The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-07

This is how the former goyerness
became the Countess de Chatillon.
Never had union been more happy;
never had two beings so nearly realized
the ideal of a perfect marriage. But
Cecile could not believe in the duration
of this radiant felicity. As upon that
day when her husband had first told her
of his love, she often believed herself
the sport of some illusion. Ten the
least sound or movement would 23ke
her tremble. 1t seemed to her Hdt the
awakening from her dream miqlt come
at any moment.
By reason of NJ. de Chatil5n's blind
ness, the social relations of his family
embraced only immediat relatives.
One evening at the salonbf Nine. de
Gleves, a cousin of Roberts, whose re-
ceptions were often attended by stran-
gers, Cecile remarked an elderly gentle
man, very eccentric in dress and man
ner, who gazed at her husband with
singular persistence. Nine. de Gleyes
begged permission to present him, say
ing with knocking smile, that he was
DR.. Richter, a renowned American
specialist who had effected marvellous
cures of blindness, older in date even
than that of her cousin, whose case he
would gladly undertake,
Cecile gave him an eager welcome.
She told him the circumstances attend
ing her husbands loss of sight, and he
declared the Prescriptions in favor of a
cure were strong, adding that he could
give decided opinion only after minute
examination. He then asked permits
sion to visit M. de Chatillon on the NOR
row.
Cecile could not give this without her
husbands acquiescence, which was not
easy to obtain. He had exhausted all
the resources of official science; he had
tested many empirical remedies, alike in
value, and fatty refused to see the
American doctor.
Cecile insisted, implored, but without
avail. EXcusing herself to the physi-
clan, she withdrew to deserted corner
of the salon to think over the situation.
Suddenly she heard her name spoken
by Nine. de Gleves, who was in small
conservatory separated from the larger
room by mass of exotic plants.
You see, my dear, that | am not so
simple as to fail to understand the in
fernal combination that has dictated
this inexplicable refusal That little
monster of a Cecile must go on impo-
sing upon our unhappy relative. If the
doctor hand should send away the veil
he would appreciate her at her true val
ne, and see what a strange sort of a
Countess of Chatllon he has imposed
upon us as a cousin. That foolish comedy
of perfect love they have for three years
been giving to the public would then
soon enough have the denouement such
an ugly creature deseves!"
Upon hearing these cruel words Ce-
Gle rose, pale and trembling; her fever
ish glance scanned the various groups
Lhe saw the American just bidding his
a,1ieu. She rushed forward, reaching
hun in the hall just as valet was help
ing him on with his oyercoat.
Doctor" she said. in hollow, trem-
ulous voice, your offer is accepted. [
count upon your visit tomorrow noon.
If you restore sight to. NJ. de Chatillon
| will bless You to my latest hour!"
Five minutes later the poor young
wife led away her husband, concealing
from him her agitation and the incident
that had caused it.
Cecile passed a horrible night This
happiness which had rendered life so
dear was about to perish; the dream had
ended. Through all the long, inter-
minable hours she wept bitterly, de-
spairingly. Nevertheless, dawn found
her firm and resolute.
She went to her husband, and, with
out imparting to him the unworthy con-
lectures of Nine. de Gleves, she urged
him in such sweet, tender words to
seek healing once again that she
triumphed over his repugnance.
Doctor Richter came promptly, and
after careful diagnosis announced to
M. de Chatillon the certainty of success.
The treatment began at once. The
applications were to continue nine days.
during which time the patient was to be
kept in utter darkness. He yielded to
this condition with rather a bad grace;
as for Cecile, she accepted these nine
days as one condemned to death accepts
the respite of brief period of existence.
There remained nine days more in
which she might be beloved.
Alas, like one condemned to death,
she knew the tortures of the being to
whom the hour of supreme denouement
has ceased to be mystery, for whom
each movement of the hand upon the
dial repeats the fatal decree, brings a
rending of the heart, convulsion of
anguish. The delay, accepted at first
as a consolation, became an agony. In
vain Robert repeated to her that ii
would be with this physician as with all
the others-that blind he had taken
him, and blind he would leave him.
Not for single moment did Cecile
doubt of success. She was convinced
that her happiness had been too great
to last.
On the ninth day the doctor found
Nine. Chatillon in the saloon. He had
anticipated the hour. Cecile, who had
not expected him so soon, was giving
her tears free vent, knowing that the su.
preme moment had arrived.
The American, regarding her more
closely than usual, saw the fearful raw
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