Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-25


| his hat or coat. What troubled the
marquis?
Adrienne had started up. Now she
was standing before him; her fair
| locks fioated over her shoulders; her
soft white dress revealed the outlines
of her slender figure; two white roses
from the chapel, which she daily WIS.,
tied. were fastened on her breast. The
note fairly scorched her hand. No,
| her grandfather must know every
| thing; she would have no secrets from
him.
Grandfather. she began timidly,
Il have note; | must tell you about
it-please don't say anything, grand
| father-only listen to me. l will con-
ceal nothing from you. and then Well
read the note together"
The story of her young love was
pathetically simple. Her grandfather
| listened, then he kissed Adrienne more
| tenderly than he had ever done before
and remained lost in thought. He sat
rejecting long after Adrienne had hur-
ried out into the sunny park to sho "
the dainty billet: II am coming to
my AuIl6uue. 1Oul dul' So uiiCi
and SO full of meaning.
Monsieur lie Marquis, l am a sutton
for the hand of your granddaughter,
| Adrienne St. Roche"
Paul de la Vale, must refuse you
| Adrienne's hand"
Impossible, Monsieur lie Marquis!
What objection can you find to me?"
ITO you. the Sieur de la Vale?
Nothing! You are rich. of ancient and
stainless name; you serve France
though the garb of modern France
the old man glanced at the glittering
uniform-"has changed"
well then-Monsieur lie Marquisp"
paul, Adrienne is not my grand
| daughter; she is not st. Roche.
'Indeed, Monsieur lie Marquis! Well,
/ am sorry for the house of St. Roche,
for you, for Adrienne. and for myself.
if in the future you will not love US and
forbid us to call you grandfather. For
the rest, | am nobleman by birth, a
soldier by choice, and serve France
from love for my native land. l love
Adrienne. not her name, and my wife
need be nothing save my wife. the
countess de la Vale. I should like to
receive Adrienne's consent in your
presence, Monsieur lie Marquis. Shall
we seek her?"
Stay, Paul; do not be overhasty. !
do not know who Adrienne is; how
can betroth her to YOU? When my
daughter-in-law, Blanche de st. Roche,
died, her last words to me were
.Father-Adrienne- her. She is
not mine-not Rene's child-ask Ces-
ini.' Death Interrupted her words.
My Rene would tell me nothing more.
Blanche is an angel; love Adrienne,
was all | learned from him."
"Cesini! Did you know Cesini?'
asked the major.
Once did. He was a musician,
and instructed Rene in violin playing
When | spent year with my children
in Paris Cesini left us. [ have heard
nothing from him, and all my inquiries
were futile"
But closed his eyes in death. Mon.
sieur lie Marquis. Cesini fell in the
front ranks of the army at the battle Of
Marengo as an officer of the republic
'Comrade,' he groaned, / have at
tanned nothing-this portfolio-Helene
Blanche and died"
Helene he said 'Helenep Where
is the portfoliop" gasped the marquis
AT my chateau. | haven't opened
it. We forget curiosity in times o.
war. But, my dear marquis, let us &c
to Adrienne.
my friend. must drive to Ii
Chesne. Don't oppose mel must see
clearly. Why did Cesini say Helene?'
The old nobleman was feverishly
excited. Quick, my carriage-foul
horsesi Come. Paul!n
The marquis emotion had affecte
Paul also. The spirited steeds swiftly
conveyed the two men, representatives
of the old and the new times, to the
family seat of the La Wales.
The pOrtfolio-no, Paul, nothing
no food, no drink-the portfolior
cried the marquis.
There it is. Paul unlocked ;
drawer of his writing table took ou
tanned the certificate of the birth O.
Cesini, son of the violin player, Cesin
of Corsica. and the marriage certifcat.
of the musician Cesini and Nine
Helene, daughter of the marquis de ST
Roche.
Go on, go on!" shrieked the ole
man. GO on. Is that all?n
There is only this sheet of paper:
~ loved Helene and she returned
my love. We dreaded the anger o
her father and Rene, priest from m,
native island, married us secretly il
Paris. | had undisputed admittanc,
to Helene, whom | taught to play OF
the violin, as we'll as Rene. Helen,
grew paler and paler. One night sh,
was attacked by illness. No one wa
allowed to watch beside her bed ex
cept Blanche. my young wife's friend
| called a physician whom | coulC
trust. a Corsican like myself. Adrienn,
was born and Helene died. What
night OF horror! Blanche, overwhelmed
by grief and terror, gave birth to 6
dead child. She was a heroine. Sht
whispered few words to me and tt
Rene. l buried the little one, anC
then, pursued by the furies of despair
fled to the army and became a soldier
to vanish. to die. Never since Their
have | seen St. Roche; never have
known one hour of happiness. Adri
enne, my child, child of my Helene
never shall embrace you?"
Paul, deeply moved. was silent.
Go on, go on" groaned the mar
quis. Read, | wish to know ALL"
"a new genius rules in France
The little Corsican. with his fer,
spirit, is accomplishing marvels. Will
Gods assistance there are still goal
for manly strength. On, to win nam,
and famei AS French colonel | will