Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-01-01
MADAME s. FkOsDEAU.

~ u MADAME FkOyDEAU.
ansy paused at tho head of the
stairs 10 she was about to descend and.
looked down into the dimly- lighted
hall below. =..EI8 .55.s5
lt was the sound Of voices that
arrested her steps. Two persons. a
! man and . woman, had just emerged
from the cloak room, and stopped for
moment at the foot of the stairs,
onysrSing in low tones.
Sh0 knew the man was her husband;
the woman WINS the beautiful Madame
4 trondeau, who just now enjoyed the
istinction ofswaying the social scept-
{ g n the little circle in. which she
/ moved. 'E%& I. r..
They are stiIl together" whisper
60 ,'l Pansy; her face turning shade
paler. ''and believe they are going
ont for q walk on tho beach. ~ Oh,
what can John be thinking about?'
She pressed one little white hand
l1nvoluntarily against her heart, as if
i g still Ms throbbing, while the ex-
preston Of pain in hor deep blue Dyes
showed how much of misery was be-
{ ing suppressed. II H.. -
Il Poor Pansy! One year married and
great cloud darkeniag the domestic
horizons painful awakening from a
dream OF happiness that had hereto
fore met with no interruption. She
had married John Brunton with per-
feet faith III his honesty and purity Of
soul. firmly believing-after the man,
ner Of very young girls when first in
love = that her hero was paragon OF
perfection, utterly incapable of any
act or thought that was not proper
and just.
IT, was saying much for John Brun-
ton that his wife had no cause to
change her opinion Of him during that
first year Of welded life, and that
nothing occurred in all that time to
shake for III instant her childish con-
fdence in him.
They were now established in their
summer residence by the seaside--a
pleasant spot where there were sever
al other magnificent country seats,
and where fashionable coterie from
the best society in the metropolis were
won't to spend the dog days.
Among the guests Of one of these
ta,nslies was the fac mating young
widow. Madame Frondeau, new ad-
ditlon'to this sslect circle, who was
oourtcd and admired and feted in the
most exeravagant manner. No one
seemed to know much about this lady,
except that she was brilliant, beauh.
full and gay, and was seemingly ca
titled to y position on the top rung of
the social ladder. 1t became the fash
ion to pay homage to her, and 1t was
q fashion which her male admirers. at
least, adhered to with fidelity that
was touching.
1t was then that Pansy's trouble
commenced. Of all the men wAo
succumed to the manifold attractions
of Madame Frondeau, none were so
attentive as John Brunton. From the
very first he appeared to be irresisti-
bly, drawn toward her, and he appar-
emily yielded to her alluring charms
with very good grace, unmindful Of
what people might think or say. He
even had the audacity TO monopolize
her society at times, in manner that
caused other men to grind their teeth
with smotheSed rage, and seriously
consider whether they should "call
him OUT or not
OF course her husbands strange CON
duct did not escape Pansy's notice.
At first she regarded it with surprise
and wonder, then with anxiety and
alarm. and finally with absolute hor-
ror and despair. 1t required all the
strength she could summon to hide
from day to day, and week to week,
as John showed no signs Of relenting
or returning to his senses.
She was mot only convinced that
her husband was becoming estrange
from her. but that this dashing widow
Nas;a former sweetheart of his. This
conclusion was due to little incident
which, though occurring nearly year
ago, she had never forgotten. About
two eeks after her marriage she had
found, among her husbands collection
Of trifl'ng keepsakes and small treas
ures, q picture OF a beautiful young
woman. She felt no pang OF jeal-
Ousy at the time, and as John never
mentioned the picture to her she re-
Trained from asking any questions
about It But tho face that had look
ed out at her from it's little frame was
y stamped at once and forever upon her
memory, and the moment she first saw
Madame Frendeau. she was satisfied
that here was the original Of tho
picture. y \. @..,
To be sure this lady and John did
not meet after the manner of old ac-
quaintances, but it was easy TO under
stand their motive in that. s.: sss !
So matters went on, ana tho life Of
year resolutely practiceds the poor
5littlo deception Of permitting her face
to reveal nothing of what she suffered
at heart sfs IN /, .ft +. f I'd .fFsff@
Tonight she and John were giving
their last reception Of the season, and
the parlors were thronged with guests.
Pansy contriyed 70 keep. up appear
i ances by laughing, singing, and dane
I ing with all her wonted tvivacity |; but