The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-11-20

stood trembling, holding the little note
in her hand; her heart was throbbing
so violently that she could not open
the envelope. There, her grandfather
was coming. Adrienne involuntarily
put her hand behind her.
The old man looked so grave and sat
down by the table without removing
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 fron.
him.
Grandfather" she began timidly,
Il have note; must tell you about
it-please don't say anything, grand
father-only listen 10 me. win con-
ceal nothing from you. and then We'll
read the note together"
The story of her young love was
pathetically simple. Her grandfather
listened. then he kissed Adrienne more
tenderls than he had rver done before
and remained lost in thought. He sat
rejecting long after Adrienne had hur-
ried oLt into the sunny park to show
the ancient lindens over and over again
the dainty billet: II am coming to
my Adrienne. Your Paul!' So brief
and so full of mpaninr
Monsieur lie Marquis. 1 am suitor
for the hand Of your granddaughter,
Adrienne St. Roche"
Paul de la Vale. l 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"
We'll then-Monsieur lie Marquis?"
Paul, Adrienne is not my grand
daughter; she is not Il ST. Roche.
"Indeed. Monsieur le 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, l am nobleman by birth. a
soldier by choice, and serve France
from love for my native land. | love
Adrienne. not her name, and my wife
need be nothing save my wife, the
countess de la Vale. | should like to
receive Adrienne's consent in YOUR
presence, Monsieur lie Marquis. Shall
we seek her?"
Stay, Paul; do not be oyerhasty. |
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 Cesinie"
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. l 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 az an officer of the republic.
Comrade,' he groaned, i have at
tanned nothing-this portfolio-Helene
-Blauche-' and died "
Helene, he said Helene? Where
is the portfolio?" gasped the marquis.
''At my chateau. | haven't opened
it. We forget curiosity in times of
war. But, my dear marquis, let us go
to Adrienne"
my friend. | must drive to La
Chesne. Don't oppose mel must see
clearly. Why did Cesini say Helene?"
The old nobleman was feverishly
excited. Quick, my carriage-four
horses! Come. Paulr'
The marquis emotion had affected
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 Valles.
The portfolio-no, Paul, nothing
no food, no drink-the portfoliow
cried the marquis.
There it is" Paul unlocked a
drawer of his writing table. took out
tanned the certificate of the birth of
Cesini, son of the violin player, Cesini
of Corsica, and the marriage certificate
of the musician Cesini and Nine.
Helene. daughter of the marquis de st.
Roche.
go on, 60 onr' shrieked the old
man. go on. Is that alp"
There is only this sheet of paper:
II loved Helene and she returned
my love. We dreaded the anger of
her father and Rene, a priest from my
native island. married us secretly in
Paris. | had undisputed admittance
to Helene, whom taught to play on
the violin. as we'll as Rene. Helene
grew paler and paler. One night she
was attacked by illness. No one was
cept Blanche. my young wife's friend.
l called physician whom l could
trust, a Corsican like myself. Adrienne
was born aud Helene died. What
night of horror! Blanche, overwhelmed
by grief and terror. gave birth to a
dead child. She was Il heroine. She
whispered few words to me and to
Rene / buried the little one. and
then, pursued by the furies of despair,
fled to the army and became a soldier.
to vanish, to die Never. since then
have | seen St. Roche; never have l
known one hour of happiness. Adri-
enne, my child, child of my Helene.
never shall embrace you?n
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 Cersican. with his fiery
spirit, is accomplishing marvels. With
Gods assistance there are still goals
for manly strength. On, to win name
and fame! AS French colonel will
clasp my Adrienne to my heart" W
Poor Cesini! he fell a captain on
the field of Marengo. murmured Paul.
The marquis seemed petritied. That
Helene could have thus deceived him
secretly welded a musician. Cesini,