Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-10-31

softly opens the massive door, while
somebody following the example 81
Luna in the park, bends his stately
head over lovely, up-turned foce, and
something-could it have been the
night ind-murmurs low: My darling,
mine forever" "A moment later two
lovers are seated in the contest nook of
the drawing room, while massive mir
ror opposite reflects two happy faces
II "a faithful prophecy, we trust for the
future. ! e
W.. Yetin this charming world Of onrs.
how swiftly the shadows dispel the sun
shine, and it is only the next morning
when Portia living again in the sweetest
Of day dreams, the happiness of the pre-
ceding evening, receives q summons
from her aunt, the Countess, to wait
upon her in her boudoir, where that la
dy received her with dif1usive demon
stratlon saying, as she critically sur
veyed her nelce, "Bien mon enfant, /
trust you have we'll considered the mag
niticent offer Of Lord r. and made up
your mind to answer it as becomes q
sensible girl" 800: II
As becomes. sensible girl? Yes,
Aunt Marianne, and therefore [ cannot
accept the offer to which you refer, "
answered Portia firmly.
''Notaccept it, child! Areeyou mad ?"
exclaimed the Countess angrily. "Not
we'd Lord r., who does you SO much
honor!''# and, forgetting in her .dismay
the affectionate demonstration with
which she meantto win her heice, Aunt
Marianne poured forth a torrent Of bit
ter words ard Sreproaches, ending with
And what areyour reasons pray, =. for
tins unheard -of-proceeding
2"Simply these" replied Portia, quiet
ly: "'rhe man is too dissipated and too
heartless. 4 do not love him, and be-
sides, !" drawing herself up proudly and
looking steadfastly into her a11nt's face
-"besides, as Z have already told you,
my heart ispledged elsewhere, and I
cannot, Will not, retract my promise"
Nonsense" replied the Countess,
growing each moment more indignant.
Nonsense; and you mean to tell mo
that you will give up Lord r. with his
millions, for Raoul, that beggar of a
barrister s". ss*r
Take care, Aunt Marianne," replied
the girl quickly with flashing eyes; II
cannot hear the one I love spoken of
with d1srespect even by you" But,
unheeding the last remark, the agitated
Countess continued angrily: II will
never give my consent to your union
with the barrister-never! You shall
not throw yourself away in that manner,
even if you are bent upon doing so.
You near my words, my commands,
and will heed them, mademoiselle." Il =
Portia WAS silent. revolving in her
mind the condition of affairs and how
best to win her case as she was deter
mined to do. Being left at her parents
death to the care Of her uncle, who had
married the present Partisan Countess,
she was at his death intrusted to the
protection and guidance Of his widow,
whose sole ambition regarding her
charge was to bring her up III a manner
beitting her station, and when the pro-
per time came arranged for her bril-
liant alliance. But at present the
young lady seems determined to Gil
cumvent her aunt's pet project.
"Aunt Marianne" she answers pres
emily, II am aware Unjust have your con-
sent to my marriage, but let me tell
you I make one absolute condition
that the wedding shall be a private one
and take place ell masque."
Indeed, I shall allow no such con-
dition,' began the Countess, "provok-
ing child that you are. Then recollect.
ing herself, she added rehectively.
"However. Lord r. wishes to go abroad
Immediately, and there really is not time
to prepare for a grand wedding, as /
should wish yours to be. So, foolish one,
have your, way, Lord f. is himself some
what eccentric, and will no doubt humor
your whim, so order the carriage and
we will commence preparations at once, ="
added the Countess, highly satisfied,
saying to herself; Il was 50 afraid that
girl would, with American obstinacy,
absolutely refuse, that I am quite will
ing to accede to her foolish request, ii
need be, as the least of two evils"
And Portia, quitting her aunt's pres
ence, exclaimed with equal vehemence:
Il shall win my case. + will! I will /!
lis Love vs.. Diamonds"
A week later, and in the stately draw
ing-room of the Countess, redolent
with the perfume of orange blossoms, a
few intimate friends are assembled to
witness the marriage ceremony Of her
niece. The masked bridegroom with
the officiating clergyman wait ct the
fower-laden alter, improvised for the
occasion, and a moment later the door
opens to admit the. lovely bride, also en-
masque, attired in her marriage robe of
snowy white, with the conventional
veil and orange blossoms, while
from all adjoining room comes
the sweet yet subdued strain of the we'd
ding march. And in the impressive
silence which follows is heard the solemn
marriage invocation, and when the
priest in charge, who is q warm friend
of the groom, pauses to question: "Who
gives this woman 10 be wedded to this
man ?" the Countess from her station
near the bridal party places the hand Of
her neice in that Of the waiting bride
groom, rejoicing at this contamination
of her dearest wishes. The golden cir-
clet, type of their eternal union, glistens
. on, the fair, white hand of the bride. The
marriage benediction is pronounced, and
the Countess presses eagerly forward to
offer her congratulations when the
masks fall and she beholds, not Lord r.,
but Raoui. the handsome young
barrister, proudly triumphant, his
great love shining in his eyes, as
addressing the bewildered Count
ess, he says pleadingly: Forgive
u.s.. My Portia has won her case, and
I, from an honor recently conferred.
am no longer 'briehess barrister.' but