Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-17

1GduluE W Int uI5l uOOIs
The key grated in the lock as with diff
Guilty we opened the door of the large
ballroom. Its furniture was Of the an
gular kind which found favor in the last
century. On the faded yellow satin COW
erings Of the chairs and sofas l noticed a
design symbolic Of human Vanity-rulned
columns joined by garIands of roses.
Round the cOrnlce rolled the sleepless Au-
rora on chariot of fire, supported by
cherubs, fair maidens and armed war
riOrs. In the embrasures of the windows
lay legions of dead moths, and the floor
was thick with dust. Two crystal chande-
Tiers jingled at every football; and the red
draperies of the windows shed rich color
over this scene of departed glory. My at
tentiOn was suddenly arrested by two
full-slZed portraits; one was that OF an
elderly man with round, sensual face
and small eyes; the other was beautiful
young woman in the Yestments of Bac-
chante. From her shapely shoulders fell
white tunic, while in her raven black
hair-which was clipped over the brows
"a crimson ribbon was entWIned. The
joy of life seemed to be reflected by those
eyes, which appeared to follow me at
every step took. l saw in this portrait
the original of my grandfather's minia-
tuFe-line for line the same-only larger
and life-like! In that young face there was
infinite store of magical attraction. A
light tap on my shoulder recalled my wan
dering thoughts. Nine, Jansen was smll-
ing placidly at my side.
1T must have been good likeness"
she said, presently, "although people
thought that the artist had not quite
caught the fairness of my complexion, or
the bright sparkle of my eyes,"
sis 1t your portrait?' l asked.
"And whose else could it be? The cele-
brated GROCER, of Hamburg, painted 1t
when l was first engaged to be married.
NV husband paid 600 ducats for the pair"
So absorbed was I with the strangeness
of the situation, that when she spoke |
started. 1t all seemed so unreal. Could
this haggard creature at my side be really
the heroine of my grandfathera romantic
story?
suddenly.
''Have l ever been to Antwerp" she
echoed. 'Ah! indeed, and in the flower
of beauty tool My father owned three of
the largest vessels in the port. We spent
six weeks there"
And she paced up and down the long
room, leaning on her stick, growing more
and more animated as her memory rekin-
died the glories of the past.
eve lived a strange life therev' she eX-
claimed, suddenly. "a Russian squadron
was at anchor in the Offing, and the officers
gave dances on board their ships. They
soon found out there was beauty on
board my fathers ship, whose equal they
could not have found had they swept the
Netherlands. / was soon their welcome
guest, and in time became the queen of
their fetes."
At these words she struck the floor so
sharply with her stick that the crystals OF
the chandeliers jingled.
"They would come ashore to fetch me
in a barge dressed with flags. Among
these officers there was Greek Prince
named Constantine PaleOl0gus, the last
descendant of the Byzantine Emperors.
He would never resigrlthe privilege OF
lifting me into the boa " and of placing
me comfortably amonsutne silken cush-
ions! We could $91ly converse In
French. He called nfe Rose du NOrd.'
Obi with what loving care he spread the
rugs for my feet! In those moments how
brightly the sea, the sky, and my black
eyes sparkled! They were all at my feet,
the Prince, the officers, and the sons OF
noble German families who were studying
at Antwerp. But | repulsed them all, and
| stiff rejoice at it,
| looked at her in blank amaZement.
What vanity was embodied in that reel
tai! The cape had slipped from her should
ers and lay disregarded on the floor at her
feet. Without speaking, l picked it up
and wrapped it around her. She gaZed at
me for some time in silence. Her wrin-
killed. cheeks were slightly flushed, which
brought into greater relief her age and
frightfuI thinness. At length, in voice so
sweet that it did not seem to come from
those shrunken lips, she said;
500 you know, my friend. why had
confidence in you, and from the first, in
you onlyp
AS did not answer, she continued:
sEBecause noticed in you a resemblance
"a likeness. Among the young merchants
of Antwerp there was one whom mad
known for a long time. "Young man."
she continued, in strange, sad voice,
sshaVe you ever seen a woman repulse,
with her eyes wide open, that which
should have been her greatest happinessI
[ don't know why repulsed him. He was
as handsome as the pictures OF st. John.
Perhaps he was not rich! No, he was not
rich. He was richer" And she pointed at
the portrait beside hers.
''rhat is your husband, supposeT
Madame Jansen smiled bitterly, and
then continued her determination.
'sPerhaps he was not goOd?" This time
there was no bitterness in her smile.
Eyes. he was good, and that was perhaps
the reason why l repulsed him. And ne
loved me! l know that he secretly had
copy of my portrait made, and then be-
took himself to the New World! But that
is a long. long time ago." she murmured,
and continued to walk up and down the
room. Suddenly she stopped.
"Ah! if only | knew whether he were
still alive! He, or his children, or even his
At these words she dropped her stick,
and Joined her hands as though in prayer;
she trembled in every limb.
A feeling of intense pity crept into my
heart, and / was about to speak. / hadit
on my lips to tell her that l could bring a
of the friend Of her youth. Nay,
that l myself was his grandson But her
voice checked me.
sob! if [ but knew this thing, L
would leave nothing to my pretty niece.
He, and none other, should be my heir"
These words closed my lips. and when
she mentioned my grandfather's name /
pretended not to understand her. Madame
Jansen sighed, and her eyes wandered
round the room.
Chow we'll preserved everything is here"
she ontinued, in her usual affected man.
ner. "Let us settle this affair OF the
will. But mind, my friend, let us have no
strangers in the house. The husband OF
the old woman who comes here daily, and
her grandson, can be witnesses; they are
quite stupid enough for that"
'sIf you really wish to revoke your will
in favor of Matilde, madame" l said,
''yOu had better give me the necessary in
struclOns. l will take time to draw up
a proper document, and time, as you
know, has often tempered with the best
resolutions"
AS l spoke l drew out of my pocket a
blank sheet of paper, upon which scrib-
bled the fOllOwings words:
''This is to certify that, being of sound
mind il is nv will and Measure to revoke
every previous testament which l have
made in favor of others, and to bequeath
the whole of my worldly possessions,
without exception, unto my niece Matilde
Alien, eldest daughter of Henri Alien,
at present Chef de Police in the city of
O
Having affixed date to this document
l handed it to her for signature. She
looked at me for a moment in evident per-
plexity, and l saw in her eyes the strange
light which had puzzled me more than
Once. l drew a chair toward her, and Of
fered my pencil. Her hand did not shake
as she took it and signed the codicil, which
| witnessed in due form.
ETo-morrow,'' / said, E'we will draw up
a formal document. will bring the neces-
sary witnesses, and this paper shall be de-
strOyed."
She made no reply and took my arm. /
noticed that this time she leaned on it as
though afraid Of falling. She was so fee
BILE that / almost carried her down stairs.
On reaching the ground floor she cOntriVed