Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-10

| One afternoon quite late, as | sat cor
recting very much out ofdrawing study
Jean came in. | did not look up, bul
welcomed her from my easel she came
across the room silently, and stood be-
fore me without speaking,
We'll my dear" | said, rubbing ont
Il stream with bit of bread, Its long
time since YOU gladdened my eyes, with
! Il sight of your Winsome face"
Then, as she did not answer, | looked
up, She was standing directly in front
of me, with the light from the north win
dow full upon her. Her dress was long
soft white null, with Il breast knot OF
! dark Russian violets; she held her hat in
| her hand, and her soft dark hair lay
| slightly moist upon her forehead. Bit
! it was none of those accessories that
| drew from me the startled exclamation:
jean, what have Won been doing to
YOURSELF" For she was perfectly color
less with pallor that betokened sleep
| less nights and restless days, while all
the tiny blue veins about her temples
were plainly visible, and beneath her
| She gave little laugh.
ooh, nothing, Octavia, unless break
| ing ones heart can be called an occupa-
ton. | have been doing that
Then YOU are very foolish" | said.
'Why shouldyo break your heart, nd
some ones else rs we'll, when the RENE
dy lies in your own hands,.
She made no answer at first trltiing
in u nerVouS way with the feathers on
her hat. Then i'll q troubled voice: lis
it Denis you mean OctaVla?'
"Who else should it be-" | answered,
Break vour own heart if you will,
child, but you might have spared my
boys
spoke quickly and in temper, bnt
grieVed when | had said it. The girl
started as if wounded, and gave long,
deep sigh, though she answered me
quietly enough.
"Dea~ Madam Octavia, in deciding as
have, believe me have not spared Hly-
self; but | did not come to you to say SO
| came because am very miserable and
all alone, and because | am motherless,
and TO ask you to give him-Denis-this."
laying little note on the ledge Of my
easel, And now | will say goodbye,
OctaVia." She left me before | could
speak, with the same hurt look on her
face, and all tn II remained Wasthe white
note for Denis and one or two VlOlets
that had fallen from her dress as she
moved away.
\ few more days passed by and Sun
day morning, AS ! sat over my late tea
and toast, the door opened and Jean
came III.
Have yOn forgiven me, my dear" l
asked, as / kissed her sweet mouth, re-.
membering my hard words few eve
nings ago
sob. indeed, Octavia, | had nothing to
forgive. Surely, if you may not speak
your mind to NE, who can? See, | have
brought you these white hlacs, Octayia.
Baron vOr Stock gave ME such a large
bunch of them yesterday, and at once
thought Of you and the dear, dusty studio
You know 1 always used to keep the old
place frightened Up bit
Then as she separated the fragrant
two maOliCa vases, she asked in ahy
voice:
Have YOU seen Denis, Octayia2'
"No, my little Jean, but | sent him
your note"
Did you read it. Octavla?"
My dear, no. ! noticed it was un-
sealed. but fanCied that an oversight; so
| fastened it up tight and sent it on its
way. You did not tell me to read it,
Jean
1T does not matter she answered
Then after little pause: 1T was only
10 tell him, OctaVla, that Baron Won
Stock and Mr.. Haviland have decided it
shall be on the 18th of June" | made
no reply, though | knew it was her we'd
ding day she strOye TO speak Of SO calm
".
She came and rested her hands upon
my shoulders.
You do not answer me, Octayia. Are
YOU then, SO Indifferent"
"My child I said, ''since you have
decided in your own heart what is best,
why should :eply?"
Yes, that is true" Then. kissing
ne: II have tried, Octavia, indeed /
have, to do all for the best ! love Den
is-ah, how truly do love him but
my word is pledged. What can do
Nothing / answered dryly, "since
yUu feel as you do"
And now it seemed to me the days
fairly raced by in their eagerness t.
reach the 18th of June. / saw Denis
frequently; Jean less often. The boy
vas over@5d-lmSad with niscont great
studio, rumpIins Il 'ji& aair and repeat
ing over and over how much he loved
her-how cruel it all was.
"Whv doesn't she tell Baron Won
Stocks?" he said. lyon don't suppose
the man would force her to marry him
against her will?'
why don't YOU tell him." I an
swered.
How can I do that? Can I 90 and
tell the Baron that | feel sure Jean does
not love him, and is only marrying him,
because of her fathers stupid promise,
and s)me absurd nonsense about
the family honor? Don't
her very actions give my
words the lie direct? Didn't tell it to
Did Haviland, and much good did it do!
He smiled at me as blandly as possible,
and asked me if | came at Miss Dor
3ay's request. OF course, | was obliged
% say no. Then he smiled more bland
v than before, and said. When Miss
D'Orsay comes to me with the same pc
.ilion, VIII consider It. Was there
anything left for me to do, but take
myself off after that?"
''No, | had to agree with him; there
was nothing else left to do.
Now listen," continued Denis. "You |
ire fond of me, you know, and it will
consequently give you pleasure to do me
| good turn. Jean will not see me, and |
must see her before the 18th. Won't
YOU try and get her here next Sunday
and then let me come in quite
~ accident? You will, won't you?5
"Denis Durant," l said solemnly,
since you were curly-headed boy, | |
nave never refused you anything it was
n my power to grant. Am likely to
10 so now? Yes, you shall have one
more chance. will ask Jean to come.
And now be off; My six young ladies
will be ere in less than ten minutes, and |
snail lose my reputation as stern in
tructor, if they catch sight ofyouy hand
Iome face"
Pass ME on as your model" said he
then, coming back and put
ing his yellow head down caressingy;
'You will make her come, Octavia?"
eyes, yes," answered touching his
bright locks, edo not fear; you shall see
Ter once more"
This was Wednesday, the 9Th of June:
n ten days Jean was to be married. /
wrote her note asking her to come to |