Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-05-03


He tore open the envelope, from which feI
the photograph Of a young woman With q
J quick movement be picked up the photograph
= and gazed at it a moment with look Of ad
, miration. Then, handing it to me, he said:
{ 1T is Suzanne She is right, poor girl
ought TO have informed her of my arrival.
Then be handed me the letter, saying;
, ''What progress she has madeln
"Why, Of counsel" ! replied, ''she is II
years old; you forget that 4"
read the letter, which was as follows:
Ny DEAR GuARDtAS-Is it right for you to &c,
thus toward poor little prisoner who has only
you In the world and who loves you so nuchi
Only one paltry letter since your departure for
Mexicol And have had to receive from one of
the sisters Of the convent tho news OF your return
to France. For the past eight days every time |
have heard the bell announcing the arrival Of q
visitor have thought it was you who had come
70 see me. But was always mistaken The visit
was always for some Of the other girls sisters Of
the officers who have made this campaign with
you-this campaign during which have wearied
heaven with prayers for your protection. Fortu-
nately, shall pass part Of my vacation with
your sister. Come and see me at her house, and
sacrifice little Of your time TO your little
suzanne
From that time my uncle was not the jovial
man he had formerly been.
When he received that letter It was nearly
time for the summer vacation, and his sister
my aunt, had invited Nile. Suzanne to spend
it with her and her daughters.
"Ah! yes, they make rapid progress, these
young girlsl The little girl who was lank
and awkward in short skirts, whose com
plexion was dingy and whose hands were red,
becomes beautiful seductive creature, with
golden hair and a sylph-like form, like that
! Of paTraha In. -
spring time.
We both obtained leave Of absence In order
that we might visit my aunt who had a
beautiful estate in the valley of Chevreuse.
Soon after our arrival at my aunt's home I
noticed that whenever my uncle was in the
presence of Suzanneh he was cold and reserved
At times he would pass his hand over his
forehead, as though his thoughts troubled
him. Every morning by 5 o'clock he was on
horseback, and it was often 10 before he re-
turned, his horse always showing signs Of
having been ridden hard
Suzanne's position was well known in the
family. An old friend of my uncle, a captain
in the Third cuirassiers, had, on his death
bed, named him in his will as the guardian of
his daughter Suzanne, then girl Of years,
a pupil in a convent
Ono morning my uncle aroused me early.
Two saddled horses were waiting for us, and
accompanied him in his daily ride We
were riding side by side when, suddenly turn
ing toward me, he said;
why do you not marryf'
laughed and replied:
Because have not cared to do so. And
youl"
"Ah, II am too old What do you think
of Suzanne"
'She is one of the most beautiful and fasci.
mating girls have ever met"
Very well, wish you to marry herr
looked him fun in the eyes, He was con
fused.
That Is not true" said "You love her. "
He laughed with a forced laugh as he re-
plied
"Nonsensel my ward! Why, am twenty
three years older than shell | would be mad
to think Of marrying her"
Il do not know whether or not YOU are
mad, but l know, my dear uncle, that you
are trying to deceive yourself"
1T is not so, be answered. IF thought
1t was generally supposed that l wished to
marry her would leave this place at once.n
All, well, let us say no more about it." i
said.
During breakfast observed my uncle and
Suzanne Her manner toward him was win
and severe
After breakfast, as the morning was beauti-
full, we all went into the garden. As we
were leaving the house told Suzanne that l
wanted a few words with her. and we walked
apart from the others. She became a little
pale as she exclaimed;
"Ah, already"
perceived that my uncle was casting
dark look toward US. It was Suzanne who
first spoke.
MY guardian" she said, ''told me of his
plans yesterday. | do not know whether or
not you agree with him; but before you tell
me wish to say that shall only marry
man whom love, and do not love you"
Il thank you for your franl1uess, =" replied.
II do not, however, agree with my uncle, and
! approve of your sentiments. l cannot I'M
derstand why he should be so anxious for US
TO marry"
sit is not difficult to understand, /" she an
swered. "He wishes to rid himself of
troublesome ward as he himself desires to
marry. He evidently loves some woman. !
But why doesn't he marry and leave me to -,
myself will not trouble him. can re
main as a teacher in the convent where / am T.
studying. That is my choice /
A tear rolled down her soft cheek. Q
"You would not like to see him marriedP \
said. \
ZIP she exclaimed. at would be moth t
ngn- y
She did not finish the sentence; a sob t
'hoked her. Then, suddenly turning from v
ne, she ran down into the garden, leaving me y
tanding alone t
"How she loves himr' l exclaimed. t
That evening went to my uncle's chamber Y
nd related the scene to him. He was pale as c
specter. G
you have done a bad thing" he said. e.
"How so, since ! have revealed you to each G.
ther and shown you how to be happyf t,
"Happym exclaimed my uncle. 81 tell you il
hat would be a monster if should marry
uzanne" f,
l was dumfounded He made me promise OF
hat Suzanne should never know what he was fl
bout to reveal to me. l felt that was T
rowing as pale as my uncle. b.
DO you know how the father Of Suzanne al
iedr' he asked. do you know thatr' re
His emotion was terrible to see; he trembled IL
Ike a leaf N
Il killed himl Do you heart He was killed sn
nd was his slayer. And love his daugh- of
II with passion that is killing me-that is bC
" horrible expiation-Ohi yes, know the ia
lel was fair, challenged him. He was an til
d wrangler, jealous and envious He was th
favored, disagreeable and had no chance dc
advancement was handsome, popular he
nd rose rapidly in the service; was envied; di
was Fortunes favorite. He insulted me- ar
ortunes favorite to the last, killed him tn
ortunes favorite to the last, I love his
lughter and she loves me. But we cannot
in hands over the dead body of Der father.
n his deathbed he called me to him and wi
I've me his written testament in which he 70
ade me the guardian Of his daughter, who ra
as heneeforth alone in the world; and as be tn
I'VE 1t to me be said: lol
g" You have killed the father; you will ne
atch over the child" aft
In less than year from the time my uncle bu
Id me OF his duel with Suzanne's father, ha
battle OF Woerth was fought Our forces the