The morning call., 1890-07-13

upon her hard, white and beautiful enough TO
gladden. a sculptofs eyes, and for a moment no
sound broke the deep silence save her low Sob
blDg.
.'Matn'de," spoke Simon de Bourneval. so
gently and softly that ii sounded almost like
whisper, "Mathde, Paul aud | were more like
brothers than friends. You lave always seemed
like a sister to M, and at times have even
dreamed, poor TOOL that l was, that some ialr
and golden day the possibility would arise OF
yOnr being something else TO me- but now that
you know where stand, you see how far apart,
how very far apart we are"
"Oh, Stmonl Oh, my frend!" murmured Ma.
thilde, and The tears burst freely forth aud her
head sank upon the arm OF the sofa.
Bourueval took a step toward her.
"Mathllde. Nlathtde" be whispered. his voice
trembling with emotion, calm yourself. l too
suffer deeply, but better one paDg now than
hundred lateri"
ION, what wrerched girl l amp came with
sigh so deep and so tender that even De Bourne
vars self control could not Withstand II, and
throwing himself upon his knees he covered her
hand with tears and kisses.
"Mathilde," be murmured passionatey, ME-
thilde, you lose nOIhlngi BethtDk yourself, the
world would despse met would say | sold my
self aud my principles, aud IL would speak The
truth. must be honestl Farewell. Farewell"
"Simon, Simon, implore yOu-one moment
stay" pleaded Mile. de CrOlxlnee, springing up
and laying her hand on BOurnevaFs arm.
Promise me that you VIII not leave France for
one MONTH
Her tear-mOislened eyes were fixed full upon
him and In them he saw a world OF love from
which he shutting himself out forever
latlef IMAM give Tie lie 10 MS Whole llle So lar
His arm passed slowly around the glrlish
fgute and his head sank down beneath the
sweet fascination OF her lustTous, liquid gaze. In
another instant their lips would have met, but
her head fell forward upon his breast and his
kiss upon her hair.
look once more upon that beautiful face, so
pure, SO giTliSh sweet and so ready and willing
10 bless his life. But Mathilde had covered II
with her hands.
CHAPTER II.
Mathflde's welcome By the tenantry OF the
De Courcils' estates in the department OF CaIva-
dos was such as to stir her heart deeply. Troops
OF children, clad in the picturesque costumes OF
Normandy strewed flowers at her feet as her
husband lifted her from the old-fashiOned coach,
drawn by six gayly caparlS0ned white horses, III
which she was driven from the railway station to
The chateau. and then preceded her TO the per-
ron, chanting The praises OF the new mistress OF
the manor. But in spite OF these touching DEM
OnStTatlons OF kindness and good Will on the
part of the tenants, Matnide felt her heart al
most stand still with nameless dread as she
| passed within the shadow OF the castle portal.
For few days the fetes organized in her honor
| left her no lime to herself. All was hustle and
activity indoors and out. Populations OF work
mentor lie De COurcilS were large manufac-
turers In Caen-deputations OF politicians and
Populations OF members from the hunting fish
ing and racing clubs OF the department continued
TO arrive al the chateau, and TO each OF these
Malhilde was presented in the bluff and otf-baDd
manner peculiar TO De Courcils. Gradually.
however, the noise and hustle began to lessen
and finally 10 cease entirely. Mathilde now for
the first time had an opportunity TO look about
her aud make critical examination Of her new
home. Her involuntary exclamation was How
unlike what l expected
Chateau de Courceulles was a huge and ram
bling pile OF masonry, portion OF II dating back
| TO the fifteenth century. Standing upon mag
nincent height, thickly wooded on three sides,
It's terraces afforded a superb view of the channel
"a sweep OF fully sixty miles. But grand and
friendly were lis surroundings, the Interior OF
the Chateau de Courceulles was bare, gloomy and
uninviting. Apparently no additions mad been
made 10 its decorations and furniture for a
| quarter OF a century. To Mathilde the dnng-hall
seemed like The mess of some institution,
SO bald and severe were lis Furnishings. In the
MUSHROOM stood harp, which time and acct
dents had robbed OF It's gilt and Its strings. Once
the young wife had summoned up courage 10
open the oId-fashioned piano and to run her
beautiful fingers over its discOlored keys but
such had been the discord and the rafting OF de-
fectiye strings given forth by The instrument that
she had closed II with sigh aud turned the key,
Which had clicked with loud snap as If in spite
full protest at the Intrusion.
Nor Gid the bOok-TOOm offer more OF sOlace
aud entertainment 10 the young wife. It's dusty
cases were filed with reports OF the ministry OF
Agriculture, books uDOu the breeding OF horses,
histories OF famous racers, their owners and
riders, works upon drainage aud irrigation, de-
partmental reports, surveys card-piayers man
uais, etc.
Al the end OF a month De Courcils was called
| 10 Paris - on business" and Mathilde was left
! alone, for 1t would be but fine irony 10 denom-
nate as company" an old maiden aunt of her
husband, who had never been known TO converse
| upon any other topic than the lineage OF the DE
! Courcils and VINO had for years been too deaf to
hear any replies made to her prolix dissertations
"Amuse yourself" had been her husbands
partiDgl Injunction.
Oppressed almost rs Mathide was with sense
of her wifely duty, she endeavored to obey; paid
visits TO lie friends OF the family residing on the
neighbOrlng estates, distributed aims to the Door,
visited the sick, carried prizes 10 the parish
!, school, and when evening came arrayed herself
/ 10 some Partisan costume, as eXQusitely beeom.
ing as it was artistic In combination of colors
and graceful In STYLE only TO be baughtily
scanned by her husbands aunt, and then be
obliged 10 listen to some such remark as 81 fear,
Matniide that you are too farlsenne 10 keep up
! the reputation OF the chalelaineS OF de Cour-
ceulles as being the best-dressed ladies In the
north Of France"
MalhIlde had entered the marriage state with
| ears that ''all men are bad" and that a wife
must be charitable In her Judgment, ignoring
! petty Offenses entirely and excuSiug graver ones
| on the plea that The world Is wicked and that
| man cannot escape contamination, no matter
| how much he may desire so to do; that 1t is So
| cleiy Which must be condemned aud not the in-
diyldual.
Gaming had been unknown In her fathers
mouse, aud yet she was ready and willing as
| part OF this same wifely duty to look upon ths
card table as one OF the necessary evils Of social
| life; but she now discovered that never in the
| widest flights of her Imagination had She formed
any correct Idea OF the wild fury of this Dasslon
| when once unclaimed in the human heart Sur
rounded by clique of The younger sons of The
country nobility. De Couicils, seemingly oblIyious
| TO the presence OF hissyoung wife In the chateau