Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-14

arms, and Tor month lay on his
bed between life aud death. Mon
sieur, you, being the son of such
father, will not kill YOURSELF
After q moments silence Pierre
continued
~ have seen your mother lying
on the bed which she did not leave
tall she went to the graveyard. A
disease, for which she knew there
was no remedy, was consuming
her. Her face was calm although
her suffering was terrible. A CON-
plant never escaped her lips. She
forgot herself to think of those
whom she was abont to leave be-
hind her. A man who has bad
such mother will not try to take
his lite.'
The old servant seemed TO be
transfgured. His face, always
calm and impassive, had assumed
a soulful look which made a deep
impression on the young man, who
was no less moved.
But it was not time for senti-
ment or emotion. The baron was
ruined, and it was necessary for
him to adopt some means of extrl-
eating himself from the difficulties
which surrounded him. He did
not fear to express before Pierre
his uncertainty as to the bestcourse
for him to pursue.
"Monsieur," said the old servant,
"there is many a wealthy trades
man who would be happy to have
his daughter known as the Baroness
de Brantel."
"Sell my name for money I How
dare you make such a suggestion =
"Well, there is still Mile. Jeanne
Rosel. There was a time when she
would not have hesitated to marry
you, and you know that one OF
your mothers regrets was that she
died without seeing her your wife,
81 slighted her when was rich,
and now that | am poor would
hardly ask her to repair my wasted
fortune. Never would | make her
such an insulting proposal. But
must decide upon some course at
once 1 have triend who owns a
large estate at Alglers. am sure
he would willingly make me super
intendent 1t. shall offer him
my services, and as soon as his
answer comes we will depart
"Very well. But first it will be
necessary for you to go to Brantel.
A purchaser for the chateau has
been foun d and 1t will soon be
sold.7
"Ah, well, the sale can be made
without me-"
"Impossible. There are legal
formallties which require your
presence. Besides there are family
souvenirs, of no value to anyone
but yourself, which you would not
care to have pass into the hands OF
strangers
The baron allowed himself to be
persuaded, and three days after
ward accompanied by Pierre, he
arrived at the estate OF his ances'
tors.
1t was a beautiful summer even
ing when be reached the home
from which he had been vOlu1-
tary exile. He had not visited 1t
since he had left it after his
mothers death, and he expected to
find everywhere traces OF neglect
aud desolation, to see the garden
walks choked with weeds, the fur
niture covered with dust and
stained with mould, the ceilings
hung with cobwebs.
On the contrary, everything was
| in order, az If the proprietor OF the
| manor had been absent for day
| The garden had been we'll looked
after, and within the chateau one
| would have sought in vain for q
sign of carelessness or uncleanll
ness.
The baron expressed his aston
ishment to Pierre.
"Probsbly," replied the latter
"the chateau has been put IN order
so that it may sell be tier"
During the night he passed a
the manor. which on the morrow
would cease to be hls, the youhI
baron did no. close his eyes. III
listened TO the son gs Of the bird
of the night, to the murmurlng 0
the wind among the trees, TO In
creaking of the weathercock-t
all the sounds which lulled hi
infancy.
| On rising he went for a walk i
the garden. He wanted TO bi
adieu to all the places endeared I
him by memory, There he used
sit, book In hand ; here was
! tavorIte walk of his mother, who's
sweet voice he faut,ied that he stl
could hear in this arbor he ha
, had long conye rsations wit
JEANNE, and it seer ned as thong
he could s0e her graceful fgul
, and smiling face -prettlly frame
. by the foliage.
, For a long time he was lost
: these reyeries, aud the sun WI
! high when he took Kns way baC
, to the house. Sudde My he sto'
ped, thinking that he must
} dreaming. Through the open VII