The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-06-28

curcd.n ~ ''''''' ~
Aunt Mona smiled and s,rosed the cheek of he
formless and nnmcicss in ner stiliest soul.
Sothe summer passed away. The Countess passc
her days as formerly, at tho piano, or with her EN-
celving visits from the officers from the ladies
the nelghhmhood. She was naturally too prou
Hhe had probably quite forgotten him. MS II never an
pearcd IN her monol0gue with her aunt.
But one chance threw her with him. II was o
I"U ng roaa Lovely summer day was cnangn
Ihe Countess Elsa was sitting In little pavilion q
Tue park gates, where shc had brought her WORK
and now she rose and leaned over tho balustradc L
watch little caravan that was being swept alon
the road. u consisted OF bearded Italian carrying
with three pots, and tiny eirl wrapped in a GOATS
cloth, like scarecrow, and the rear was brought nj
man WIN base yo Snn
the Countess Rlsa's eyes followed them with tn
did not belong to them, this tall man In the families
military cloak. ana cap pulled far down over hi
br0ws.
His eyes and hers met directly that he could no
but pause and how.
"Did you see the poor people ~ she asked, az sh
the pale officer neared the gates and rested on,
loot on the lower step OF her pavilion, hut she d
"Poor people % he inquired, as IL astonIshed. "a
saw nome"
"Oh, you are up In the clouds cried the Countess
they were Just IN 'front.' OF you, and at first tool
He did not smile. snch thing seemed impossI
"Oh, you mean the italian musicians WHY d,
You call them poor? They are two, they hav,
children with them. | call them rich; What doe
There was slight irony In lis tone not that of A
desire to wound, hut that which springs from bit
"Do you not see that they have no mother, and nc
homer" cried the Countess.
"Mom si,, Why they have the loveest in the
"italyW she exclaimed, angrily. "Eycry mar
has the land OF his birth, suppose. But these poor
strangers. earning ise nH Bread a rom
LAY to day. never seeing the next step before them
going back to their Italy with gray hair and wear,
hearts, and KNOWING that she may grudge them even
Sand there are people who mover may hope to sec
their native land again, Countess answered the pale
o!licer, sharply. "There are many quite respecia.
bic people who wander among strangers, starimer-
Ing another tongue, or grown quite dumb, but they
nnd no pity, because they do not parade their lone
llness. DO you think an oak tree may not be lonely
nepless.may not lie of neglect in the mitist Of a
| She bent her head and rose.
"You should know that better than l." she said
ont me storn y increasing and am growing cold
| von.
lie pursued his homeward way against tho wind,
but once he stood still aud looked back
"She must hate me-" he said to himself; " and
why Z" Then az he walked he mnrmured. /" is 4
to hs Cossack: "Jos, lay out my parade things to.
morrow. shall make a visit"
The Countess Arcon WAS on the point OF making q
tour OF her field, when she heard the bell annOinc-
ing VISITOR 1t seemed to ring like call for help
In the ears OF the mistress of the house. =
muret, and tlrsed back from the hedge gate TO The
| front steps. There ahe found Lieut.. Sternfeld.
She bowed. but stood still instead OF entering the
house. The beauty OF the day might be her excuse,
though her reception not cordial. lie stood be
fore her as before his general, and said, ceremonI-
"Madame Ia comtesse I have come to pay YOU my
RESPECTS How beautiful Your park Ia"
II was beginning, and they walked together
along the gravee,l path and around the fountain In
front Of the house. lie answered more than he
talked but she felt conversational with him In spite
OF herself She showed him the two paylOns that
| her husbands parents had built, and spoke OF her
eyes. he replied, "youth is ,rrepresslble. 1t Is
past aud gone, and We give 1t up, hut 1t always
| seems 10 be standing behind us. to keep soft hand
on our shoulder, and lis sweet mouth says, THANK
"Ah, like you nowl I" cried Eliza; "you would
look on those poor musicians Of yesterday with diff
lerent eyes today You are one Of those people on
"DO you think 80, Countess? ?" he answered, with
q sad glimmer Of smile. But 1t mas q smile.
think You are mistaken. Every heart longs for Joy
melancholy only because the weather changes. The
sunshine or storm that makes souls light or dark
at people have heavy burdens to bear" said the
Countess. " they must not isolate themselves they
a e seef c&esr ann Try to lead
:, NJ, vo, ~, ~ ~ ~. ~, l., "'e'"'e"
"Yes," she returned. heartily Pardon me. hut
or course It concerns no one. least Of all q woman;
but am not a mani am neighbour"
Ike gratitude in his glance and the light that came
into Ills face like winter sun on snow-fird.
Have yon never heard. Countess" ne asked,
avoided her own child, and shut her door on her
weeping ireasure?.who died alone, without hand
might save her arinp from infectSn: ' o sas
that man knows he Is poisoned through and
throngh-,at the touch OF his hand, the breath OF
his lips Will bring his own curse OtherswIll he
not say TO those who love him, Back?' Or, rather,
viii he not avoid every opportunity to love, when he
object? or, take wreched vagrant on whom rests
the curse OF some crime and who expects every day
some loving Senea fend Sn ms sHnaer; yet
the door OF a home to him.O his weary march,
warm as the hearth may glow, soft as the lamp may
to bring his curse across ihat.,hreshcld9 NS,S
PERHAPS not" said Elsie Arcon; ,"hut what
the that womb aH Where pas sSaS
learned this drcary way OF looking at life? II not
thus earth a LOOK at the See how
fountain. Is 1t not glorious? Is 1t not bliss TO be
"Who could say no to Won ?n he answered with
shining eyes and faint RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the IIp
GU illi every one that hears you with your Joy In
ings. God protect You from all sadness!'
She blusllel hut without embarrassment. and
their eyes met When the glances of two pure and
restful pause from the storm of life comes 10 BOTH
even II what the world calls love never has existed
between them aud never Ia to exist She only
Thought how glad she was that at last he seemed
happy.
Suddenly something seemed to separate him from
ner as u horrible recollection swept back over HIS
sonl lie turned deadly pale, his mouth grew dis. |
torted, but only for second; then he regained his
ceeded in breaking. Spirits may look so when they
mover over the cradle OF an orphan child and hear
the cock crow.
81 quite forgot" he said, presently, "that am
nnder orders to-day, and must go back. Pardon me
for having respnssed on your time 80 long, mad. |
HAD she dreamed that this apathetic statue that
spoke so mechanically and moved 80 YEARLY had |
put M re s seors s feeling
herself that he was no msanthrope, he WAS NOT I'M
feeling, he was only MORALLY tired. He had heart |
the great market towns, and Elsa Arcon with her |
Amt Odescali and eight or ten friends from the |
u th esnes drove over ~ party to look
evening was 30 lovely that 1t seemed pity to sepa
rate, and what pleasanter than to accept the invita-
ton OF the pretty Countess ArcOn, and have supper
and spend the night at Castle Lament?
After supper, as the moonlight was brilliant they
heavy with the perfums Of fowers 80
Ia Just the hour to listen to something thrill. |
Ing" said one OF the ladies'. "Who knows a ghost
cor murder story ?" said another.
I" ION always have a story ready, Dolski." cried
onc W tuc W tuc COUNT, the only
officer present. '
Eyes, know story, but not the sort you want.
II IL true, thongh Ihave on tho best OF authority
ION, tell y! When did 1t happen? Do we know
the herOlne?"
"rhat cannot say, hut 1t happened asout a week
ago IN paria The lady'a name WAS Relice Francis.
Her father was general In the cavalry, aud she was
lust out OF boarding school. The old General though
no was much beloved by the army, was really
rather common sort OF adventurer. He was ex-
lrayagant 70 the last degree, guzzled champagne
1t breakfast and his wife was milliIers doll AMI
nothing more 80 he went on making debts, though
ne knew he never could pay, and every one lent be-
rause he gave his word OF honor. but "a day came
when he must either break HIS word or 20 10 the
Jews. Wen, he had friend, an old man, who said
10 him: u VIII pay Your debts on condition that
You VIII sell mo your daughter-I beg pard0n-I
mean that she VIII marry me- 80 the father spoke
10 his daughter, and SHE clnng To the old man with
both hands, ana 10 secure SILK dresses and dalnonds
Tor life she sold herself for hale OF goods"
"ls that all the story" aaId a Polish Count
'rhere u nothing unusual In that"
"fes" grlnned Count Dobski," Il IL a very simple
story, but suppose the heroine were one OF our
friends 2"
ION, 1t IL too disgracefali" cried the ladies'
Al last the moon set, and they separated for the
light As D0hski kissed his hostesss hand she said:
Thank you. Count, for entertaining my guests 40
iindly when was tired"
"Oh, Countess, y0n 1aiter me- he answered,
nodesIly Hut II he had seen her heart he would
ave lrembled, remOIseless IA he waa.
Early the next morning the guests assembled for
BREAKFAST aud departure. The lady OF the house