The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-27

me. / looked DrlgnJ, L SuppOSeN L hSdHI
to 20 to Madeleine'sthat evening. Jean
the eoarser of the two; stopped wher
he saw me.
"TTens,D he said; fare you going to
your fair lady? Some men have strange
taste. How many smiles does she spare
YOU from the young count?" And ther
lie added something coarSer, more il
accordance with his brutal thoughts.
Something in my face, 1 suppose
made Francois say quickly
Leave the lad alone, Jean. What i
it tOus?"
laughed-a short scornful laugh.
DO o think any word you can
utter could hurt Madeleine Constant,
or any II else?" l said disdalnfully
your remarks are as worthless as the
mud on the roadl'
lie turned to strike me; but Fran
co.'s interfered.
"AIlonS," he said; "two to one is
too much;" and he dragged him away.
What extraordinary spirit of gentle
ness had fallen on Francois that night
/ know not. And 1? Though 1 had
cast off their accusations against Mad
eleine scornfully, a unworthy Of no.
tice, I stood there, that winter evening,
a changed man; a demon had entered
into me. Suspicion had been reused in
my soul by jeans hateful words. Hith-
erto, throughout the quiet months that
had passed, 1 had loved Madeleine ten
DERBY and gently; my affections had
grown from day to day;I thought proud
" Of the time when could earn enough
money to ask her to be my wife; and
could take care of Hortense. l was
too young, too hopeful perhaps to doubt
or understand life and its possibilities;
l was but twenty-one. On this even
ing my love for Madeleine was changed
it was by no so simple, SO trust
full, or boyish as heretofore. | remem-
bered now how frequently Madeleine
went to the Chateau, and how happy
she looked when she returned.
All my simple dreams vanished. If
Madeleine could be dazzled by a selfish
disSipated noble, I was too proud to
wish to marry her. This did not pre-
vent my loving her. Oh, no; L never
loved her so f1ercely. as at that momentl
Love her, shield her, work for her |
would, as l was manly enough to do
for any weak creature; but marry her?
[ little imagined how the evil thoughts
in me would distort her simplest word
or action. L went home, or rather to
the only roof l could then call home. l
took my weeks wages from my pocket
and laid them on the table before
Madame Peron.
THANK Heaven" I said, GLOVE you
nothing-and 1 leave you tonight for
eyerr'
She looked at me in bewilderment,
and her misery face took a more than
usually unpleasant expression.
"Edrceur," she said, with a laugh,
you aIs not going to leave us?"
| answered no word. l gathered all
my property together-there was not
much-and left the house.
l went to the blacksmith's he was
a friend of mine, and l slept there that
night. Through all my short life I had
never been beaten down by trouble,
have never allowed disappointment or
bitter thoughts to swamp me. In the
morning 1 went to the iron-works as
usual, and L asked permission to see
the master that night before l left.
"Well, Michael, 81 he said abruptly,
''a complaint, 1 suppose? Be as quick
as you can; 1 am pressed for time"
"No, monsieur,"I answered, emo
complaint; and not less than half an
hour will suffice me to explain all l
WISH"
He looked at me with surprise, took
out his watch, saw the hour, and said,
laying his watch before him
Very well-half an hour exactly"
ltook my drawings from my pocket.
| knew that many a master awaited
himself Of the brains of his Workmen,
appropriated their inventions, and left
them to starve; but | had to risk this.
| told Monsieur Bounard of my inven-
tion. He gave me no praise at first;
but he gave mt full attention. going
over and over everything and master
ing my scheme completely, AT the end
he said
Leave M your drawings. L think
your idea is good. I'll see you to-mor-
row evening""
Then he dismissed mt. / went back
to the blacksmlth's; l did not go near
Madeleine; something held me back. l
could not be quite the same with her
yet. l wanted to think. Perhaps. If /
had some news to tell her, she would
not notice the change in me. The next
evening l was summoned to Monsieur
Bounard's Office again.
well, he said, leaning back in his
char and looking at me with a smile
as | stood, cap in hand, beside HIM,
your invention is clever, very clever,
and must be tried. If 1T should sue
coed, what do you expect me to do for
your"
answered without a moments hes
itation-
'Send me to Paris, give me a years
instruction at the best school OF engl-
neers there, and provide for me during
that time. is it too much to ask, sir?"
He smiled again.
SIS that all you want? You are
modest. III tell you what I'll do. Ill
send you to Paris at once, before 1 know
whether your invention succeeds or not.
If it fails, you return here and give me
your time and skill in whatever capa-
ity l find you most useful; if it sue
ceeds, you shall have a fair share of the
profits. Are you satisfied"
More than satisfied, monsieur; l am
very grateful.
''The agreement shall be properly
drawn up and signed before witnesses.
You can start for Paris at the end of
the week, Now | must say good even
Ipassed out of the office feeling dazed
and strange. At last l was indepen-
dent: at last l could stand aloneI 1 was
to have education perhaps WEALTH. All,
l was more than a match for Count
Horace, the idle, useless a~ristocratl
l walked straight to Madeleine's cot
tage. 1t was dark when / got there.
For a moment l fancied 1 saw a face
at the window, watching for me, and
my heart gave a bound. Probably it
was only fancy, l grew calm again as
| walked in, and / thought of the
count.
Madeleine was alone. She came for
ward eagerly.
"We did not know where you had
gone; we thought you were never COM
back: we heard Won had left Madame