The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-02

your amiable respect. And now shall VT
go? 1t is already late
SO, with a general bow, and leading M
poor little Jean by the hand, he left US
As the door closed, Denis gave one low cry
and flung himself face down upon the
couch. Nothing | could say would com
fort him he lay all the evening in dumb
wretched misery, while the dusk grew int
night, and one by one out came the LITTLE
stars, and last of all the full, round moon
The 18th of June dawned fair and cloud
less | was up early, too full of my child's
new life, that was to begin to-day, to rest
She was to be married at Mr. Haviland' S
quietly at six o'clock in the afternoon.
had little note from her at midday, beg
ging ME not to fail to come, and saying al
the end: ''Dear Octavia, [ know | an
doing right, although my heart seems dead
Baron Won Stock is very kind, and says
shall soon be all bright and happy again
and, indeed, shall try and make his words
seem true.
Bv four o'clock [ was dressed in my bes
gray silk, with bunch of white lilac, that
Jean had sent me- | was carefully draw
ing on my gloves and beginning to fde5t
mentally lest Denis should fail me at the
last for he, with youthful desire to lux
uriate in his grief, had declared it only
manly and right to be at Jeans marriage
besides being his duty to look after me
At half-past five he made his appearance
''Oh, Denis" | cried, chow glad am to
see you feared after all, you might not
come"
He laughed sad, bitter laugh, not good
to hear from so young heart. 'You
should not fear, Madame Octavia. If she
can endure it, surely [ can.
Then we bet0ok ourselves to the car
riage, and very soon were entering Mr..
Haviland's drawing-room these were gay
with flowers and sweet June sunshine, and
bright with happy faces, Were ours the
only heavy hearts in that small gathering?
We took our places, Denis and /, not
far from the white satin mat richly en-
broidered in roses, which, as Madame de
Vaux informed me, chad been brought es-
pecially from Germany for the bride and
groom to stand upon. An old, old family
custom, you know she whispered, ener-
getically, ''and so interesting"
We had not long to wait there was Il
hush in the flow Of many voices as Baron
Won Stock entered and took his place, fol-
lowed Immediately by Jean on Mr.. Havi-
land s arm. Iheld my breath Denis, who
stood beside me, shivered Very sweet and
beautiful did my darling look, though her
falling veil of rich lace could not hide from
my eyes the real Jean beneath, and [ noted
with sharp anguish that the sweet face was
thinner, and the soft eyes more mOurnful,
than one short month ago. In direct con-
contrast to her sad, gentle looks, was the
too apparent joy, not to say hilarity, Of both
Baron Won Stock and Mr. Haviland. And
now Jean had reached the silken mat, old
Mr.. Dillon stood by in surplice and stole,
and was taking my last look at little Jean
D'Orsay She could be my Jean no longer.
The Baroness Won Stock could never come
to the old, dim, dusty studio and make it
bright with her presence, talking for hours
over every trifing pleasure or pain, as the
old Jean had done.
NV eyes were full of tears, for Jean was
the child of a widowed heart, that had
never known the sound of the magical word
mother" Even Denis sorrow could not
equal mine.
Baron Won Stocks voice broke in upon
nv memories. "Mr. Haviland, and my
very good friends, he was saying "as you
know, it was the earnest desire and solemn
promise of my friend, the late Count AL
phonse D'Orsay, that there should, at a
proper time, exist between me, Baron Her
mann Won Stock, and his only child and
daughter, Jean Blanche DOrsay, the tie
and contract of marriage And so great
was this desire, however unworthy the re-
cipient of his bounty, that he instilled into
his daughters generous heart the feeling
that should she break his solemnly pledged
word, she would not only soil his honor
but that of the DOrsays, whose race and
lineage had never owned one member who
had not kept it fair and clean. But to me
he left discretionary powers, though he
bound her so firmly, and should [, Hermann
Won Stock, desire at any time to cancel this
mutual agreement, [ was to be free to do
so. l do so desire noU. In the presence
of you all, [ give back to Mile. D'Orsay
her freedom; not from any want of appre-
citation of her beauty, goodness and loyalty,
rather because of them, and that | am an
old man, and my love for her is too great
to accept the sacrifice of her youth. Jean,
mein leibling, look up. See, [ have brought
thee present, and we shall have wedding
after al"
When Jean raised her tear-dimmed eyes,
it was Denis face they rested on, Denis
hand that clasped so tightly her own.
"To you, my friend, said the Baron,
more sternly, turning to the young man !;
II say shield her faithfully; she who
guards so carefully dead fathers honor
will not fail to cherish that of her hus-
band"
Denis bowed his bright head in silent
thanksgiving. And so they were married
Often now on summer evenings, the dim
old studio is full of the joyous laughter and
prattling tongues of little Denis and little
Jean, pretty Blanche and baby Hermann.
And when the shadows grow longer and
the little spirits less buoyant, they gather
about my knee and beg "Once more, just
once more, tell us the story of mammals
wedding -day.-The Argosy.
Don't Speculate.