Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-25

|
| Rosel. There was time when she would
not have hesitated to marry you, and you
| know that one of your mothers regrets
was that she died without her seeing your
wife"
81 sighted her when 1 was rich, and
now that am poor / would hardly ask
her to repair my wasted fortune. Never
would | make her such an insulting pro-
posal. But I must decide upon some
course at once. 1 have q friend who owns
a large estate in Algiers. I am sure that
be would willingly make me superintend-
ent of it. | shall offer him my services
and az soon as his answer comes we will
| depart"
| every well. But first it will be neces-
sary for you to go to Brantel. A purchas-
er for the chateau has been found and it
will soon be sold"
"Ah, we'll, the sale can be made without
me-"
Impossible. There are legal formalities
which require your presence. Besides
| there are family souvenirs, of no valus to
anyone but yourself, which you would not
care to have pass into the possession of
strangers"
The baron allowed himself to be per-
suaded, and three days afterwerd, accom-
panied by Pierre, he arrived at the es-
tate of his ancestors.
During the night he passed at the
manor, which on the morrow would cease
TO be his, the young baron did not close
his eyes. On rising he went for long
walk in the garden. He wanted to bid
adieu to all places endeared TO him by
memory. There he used to sit, book in
| hand; here was a favorite walk of his
mother, whose sweet voice he fancied
that he could hear; in this arbor he had
| long conversations with Jeanne, and it
seemed as though he could see her grace
full figure and smiling face prettily framed
by the foliage.
| For a long time he was lost in these
reveries, and the sun was high when he
| took his way back to the house. Sudden
ly he stopped, thinking that he must be
dreaming. Through the open window of
| the chamber which his mother used to
occupy came the sound of piano; the
air was one of which, in other days, he
had never tired. A prey of violent emo
ton, his heart FACILITATING, he seated him
self on a bench and listened. In a few
minutes the sound of the piano ceased,
but he remained in the same place,
plunged in sorrowful reflection. Present
ly light sound attracted his attention;
he lifted his eyes and saw a young girl,
who looked at him with smile.
Jeanne! Jeanne! You heref" he said,
in a troubled voice. "It was you l heard
playing?"
To-day Brantel passes into the poses
sion of strangers" she replied. I've
have both had the same thought I, like
you, have come to bid adieu to this place
| sx,I1 Ios,
You have had reason to despise me,
Jeanne, during these years of folly which
| expiate today"
piJied you more"
81 will accept ill fortune without q
murmur if, when 1 am in Algiers, your
thoughts will sometimes turn to the alb
sent; if you will say to yourself that al
though 1 have been to blame / have
striven to redeem my faults by courage
ously accepting my Destiny"
"Do you not regret the loss of this
home, to which so many ties bind your
"When regrets are useless it is better
to stiie them"
"And you are able TO do sos'
81 shall endeavor TO do So"
"You are right. When one bids adieu
to his native land it is better for him to
efface from his mind the memory of the
places he quits and the friends he leaves
behind him."
He did not reply at once. The emo
ton against which he struggled overcame
him. Their eyes met; both were confused
At last he said:
Il thank you, Jeanne, for coming, al
though 1t would, perhaps, have been bet
Aa- Co. kol
view. 1t has made me doubt my courage
| thought that l was firm in my resolu
ton, and now my strength deserts me
[ am sad, sadder than You can know
at the thought of parting from you for
ever"
Console yourself, Paul"
"Never," he murmured. Aud then he
added in faltering voice: sit is q cruel
torment for him whose happiness is van
ishipg TO have vision of it still before
him. Good by, Jeanne"
"Good by, Paul. My father and the
notary are waiting for you to settle your
affairs"
With an unsteady step, his face very
pale, he returned TO the house and enter
ed the room where M. de Rosel, the no
tary, and Pierre, awaited him.
"My FRIEND" said the first, "we are en-
{ gagged, M. Planter and I, in examining
into Jour affairs. Nearly 100000 franc,
Z have been spent in two years. You mus
j have had good deal of pleasure for tina
price?"
/ ''Say rather that the time was sadly ant
foolishly wasted"
Are you aware that you have been out
rageously robbed?"
; ''Well, what else could I expect? per
5 son who does not know how TO take car,
of his own should not com plain if it i
taken from him.
D 'Ths tradesman with whom you hav
dealt have presented absurd bills. Til,
people from whom you have bor1owet
n money have charged you interest at tn
rate of so ger cent"
j "Well, that is the business of usurers.
4 "You take the matter very easily. How
: ever, it is necessary TO make them dis
: gorge"
by what means can do SOY"
!. "You might appeal to their conscience.
e "Copse fence Is coin that Is not cur
{ rent among them"
Suppose we cry to move them?'
e 1--WE would hive our labor for on
$ pains. Indeed, do not know who the
q are"
7 81 will enlighteL you. They are Pierr,
: myself, aud a third person who is th
!. most guilty of Us all. l soon preceive
= land Pierre who is far seeing person
was of the same opinjon) that it would b
), impossible to arrest you in your ex ravs
= CANT course. carried away as you were b
- the ardor of youth. We determine
!. therefore to limit your prodigality b
every means in our power, Tradesmel
| 10 IL III