died two years ago-God is good"
continued Lucille, fercely. Since
then Jeanne has been at peace, and she
shrinks with absolute horror from dis
turbing the calm which has come to her
after such storms. She fears you, she
avoids you, because-shall | tell you
why?"
she can see his lips culver, even un-
der the heavy musfache, but he neither
speaks nor raises lis eyes.
she loves you" nun murs Lucille
just aloud
He lifts his eyes now and looks at her
dumbly for an instant; then rising abb
ruptly walks away.
lie comes back presently.
My child" he says. very gently, "Do
not try to make me believe that. unless
you are very sure, for if / once believe
it again, IL"
Il am as sure as that live that Jean
ne has never ceased to love you, and
that you can force her to confess it if
you will make love TO me-"
II You? You are laughing at me"
with rush of color into hIs dark face.
''Do you think so i'll of Jeanne's sis
ter?" she asked softly.
Pardon, am scarcely myself, and 1
cannot imagine how"
Jeanne will not receive you because
she knows her own heart and il afraid
oft. She fears that you will destroy
the hard won peace she values so high
iy. But you are wealthy, distinguished,
the head of your name-a very different
person from what you were ten years
ago, and she can find no reason for refus-
ing You as my sutton, if consent, and
as my chaperon she must be present at
all our meetings You begin to under
stand? Make her see that your love is
not all jealousy; make her remember;
make her regret"
''But forgive me, when one has loved
woman for ten years" with faint
smile, there is no room in ones heart
for even a pretense at loving another"
IF there were, monsieur, | should
never have proposed my plan," she re-
plies with dignity. at is be, ause / have
ofc1 oil nd
that your love is worthy Oh nv sister,
that trust you. But 1t is not with ones
heart that one pretends. Enfn it is with
you to consent or decine?"
'Declinep he echoes, with a passion
none the less Intense for its quietness.
docs dying man decline his last chance
of life, however desperate it may be?"
The next week is fuil of bitter sur
prises to the proud AMI patient woman,
whose pathetic cIiaglng to her newly
found peace Lucille so well understands.
Though it is so long since she has per
mitted herself to remember ANYTHING of
the lover OF her youth except his jeal-
ousy, she has believed in his faithfulness
as utterly as she dreamed it, and when
she receives De Palis5ler's note asking
the consent Of his old friend to his love
for her sister, tn pain she feels Devil
ders and dismays her. With Il smile
whose cynicjsm is as much for herself
as for him, she g yes the note to Lucille,
expecting an instant rejection ofthe man
whose motives in pursuing them they
had both 50 misunderstood. But with
gay laugh. Then my sympathy has
been all without Cause the girl cries
BY all means let hltl come, my Jeanne.
1t cannot wound you who have long
70, hn
best party in Paris and tres bell homme
for his age"
1t is quite true there can be no objee-
tions 20 the wealthy and distinguished
Marquis de Pallissier if Lucille Is willing
none but the pain at her heart, which
he is too ashamed even to confess to
terself So a note is written, fixing an
tour for his first, visit, and Nine. de
Iiramon prepares herself to meet the
man whom she last saw alone in all the
passionate anger of lovers quarrel
There is the sound of wheels in the
courtyard, and she rises with a hasty
glance at her reflection in the mirror,
"His old friendp' she murmurs, scorn-
fully, Il dare say look an old woman
beside Lucille"
Then she turns with look of graceful
welcome, for the door is thrown open
and servant announces:
IN. lie Marquis de Pallissier"
Nothing could give me greater pleas
ure tnan to receive as my sisters sutton
the old friend of whom the world tells
me such noble things" She utters her
little speech as though she haG not re-
hearsed it dozen times, and holds out
her pretty hand to him.
You are too good, madame" he re-
plies, very low; and she reflects that he
is, of course, a little embarrassed. II
am afraid you had much to forgive in
those days so long ago, but inc, | trust
has changed me-"
at would be sad, indeed, if time did
not give US wisdom and GOODNESS in ex-
change for all it takes from US" she
says, with quick thrill of pain that he
should speak of ten years as If it were
an eternity
mot coldness," he exclaims, coming,
nearer, and looking at her with eyes
that made her feel like girl again. 'If
you could see my heart, you"
May | enter, my sister" asks the
gay voice of Lucille, as she appears from
behind the portiere at SO fortunate a
moment for the success of her plot that
it is to be feared that she had been
eavesdropping.
De Paillssler turns as once and press
es her hand to his lips.
"Mademoiselle," he says tenderly, II
am at your feet"
Then begins charming little comedy
of love- making, i'll which Lucille plays
her role with pretty coqdettry and he
with infinite zeal.
And the chaperon bends over her
lace work ana hears the Caresslng tones
she thought she had forgotten. and sees
the tender glances she inaglnes she had
ceased to regret, all given to her young
er sister in her unregarded presence.
She is very patient and used 10 suffering
but at length she can endure no longer,
and not daring to leave the room she
moves away to distant writing table
where she is at least beyond hearing
There is an instant pause between the
conspirators, and while De Palissiers
ewes wistfuily .ollow Nine. de Miramon,
Lucille seizes her opportunity with
promptness that would have done cred
IT to Richelieu or a Talleyrand, or any
other prince.
Courage, monsieur she murmurs
she has been cold to me ever since
your note came"
You would make a charming Jeune
premier at The Francois only whea You
do say anything very tender, do you re
member to look at me instead OF Jeanne.
And she breaks into a laugh SC utterly
amused that he presently laughs, too,
and the sound of their mlrth causes an
odd blot in the poor chaperon's writing
4 month has dragged by wretchedly
enough, both 10 the conspirators and
their victim, and like all things earthly.
has rag