The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-03-23

silence. because I am more dear to him than
my brothers and sisterA Iseized the momen:
to combat his prejudice against you. For
some time now he has seemed to be On the
point Of yielding to my prayers. Only yes
terday, he admitted to me that he would be
willing to have you enter his family il he
could be convinced of your disinterestedne&.
Are you certain said he, of the loyalty
of this silver tongued young Gaul, of this
proud Arverne whose ancestors have always
disdained our race, and who keeps for him
self alone q secret useful to alll When he
shall have given some conclusive proof Of his
love, then, and then only, will 4gladly open
to him the doors Of my dwelling"
"But what proof Of my love can I give? II
any danger menaces you, I will joyfully con-
front death ITSELF"
MAY it please the gods that destiny shall
never give you the occasion to thus prove
your courage"
II see well, Lydia, that your father will
never consent to our union. He invents at
pleasure obstacles to retard our happiness,
counting upon time to rid him Of me. Let US
fly together. Let us goand live alone together
in the vast forests; there we shall be happy
and free"
"Never; never! Ny father would die Of
despair"
And, remembering that Balbuo had init
mated to her that he would consent to her
marriage il the son of Diorix would confde
his secret to her, she added:
Listen, Robert; 1 have perhaps found the
means of overcoming his resistance. All
your rivals are jealous of the products of
your mandatory. My father has often ex-
pressed before me his envy Of your secret. If
you love me, ought l not to know all your
thoughts? Reveal to me this impenetrable
secret. can then say to my father: '1lovo
him, and I have reason to love him, for be
hes given me O convincing PROOF OIL lbs
love-"
Roberts face grew dark. A slight doubt
traversed his mind But Lydia stood before
loyalty and frankness, that he promptly re-
jected all suspicion. And then, he knew she
was ignorant of his oath and the sinister pre-
diction. But, trembling at the recollection
Of the last words Of Diorix, he replied:
Demand of me all that I possess, my
wealth, my goods, my very blood, but do not
ask me to reveal this secret
"You do not love me then above every
things You will not make your wife the
confidant of all your thoughts?''
Ayu4bS 1 AOvO JONA AAOA VAA~A SA SNS "O~A
but you ask me the one thing that I cannot
conflde to you"
$50, you refuse me the sole means Of pla-
eating my father. You will not respond to
my requests"
calais! I cannot" and the young Arverne
hung his head in sadness.
"You do not love me-; you have never loved
me-" murmured Lydia, who could not COM
prehend this refusal; and great tears rolled
down her cheeks. Then, rising suddenly
.Since it is So, it is better that we should
separate. Goodby, goodby f~orever!" And,
flying through the trees, she disappeared
in the shadows of the forest.
In acting thus, the young girl was sincere.
Deeply in love, she could not comprehend the
obstinate resistance of Robert. She was
hurt; she suffered profoundly, for she well
knew that Balbuo would never consent to
their union unless some great inducement
were offered him.
Robert stood for a moment es if deprived
Of his senses. Soon, however, lifting his
head and finding himself alone, he compre-
hended all the violence of his love. Instantly
he precipated himself upon the path of the
young girl, calling to her in q heartrending
voice: Lydia! Lydiav' As he a n within
sight Of her she slackened her pace, and, run
ming to her, lie folded her in his arms.
"Do You know what you ask Of me, Lydia,
You would make me break a solemn oath. ]
swore to my dying father never to betray to
any one the secret of our art. This secret Is
written upon ivory tablets which 1carryin
my bosom, so that, while / live, no one may
set eyes upon them"
II was ignorant of that" said Lydia
trembling.
"You are also ignorant that my ancestor
has predicted our ruin and humiliation il
these tablets should fall into the hands Of our
rivals. Would you then conspire against my
life and my happinessg'
"Heaven is my Witness" replied Lydia,
''that all that was unknown to me-. Guard
well your secret, since its betrayal would
lead to your ruin. We will seek some other
means Of persuading my father, for will not
be the cause Of woe to you. I should die OF
despair if, through my fault, a single hair
fell from your head. And she fixed upon him
her eyes trimming with tears.
Robert had never seen her SO beautiful,
never was his passion SO uncomfortable. He
forgot everything, and said:
"Sooner than lose you, adorable child, I
would satisfy all your caprices, were the
40 - q oAA " A0A4 VA LAY AS0Ns =
have entire confidence in you. Will you not
soon be my wife? Ought you not to read my
soul like myself? Take then these tablets
whereon is written the secret of the Diorix.
I know that in your hands they will be as
safe as in my own."
"No, I cannot have you perjure yourself,
not even to provo to me your love-"
rs it to be perjured to have with ones
wife but one thought, one sentimentw!
II supplicate you, keep these tablets sa-
cred"
mo, take them. Our happiness exacts il"
And, placing them in Lydia's hands, he
turned swiftly and strobe away. The girl
called him in vain. Then she ran after him,
but he had disappeared in the shadow Of the
night which commenced to veil the bills Of
Liusannum.
+ y = = . =
A month has hardly passed and all is ready
in the mansion of Balbuo for the celebration
of the betrothal of the daughter of the pot
ter and the last of the Diorix.
In effect, Lydia was quickly treasured in
seeing that no obstacle could further retard
her happiness. She FASTENED to announce
her victory to her father. She showed him
the precious tablets, but refused to allow
him to touch them, because, as she laugh
ingly said, they were the property Of her
husband. Balbuo did not insist, telling him
self that from the moment that his daughter
had the tablets of the Diorix in her hands
the secret could not long remain unknown.
On his side, Robert, dominated by his love,
had easily stiaed his remorse. Welcomed as
q son by his rich %neighbor, solitude no longer
saddened his life. He had found in the house
Of Balbuo a new family. Happy, he said
that his race had given emperors to the Ro-
man world and there were no longer oppres-
sors nor oppressed.
The day has come for the betrothal ban
quet. The factory Of Balbro holds festival.
The workmen and the slaves have Quilted the
shops and the furnaces. Assembled in the
vast courts beneath the venerable oaks. some
drink the wine of the country, others sing
and dance upon the green.
In the spacious hall, with its marble walls
and mosaic pavement, a circular table is sur
rounded by the companions of Balbuo. Most
of them wear the toga Of white wool, bor-
dered with purple; others are covered with
the Greek pallium embroidered with gold.
Some Arvernes still preserve their national
costume. Among them Robert is distin-
guished by the brilliancy Of his garments and
the richness of his bracelets and collars. The