The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-26
So PER ANNUM.

solitary life among strangers and forego the
consolation of matrimony, though courted
and admired in the circles to which he has
been exiled, as it were, by my father SEN
tence. l, too, havekept my faith unbroken,
and resisted all the temptations which have
beset my path 1t is this steadfastness of
purpose which, no doubt, induced my father
to alter his opinion concerning the tickle
nature and frivolity of women, and to trust
me with the sole administration of the es-
tate of the Charmilles. He was surprised
that I should have refused to marry the
Baron de Blignieres, with his numerous
quarterings and magnificent hunting stud.
He was indignant when [ rejected the
offer of the Marquis de Merriam, who had
arrived among us honest, simple country
folk with all the gloss and polish of his
Partisan manners still upon him. But he
laughed heartily when [ sent the young
Count de Chalais back to his mother, who
had despatched him to make love to me,
although / was his senior by several years.
My father was too just in principle to urge
me to marry any man did not like; he was
only unjust enough to compel me to give
up the only man | loved And SO, as the
years few by, he became quite resigned to
my remaining in single blessedness, and
fully content with the peace and comfort
my presence bestowed upon his gouty old
age.
l thought much of all this as 1 sat be-
meath the acacia on the lawn before the
windows, waiting for the hour of high mass.
My mind was teeming with doubts and
fears, uncontrolled even by the certainty of
the faith and honor of my dear Octave [
had expected letter from my cousin by
return of post in answer to mine, and the
disappointment was great that none had
arrived But mercy on me! While [
have been dreaming the time has flown,
and here is eleven o'clock The drums of
the pompiers I have just founded fire
brigade of seven men for our village) are
beating as they march to church. Come,
[ must rouse myself, and make all speed
there also. 1t would not do for the heroine
of the fete to be the last to enter. [ will
go down the hill by the path which skirts
the lawn 1t is shady and silent, and [
shall avoid the gossips, who would poster
me to death with their clumsy greetings.
My heart is too full to allow me to waste
its overflow upon trifes. How will Octave
answer my letter? Will he come at once,
or will he delay? He tells the Able in
his letters that his life has been busy
one; that he has been much tried; that he
bas never ceased to think of me, and that
he shall have no rest until he sees the tur-
rets of the Charmilles looming upon the
horizon, Well, well, we shall see, we shall
see, as the Able always exclaims when [
endeayor to break forth in praises of Oc-
tave. Tutors seldom have faith in their
pupils, and the Able mistrusts Octave.
Like my father, he views with some little
contempt the strict adherence to the COM
mand to abstain from all attempt to COM
municate with me.
But do wish I could have letter to-
day 1t would be fine testimony of his
remembrance of our love that he should
have remembered my birthday.
Disquietude makes me peevish. The
hour for the post has gone by, and | pass
through the gate into the narrow path. 1t
is not made to engender bright thoughts
a steep and rather damp passage, between
the wall of the garden on one side and
high overshadowing bank on the other.
But it is the shortest cut down to the vii
lage, and 1 am late. In my haste l ran
against a man striding with hurried step
toward the chateau 1t is Bastien, the
postman, bringing letters to the household.
He hands Inc one from his oilskin pouch.
recognize the handwriting, and my heart
beats so violently, my breath comes so
short and painfully, that must have fallen
had not Bastien grasped my arm. He evi-
IDENTIFY thinks l am going to faint, for he
fans me with the skirt of his blue linen
blouse with one hand, while he clasps the
oilskin pouch firmly to his bosom with the
other. The gesture is so comical that |
cannot help bursting into kind of hyster
icaI something between laughing and cry
ing, but when he so kindly attempts, with
the sleeve of the blue linen blouse, to dry
the tears running down my face, come to
myself at once, and, thrusting the letter
into my bosom, run quickly down the hill,
and In another minute stand before the
church door.
The church was already filed. The
Able came out to meet me; following In
his steps came the Grey Sisters of the
school, who look upon me with heavenly
smiles of gratitude, and the children burst
forth into the hymn of praise to our Lady,
"who melts the heart of the rich man to
charity, the soul to pity, and the memory
to recollection of the poor" To this Sister
Eulalie had added verse of her own-ex-
pressiye Of gratitude to me for having built
the new wing to the old schoolhouse. And
had to listen, and smile, and express my
gratitude, and make answer to the pretty
speech composed by the Superior, and re-
cited by tiny Babette, the mole-catcher's
daughter, who presented me with big
bouquet from the school garden, when all
the while my heart was beating with anx-
iety, and my pulses throbbing with i'm
patience to ascertain the contents of the
letter The Abbe's sermon failed to excite
the smallest feeling of interest, although l
could not help perceiving that it was in
some degree preached at me, and moreover
[ grew slightly offended when he talked of
the Wise Virgins who set aside all human
vanities. The eyes of the whole congre-
CATION were turned to me with loving ex-
preston that annoyed me. thought the
comparison Ill timed. Atlength came the
Domino Salvum-the mass was over at
last The Able was to accompany me
home, and | was to await him in the sac
risty so hither hurried in all haste, flying
from the salutations and loving greetings
of the villagers to whom | had ever been
so patient with my time and so liberal with
my money.
And now at last | was alone. sat my
self down upon one of the oaken chests
which held the Abbe's vestments, and tore
the letter from my bosom with quick, i'm
patient gesture, and yet, when [ held it in
my hand instead of opening it at once
unused upon the seal The motto was that
of our family, "Patience ct Vaillance, y
nothing applicable to our position, and then
l turned the letter over and once again
read the superscription, GA Mdle. Adele
de Biencourt, au Chateau des Charmilles
Il Bocage les Ormeaux, Seine-et-Oise. y
Lengthy as this address may appear | ling
| arad o1,ar avarv laftar and snelt ont every