The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-22

speaks nor raises lis eyes. I i
"she loves you,"' murmurs Lucille
justaloud. n =
He lifts his eyes now and looks at her
dunbly for an instant; then rising alb
ruptly walks away.
lie comes back presently.
MY Child" he says. very gently, 500
not try to make me believe that. unless
you are very sure, for if once beiieye
It again, IL"
II am az sure as that live that Jean
ne has never ceased to love you, and
hat you can force her to confess it if
you will make love TO me-"
~? You? You are laughing at mel"
with rush of color into hls dark face.
"Do you think SO i'll of Jeanne's sis
ter?" she asked softly.
Pardon, | am scarcely myself, and I
cannot imagine how"
Jeanne will not receive you because
she knows her own heart and is afraid
Oft. She fears tnat you will destroy
the hard won peace she values 80 high
ly. 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 suitor, if 1 consent. and
as my chaperon she must be present at
I'LL our meetings. You begin to under
stand? Make her seq that your love is
not all Jealousy; make her remember;
| make her regret"
"But forgive me, when one has loved
| 4 woman for ten years." with a faint
smile, there is no room in ones heart
for even q pretense at loving,another."
"If there were, monsieur, l should
| never have proposed nay plan," she re-
plies with dignity. ut is be, ause I have
watched you all these weeks, and know
that your love is worthy OF nv sister,
| That trust you. But 1t is not with ones
| :,eart that one nretenhs. Enfn it is with
YOU to consent or deciine?"
| "DecEneP he echoes, with q passion
| none the less Intense for its quietness
"Does dying man decline his last chance
| of life, however desperate it may be?"
The next week is full of bitter sur
| prises to the proud AMI patient woman,
whose pathetic cliaginp to: her newly
found peace Lucille so wellunderstands.
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 Palissier's note asking
the consent of his old friend to his love
! for her sister, th pain she feels Devil.
ders and dismays her. With smile
whose cynicism is as much for herself
| as for him, she YES the note to Lucille,
expecting an instant rejection ofthe man
whose motives in pursuing them they
| had both so misunderstood. But with a
gay laugh, "rhen my sympathy has
| been all without cause" the g'rl cries
by all means let hlra come, my Jeanne.
~ YNfy hn hnvy lo,o
| ago ceased to regret him, and he is the
pest party in Paris anl tres bell homme
Tor his age"
1t is quite true there can be no obiec-
lions 20 the wealthy and distinguished
Marquis de Pallissier if Lucille is wiling
| none but the pain at her heart, which
he is too ashamed even to confess to
!erself. So 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 hasty
glance at her reflection in the mirror,
"His old friend!" she murmurs, scorn-
July, Il dare say l look an old woman
| neside Lucille"
Then she turns with look of graceful
welcome, for the door is thrown open
| and a 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
title speech as though she shaG not re-
',earsed it a dozen times, and holds out
ner pretty hand to him.
"You are too good, madame" he re-
plies, very low; All she reflects tn 1t he
is. of course, a little embarrassed. II
am afraid you had much to forgive in
hose, days so lon. ago, but ime, I trust
has changed me-"
at would be sad, indeed, if time did
.ot give US wisdom and co dness in ex-
lays, with quick thrill of pain that he
should speak of ten years as if it were
I'll eternity.
"Not coldness," he exclaims, coming,
nearer, and looking at her with eyes
hat made her feel like girl again. IF
you could see my heart, you"
-, MAY | enter, my sister," asks the
.ay voice Of Lucille, as She appears from
behind the pofuere; at so fortunate a
moment Tor the success of her plot that
| it is to be feared that she had been
,avesdropping.
De Pallissier turns as once and press
IS her hand to his lips.
"Mademoiselle," he Gays tenderly, 81
Then begins CHARMING little COMEDY
Of love- making, in whi:n Lucille plays
ner role with pretty coqdettry and he
with infinite zeal.
And the chaperon bends over her
lace.work AMI hears the caressing tones
-he thought she had forgotten, and sees
| the tender glances she i:nagines che had
ceased to regret, all given to her young
u sister in, her pnregarded presence.
E4She is very patent and used to suffering
Ebut at l6ngth she can endure no longer,
land mot daring TO leave the room she
lSnoves1-1wsy aoaa distant writing table
where she is at least beyond hearing.
There is an instant pause between the
conspirators, and while De Palissier's
eyes wistfully .ol1oW Nine. de- Miramon,
Lucille seizes her -opportunityS with a
promptness that would have done cred
1t to a Richelieu or a Talleyrand, or any
| other prince. :
Courage, monsieu,V she murmurs
'She has been cold to me ever since
| Your note came"
"You would make charming jeune
premier at the Francois only when you
10 say anything very tender, do you re-.
member to look at me instead of Jeanne"
And she breaks into laugh sc utterly
amused that he presently laughs. too,
and the sound Of their mirth causes an
odd blot in the poor chaperQn's writing
A month has dragged by wretchedly
enough, both TO the conspirators and
their victim, and like all things earthly:
has come to an end at last. Even Lu-
GILES energy could not keep De Palis
ier to his role, if he did not believe
that in surrendering it he must give up
the sbittersweet of Jeanne's daily pres.
ence, which even IN Its serene indlher-
Ance had become the one charm of life
to him. Nine de Mirambn and her sis
ter are spending week at her villa near
Paris, and Pallissler, who is to accofd.
pany them on q riding party, has arrived
q little late, and finds both sisters already
/ in the courtyard, with some horses AMI
grooms, when he enters. Lucille comes
to him at once and he dismounts, with a
look. of alarm instead of: her usual coguet.
ny. * '-N '..~ aEi
i ,"Do not let Jeanne ride Etoile." she
said anxiously. ''She has thrown Guil-
laume this mofning." ...,-s.5t -
Niue. de Miramon Is standing beside
an old groom, who is holding tie horse
in question, and she does not look sai
her sister or De Palissier as they APP
proach. go: - - - a-5A ,:.
- Let nae ride Etoile and take my horse