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

put out my hands to her as she dreN
near me; she took them in hers ant
bending, kissed me twice. "You dea
Octavia, she said, chow cool aud cali
and happy you look here. neve
come that it does not do me good. an
yet | always leave with heartach,
are YOU glad to see me, OctaviaY"
My little Jean, l am very glaC
You do not come So often now my dea
and miss you very much,
ut is not my fault that keeps III
away. Octavia," she said, using one o
her foreign idioms, "but my weakness,
dare not come, for every time do, IN
courage wakes fainter. You and the OIL
studio are So full of pleasant, dear mem
cries, and-of-him."
Jean, Jean my darlingw cried Denis
coming forth from his hiding and takin
both her hands in his.
Are you here?" she cried. Then be
ginning to tremble IL little, and in low
voice, with now and then sob: "Oh
Denis, you should not, Octavia, why Iii,
YOU let him come? Oh, my dear, dea
Denis!'
1t was all very sad. Jean stood there
in her white glistening dress. sobbing
with DeLis holding her hands in his, Ell
treating her in passionate tones to lister
to the love Oi both their hearts.
al cannot" she said family. ooh
Denis, | cannot"
Then you do not love me- cried he
holly.
Love you, she answered. "Ah, yOl
do not know how love you. | love you
more earnestly, more deeply, than 1t il
possible for You to understand. But, oh
can't you see? 1t is not my promise
must keep, it is my fathers. 1t will no
greatly matter if my heart is broken,
she added little wildly, $50 our honori
kept clean
For Il few moments there was silence
| then from out the gloom, far down the
| long studio, came voice:
Jean, mein liebling, art thou ready
for me? Pardon, madame, that intrude
| myself upon you.
Baron Won Stock walked into our midst
and there was Jean, crying, and Denis
holding both his hands.
But what is this" continued the
| Baron, turning his kind face from one
to another. Jean in tears! And you
sir. to Denis, "for what reason do you
50 hold Miss DOrsay's hand?'
For what reason?" cried Denis, glad
to speak to some one in his excitement
\
Stock; because | love Jean, and she loves
me. Don't you, my darling? Yes, |
love her, and you will take her from me
| because of some stupid promise long ago
made by man dead two years. You
| want her to marry you, and she is not
one to break her word. But, look you, |
tell you sne loves me, and it will only be
her hand she gives you, not her heart:
! that is mineW
! The boy finished almost triump hantly,
though he dropped Jeans hands and
stood away from her. She said nothing.
SIS this true JEAN asked the Baron
slowly, with look Of pain in his face.
Thus questioned Jean looked up and
answered
True that love Denis? Yes, it is
quite true, should have told you Her
mann, the day before our marriage, and
l should also have told you, that as |
took your name, SO l should wear it
blameleSsly. You have never asked me,
Baron yon Stock, whether or not loved
you. You accepted my fathers promise
as have doue as am willing to do"
AS watched the Baron, | saw sud
den look of happiness come over his face
while Jean was speaking. My heart
sank. Was he then willing to take her
not onlyswithout love, but knowing her
heart belonged to another! 1t seemed
her, and taking her hand raised court
eonsy to his lips, bowling his,gray head
over with infinite grace.
That is quite as it should be, mein
liebling; am only to happy to possess
your aimiable respect. And now shall
we go? 1t is already late"
So, with general bow. and leading
my poor little Jean by the hand, lie left
as AS the door closed, Denis gave one
low cry and flung himselfface down upon
comfort him; he lay all the ~~eVening in
dumb, wretched misery, while the dusk
grew into night, sand one by one out
came the little stars, and last ::of all the
full round moon.
The 10Th of June .daWned fair and
cioudless. was up early, too full Ofmy
child's new life that was to begin to-day,
to rest. She was to be married at Mr.
Haviland's quietly, at O'clock in the al
ternoon. | had little note from her at
midday, begging me not tolfail to come
and saying at the end: Dear Octavia,
| know | am. doing right although my
heart seems dead. Baron Won Stock is
very kind, and says shall soon be all
bright and happp again. And, indeed,
By o'clock | was dressed in my best
gra silk, with bunch of white lilac
that Jean had sent me. | was carefully
drawing on my gloves and beginning to
fidgit mentally lest Denis should fail me
at the last, for he, with youthful desire
to luxuriate in his grief, had declared it
only his right to be at jeans marriage,
besides being his duty to look after Inc.
At half-past five he made, his appear
anee.
ooh, Denis" cried, chow glad am
to see you. l feared, after ali, you
might not come.
He laughed-a sad, bitter laugh, not
good to hear from SO young heart.
You should not fear, Madam Octavia.
If she can endure it surely | can"
Then we betoOk ourselves to the car.
riage, and very soon were entering Mr.
fIaviland's drawing rooms. These were
gay with flowers and sweet June sun
shine, and bright with happy faces
We're ours the only heavy hearts in that
small gathering?
We took our places, Denis and I, no.
far from the white satin mat, richly em
broidered with roses, which, as Madame
de Vaux informed me, had been brought
especially from Germany for the bride
and groom to stand upon. An old, old
family custom, you know" she whispered
energetically, 'and so int resting"
We had not long to wait. There was
a hush in the flow of many voices as
Baron Won Stock entered and took his
place, followed Immediately with Jean
on Mr.. Havilands arm, | held my
breath; Denis, who stood beside me,
shivered. Very sweet and beautiful did
my dai ling look, through her falling veil
of rich lace could not hide from my eyes
the real Jean beneath, anu noted with
sharp anguish that her sweet face was
thinner and the soft eyes more mourn
full than one short month ago. In direct
contrast to her sad gentle looks was the
too apparent joy not to say hilarity, of
both Baron Won Stock and Mr. Hayiland.
And now Jean reached the silken mat,
old Mr.. Dillon stood by in surplice and
stole, and was taking my last look at lit
tie Jean DOrsay. TheBaroness Won Stock
could never come to the old, dim, dusty
studio and make it bright with her pres