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


have much to listen to. Where is my
Sid friend orr home made couch? Oh,
there it is pushed away back in that dark
corner. Octavia, how could You treat
my handiwork with So little dignity
Then she pulled away with her pretty
hands until the couch with its worn
chintz covering and cushions was placed
to her liking in the broad window, and
she comfortably established thereon.
The warm, golden beams of the setting
sun rested lovingly Oh her sweet face.
and SO, my DEAR | said with sigh
of content, for I Was very glad to have
my Jean home once more, after an alb
sence of many weeks, You are really to
s be married! | only heard the rumor, as
= true, the other day, and have waited for
your own lips to tell me all about it, and
as many of the secrets of loye-making rs
you will contide to an od-maid's keep
ing"
ooh, yes, I am engaged" she an
swered carelessly; "but, Octavia, If yOu
are pining for love secrets, | have none
to tell. Surely You know as we'll as do
that it was all arranged long ago, before
papa died. 1t was his dearest wish that
l should marry the Baron Won Stock,
and abroad we are taught to obey our
fathers, even though they die and leave
US; and even without that, We D'Orsays
never break our word
She said this simply and rs matter
of course, taking OFF her rings one by
one and making little row of them cn
the top OF the couch. She was very
young, only just seventeen, but there
was ring of proud truth in her voice
that showed that she had learned her
lesson well.
Yes, know, child" | answered
with another sigh not So tranquil as my
former one; only, you see, | can Meth
er understand nor believe in such
keeping of ones word. Here, in Amer
lea, generally girl marries for one of
two reasons; either because she loves,
or because she is poor and needs
home. The latter can never be your
case; then. Jean, do You love the Baron
Won Stock"
- Jean shrugged her shoulders. "de is
nfty," she said, land has gray hairs,
and am just seventeen, and, you know
summer and winter can never agree
But l am D'Orsay."
'DOrsay or not D'Orsay," | replied
shortly, Il do not believe in any such
nonsense. Jean, do you realize what
you are giving up in marrying man you
do not love-"
II think do. Octavia'
rs there then some one You do love,
Jean?''
\ long pause following my question,
during which Jean put on slowly the
.Sr lfNSS hat H11, I =,
her slim fingers. Then she said in
troubled voice: "Octavia, that is just
what l have come to tell you"
peremptory knock at the door, fol-
lowed by the immediate entrance and
familiar voice of KY favorite, Denis
Durant, Interrupted jeans little confes-
sion.
Are you here, Madam Octaya, all
alone in the cleaning? And may come
in?"
Come in and welcome, Denis, but
when did you arrive? Your last letter
said nothing of your intention to return
so soon. You were on Your way to
Florida, then. Did you weary of the
sunny South? or were the Florida girls |
less winning and beautiful than you ex-
pected?"
mo and yes, Madam Octavia As 10
the Florida girls, Fortunately for me they |
did not make up my entire community, |
for had other things to think about"
Denis crossed the long studio, and |
now stood beside Us where we sat in the |
quick coming shadow. | turned to |
Jean to make them known to one anoth- |
er.
JEAN" I said, "this is your one rival |
in my affections; Denis, this is your
only compeer in my heart"
1 had proceeded thus far, when ] was
shaken out of my usual calm by little
gasping noise from among the cushions
Dennis started forward, and to my utter
dismay and establishment, | saw him
seize jeans hands and cover them with
eager kisses, while he said in broken
voice:
you here, my darltngi why, thought
Il never knew You and Madam Octa-
; via were friends"
y Then jeans frightened little voice:
ooh, please you must not. Oh, De-
tavia tell Mr.. Durant all about it,"
TELL Mr.. Durant all about it," I
echoed; "indeed, think it is yuu two
should make explanation to me-"
And so by degrees they told me. 1t
was the same old story that is forever
and ever repeating itself. They had
met in Florida, gone sightseeing and
pleasure-seeking together until, as a
foregone conclusion, they had come to
love one another; and then--WEiy. then
came Jeans summons home, followed
by her formal betrothal to the Baron
Won Stock.
'She never let me know, Madam Oc-
tavia," said poor Denis, ''where she was
going, or why. Did she suppose held
I, her love so lightly onand SO lightly
lost? What if she is engaged to Baron
Won Stock, and bound by all the betroth
L. IN Th,Sc 1naSn't in !
the least No guardian can dispose of a
girl that way in this country. Jean, l
tell you it shall not be. Don't you be-
lieve me Jean?"
But Jean was sobbing quietly to her
self, her face buried in her hands, only
the soft dark fringe of hair upon her
brow visible.
"Jean," 1 said at last "surely there is
no cause for all these tears. It is quite
simple; what Denis says is more or less
true: the Baron will never hold you UNI
willing to your word. Be frank with him.
my dear; il. is always the best way to be
honest"
"You do not know" she answered
lifting her tea-drenched face into the |
moonlight that now streamed in soft eff
f1lgence through the open window.
What it means to us to have plighted our
troth. It is only very little less bind
ing than marriage VOW, and ], above
ali others, must not break mine; for, do
you not know my dying father promised
for me, and I may not soil his honor
though l might my own?'
And from this we could not move
her. Denis was in despair, land not less
moved, for loved these two children
dearly, and in my secret heart had cher
ished the hope that they might one day
become something nearer and dearer
than friends.
Jean scbbed on little longer, while
Denis held one unresisting hand, and the
kindly shadows of the calm May night
wrapped us all in soft obscurity. Pres
emily there came the sound of wheels
and the tramping of horses in the quiet