St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-18

chamber whose faded tapestries, repre-
senting the massacre of the innocentS
and the MaccabeeS, evoked only memo
rieS of death and mourning. The lamp.
under its shade of silk, threw feeble
light upon the antique furniture, the
old and somber paneling. Seated in
her easy chair, placed midway between
arranged her books and work, an 'slml-
tation of Christ" open upon her knees,
Madeleine was not reading, but lost in
sorrowful reflections. In her Sad-col-
ored robe, with her emaciated face, her
transparent pallOr, her
EYES SUNKEN AND DIa1MED BY TEARS,
she seemed like woman whom grief
and horror had driven from the world
forever.
That which had passed iu her heart
after the condemnation and death of
Lionel de NoirInOuStier remained a
secret between herself and her God.
She had never spoken of him, even to
the cure, and only asked that he say a
daily mass, at which she assisted. for
the repose of guilty soul. But. as |
said before, in spite of the book lying
open Oh her knees. the comteSSe was
not engaged in devotions, but dreaming,
thinking, her eyes fixed upon. cluster
of yiOlets that Hedwige, her daughter,
then at Nice with her Aunt Daube-
terre, had sent her that morning. Their
perfume, developed by the warmth OF
the room, revived in her memories i'm
possible to arrest. During those past
sweet to her, Lionel, knowing that she
loved them, had never forgotten to
bring them at his coming. At times it
seemed to her that the tragedy which
had broken her life was nightmare,
from which she must soon awaken.
Even now his voice vibrated in her ear,
as she recalled that once he had come
with her on visit to this same chateau,
this same sad chamber.
With a gesture of bitter pain she
bowed her head upon her hands, seek
ing perhaps to see again the lines of
that vcr-to-be-fOrgOtten face. Sud
denly it seemed to her that she heard
knock upon the door of the chamber
opening upon the staircase and. remem-
bering that the door was unfastened,
Scarcely. however. had the thought Oc-
Cured to her when it opened and
man, tall, wrapped in long cloak, but
with something singularly familiar in
his aspect, stood upon the threshold.
''DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME,
Madeleine??" said he; ''have you for
gotten me so soon?" The C0mtesse
d HeracleS was as brave a woman as her
father was man, and believed not in
ghosts, nevertheless this apparitiOn, at
such an hour and place, had upon her
the effect of an hallucination.
''Fear nothing, Madeleine" continued
the voice: Il am living. did not wish
to die without seeing you once MORE"
Lionel. returned from the dead?
Madeleine's heart throbbed to suffoca-
ton. And how changed he was! This
unhappy one changed in every way, and
even than he, and in her emotion and
horror regarded the hands of the man
before her as if she saw them even then
covered with blood.
What is it you wish?" she STAN
mered. "Why have you come? Dead,
it was possible to grieye, to pray for
you-living, hate and scorn you!'
II merit it, Madeleine, fully; but
allow me to touch my lips to the hem of
your robe and will disappear. yes, for
ever"
Madeleine recoiled. mo" she an
swered, leaning upon her chair to keep
erect, ''the sight Of you is horrible,
cruel. Retire; leave me!' Instead of
obeying NOirmouStier made move
ment as if to approach her. Madeleine
did not wait or hesitate, but opening the
drawer of the table beside her drew
forth a revolver that was kept there
charged and ready and placed it against
her breast.
"a step further" she cried, her voice
hoarse with anguish, but firm, IA step
further and kill myself before YOU"
Lionel bowed his head, then turned to
the door.
.Adieu, madame" said he, II obey"