The morning call., 1890-11-09

The Countess D0Waeer LOT once oo0u'oE
quite recnnciled to the loss of the visit when
brought her so much joy, and, after the
usual exchange of the compliments OF the
dav- she babe her son close the door OF her
boudor and take seat beside her;
"My SON. she began, In an almost SOL
emn tone. 1--WE been thinking a great deal
about you of late"
"Oh, mother"
NAY. don't interrupt me, Charles" she
continued, laying her hand on his arm, land
the thought came TO me that was growing
old, and that l would be willing to face death
so much more contentedly II l could first
see you happily married.
Count Charles gave start and the blood
surged up to his brain.
But, mother" he stammered, you forget
-Robert-my SON"
"No, calm yourself; l remember every
thing" replied the dowager with singular
frmness. Il have discovered to my mex
pressIble JOY that certain young girl Of the
oldest nobility, tut without dover, and one
who has always loved you and adored your
genius, Is III no wise ScandallZed by ROBERT s
existence"
Count Charles dared not look upon his
mothers face. He felt as if the whole world
was crumblng away beneath his feet. His
mo Their pretended not to notice the look OF
mingled dread aud anxiety which had set
tied upon his cOuntenance.
Yes, my dear son. she went on culdly
and calmly, I" this adorable young girl met
Robert here only last week, ana such was
the warmth with which she elapsed the child
TO her bosom that | was emb0ldened to ill.,
terTogate her. My son, you are forum ate
man. Attribute this concession to your ge-
MUS for | can assure you that France holds
no nobler. purer-'
Mother, mother" cried Count Charles,
sprluging TO his feet.
silence. my SOM" exclaimed the Count
eSs Dowager, her face purple with rage;
11lf no M fs4ll sT. nd
upon the brink of a precpice Collect your
thoughts and call to mind, sir, that it lies
within my power to name the legatee of
10000 francs income, my private and separ-
ate estate, to which your father had no
claim, and that unless you consent to marry
Aurelie de Seychelles within one year.
Impossibrw broke III Count Charles,
facing the dowager with visage so inilamed
with anger that she inYoluntar drew
back. She never had seen her sons calm
and placid countenance thus distorted.
"lmposslble, L say, madame, he burst
out. You have tn ught OF Robert. but
there is still another OF whom you have not
thought-you have not thought of lrma"
1t was the first time Count Charles had
ever mentioned lrma S name IN his mother
presence. 1t had cost him an effort but ROW
that his ears had heard the sound it had no
more terror for him, and he repeated:
1ou have not thought Of ITma, OF lrma,
sayw
Tut, tut. wild boy, compose yourself"
rejoined his mother taking one of his hands
in hers. lOu wrong he, Ihaye thought Of
her"
And" half gasped Count Charles.
will provide for her generously, very
generously, MY son Don't worry, she'll be
delighted, mark my words; she'll be hand
somelY liked Tor life, and in a few years She
you, |, all of us will forget everything,
erythinG, my son."
spare me, mother spare me!' exclaimed
Count Charles, hiding his face in his hands.
At that moment Mile. de Seychelles was
announced, and as soon as the Countess
DOwager had passed into the salon, her son
fled from the house; but he dared not go
back TO his apartments. Irma would read
his most secret thoughts. u must calm
down before meeting her" he whispered to
himself. ''She has the instinct of the deer
of the forest and would scent an enemy in
stantly. Oh, my poor boy, my Robert, my
ROberti'
Not until after long walk did Count Charles
return home, and then it required all his
depth Of feeling to persuade Irnla that moth
ing untoward had taken place.
The Countess DOwager had been somewhat
Startled by her son show OF opposition to
her wishes and realized the fact that she
must change her tactics in order 90 secure
even promise OF victory in the end. Hence
from now on, although Mile. Aurelie was
from time to time skillfully brought to
OEdllES uULlbC, ti4iu dllllOuPu luC 1UuLS
poet often found himself in some mysterious
way alone with her in his mothers salon.
upon which occasion she never failed to
quote to him from his own poems in most
hatterlng and seductive manner. yet the
Countess DOwager took good care not TO
mention lrma again. 1t was plain, how
ever, that this was not a retreat but rather
a halt TO prepare for more vigorous attack.
Meanwhile little Robert turned his first
milestone with as chubby little pair of
legs as ever del GIFTED grandmother heart
and no matter how much oil lndennable re-
greet that lady's sharp tug at the bell-pull
may have carried to other hearts, it was 4
joyful signal for little Robert 1t were vain
to attempt to describe the Countess Dow
ayers bliss on the morning the bebe Wis
count first toddled to the door to meet her.
The reader need scarcely be assured that
Aurelie de Seychelles never accompanied
Nine. d AthiS-MOns on these visits to her
sons apartments, but that fact had not pre-
vented Aurelie and little Robert from be-
coming the best of friends, for the bebe Wis
count was pretty sure to find the lady with
the golden hair" as he called her, whenever
he visited his grandmn ther, and many were
the the tales of wonder which he carried
home with him concerning this same lady
with the golden hair.
Tie period set by the Countess DOwager
within which her son was to make his cleo
ton was now rapidly drawing TO close.
Charles was conscious of it, and conscious,
too, that Aurelie had succeeded in wrestling
sort of mute admiration from him. Aure-
lie de Seychelles had much about her to fas-
cinate "A man of d'Athis' Intellectual and
emotional build. Her large and expressive
blue eyes which seemed forever gllstenIng
with an unshed tear, and especially her full,
round, sweet and sympathetic voice, which
she knew how TO use in GeiciouSly seduc-
tive way in recting Charles dainty and
oftentilneS pathetic verses, would have rem
dered her dangerous woman for any poet
to meet. But for Charles d this she was
particularly dangerous. for either Willingly,
through the assistance of the Countess
Dowager, or possibly quite unconSciouSly,
she had discovered the weakest joint in the
poets armor, and she never let slip an op-
portunity to set her spear against it. But
so skillfully did d'Athis conceal the wound
that Irma's life was beginning to rid itself
Of that indescribable feeling of pressure,
that secret dread of something suspended
by too slender thread. something balanced
upon too frail a pedestal, when Count
Charles himself, by careless act, gave to
Irma's suspicion the very form and potency
Of fact
Entering his apartments hastily one day
about dinner-hOur, he proceeded to attire
himself in evening dress, and although Irma