The morning call., 1890-11-09
that beautiful head to sink in sad and silent

that beautiful head to sink in sad and silent
acquiescence.
Unseen, but not unfelt Irma had been
present at that glorious fete at which be-
ing almost too beautiful to be called a
daughter of the base and earthly clay had
crowned the poet. This was the fair and
radiant creature whom her little brother
had named 'the lady with the golden hair" !;
this was the high-b0rn Aurelie de Sey
chelles, who loved Count Charles with love
so far beyond all ordinary bounds as TO close
her eyes to the shadows OF the past. This
strong enough to follow the poets IN his
boldeSt flights, to whom the beauty Of his
verse was manifest in all its splendor: the
priestesS, the mentor, the guardian OF his
genius, from whose lips his fervid lines took
on redoubled glory!
believes that Charles loved this wonder OF
her sex, and that his happiness called for
nay, demanded-that sign of acquieScence
which had carried such flood of Joy to the
Countess Dowager's heart.
u am content, madam" murmured lrma.
II set him free. for my love for him is too
deep and holy to put itself above his happi-
ness. Call him back, madam. aud say to
him that Irma sets him Free"
81 will, l will, exclaimed Nine. d'Athis.
her voice broken by sobs. Oh. noble, gen.
erous woman, how can l ever speak my
thanks? Here, take this, Irma; it is but a
feeble token of my gratitude. Here are the
title deeds to real property which will as
sure you an income of 10000 francs. And
now there is but one thing further to be set
tied between us. When will you turn little
Robert over to my custody"
AS if a thunderbot had crashed into the
earth at her very feet, Irma started wildly
forward. her eyes filled with mad terror.
her fingers clutching conynlsively, her
beautiful face overspread with fiendish
F.. 4.
to satisfy himself that his daughter had not
been transformed into tiend by some sud-
den and mysterious spell put upon her.
Little Roberto" half shrieked Irma.
"Oh, God, can it be that you deem me base
and vile enough to sell my child? Away,
Away, or by heaven Pll-Pll-" and with
this Irma threw herself upon Nine. FAITHS
as if she were about to tear the lips which
had dared to breathe such a word. The
old peasant sprang between his daughter
and the Countess Dowager.
childish voice, don't, don't, don't hurt
grandma. She is so good TO me; don't strike
her. She'll never bring me any more pres
ents. Don't, mamma, dontp
With wild cry of mingled fear and joy,
Irma fell upon her knees and wrapped the
child in her arms as if she would press it
back into the very bosom from which it had
drawn its life.
"Robert-oh, Robert. oh my ANGEL what
do you think? they want to buy you from
mel Your grandma comes with gold to buy
you from me forever-forever!
Buy me ?" repeated little Robert. break
ing loose from his mothers arms. :" Buy me,
grandma? Go buy Grandpa Salle's pigs and
fowls if you will. but am not for sale, am
l mamma For Pm not like everyday
children. Pm baby discount Robert
dAthis- Mons, and my fathers poet, too.
Won cant htlV pran1m "
With a wild shrek of joy that echoed
through Rambouillet Forest, where Irma'
brown naked feet had so often trod, she
fell headlong to the ground, SO nearly dead
stopped to lift her up: "Merciful heaven,
Madame the Countess, you have killed her,
| fear"
With confused mind and uncertain step
Nine. d'Athis made her way back to the villa,
where she FASTENED to seek the privacy Of
her apartment, denying admlttance even to
Mile. de Seychelles. While true it was that
success had crowned the Countess Dowager' 5
efforts TO influence lrma Sale to relinQuisn
hold upon Count Charles. yet the victory
lacked that completeness which would have
carried such sweet satisfaction with it. To
her ineXpresSible amaZement Nine. Il AthiS
had been oppressed weighted down, humlll-
ated where she had expected to carry every
thing with high hand. Irma's beauty,
grace, dignity and aif of untutored loitiness
of character had astounded the Countess
Dowager. For the first time in her life this
lady Of noble lineage must needs confess
that nature had in some mysterious way ere
| ated a being and endowed her with qualities
which, as the world reasons, can only be
called into existence by the refining influ-
ences of long lines of noble ancestry and
centuries Of mental and spiritual cultivation.
The peasants daughter, with the single
exception of book knowledge, had all that
Aurelie de Seychelles possessed. This fact
cut the Countess Dowager to the quick. 1t
weakened her case. 1t almost made her
tremble when she thought of facing her
Son-as soon she must-With the report of
her interview with 1rma Sale, and with the
announcement that there was nothing now
to prevent an immediate solemnization of
the nuptals of Count Charles and Aurelie
de Seychelles.
At any rate, the Countess Dowager real
lied the necessity Of speedy action in the
matter. Accompanied by Mile. de Sey-
chelles, she at once returned to Paris and
had the satisfaction of learning that Count
Charles was once more at his desk appa-
rently repossessed of that physical calmneSs
and mental equanimity so Characteristic of
him. After a consultation with Aureie,
Nine. d'AthiS resolved to leave the post to
himself for day or SO, contenting herself
with few delicate attentions and taking
good care that Aurelie's hand should be APP
parent in everything that was done.
NOuUJ SHulltS Wdo VIC ulo W dCt n
note from him to his mother carried joy to
that anxious heart. Hastily summonng
Aurelie, Nine. d'Athis handed her the poets
epistle, which read as follows:
Dear Mother: Pardon me thar ask you and
Mile de Seychelles 10 come 10 me. My physi.
clan has forbidden me to leave the house. Yours
in all love and respect, CHARLES.
"Amelie. my darling" cried the Countess
Dowager, throwing her arms around the
young girls neck and kissing her tenderly,
there are glad tidings. He surTenders at
last. Oh, my daughter, how long and how
eagerly have yearned for this happy mo-
ment'
And yet, some way or other, Nine. dAthis'
heart made a painful halt as she crossed the
threshold of her sons apartments.
But the poets sunshiny smile dissipated
all her apprehension. for after Count Charles
had spoken, few tender words to her he
turned and greeted Mademoiselle de
Seychelles with frank cordially.
Mother" he began in low, almost sol
emn, tone of voice, Il have always striven
to keep steadily in mind the debt which
owe you, dect uDpayaole at best, but a
debt to which your inexbaustible tender
ness has made such constant addition that
it seems to me l ought through merest graft
tude to have no wish, no thought. in conflict
with yours"
Nine d'Athis' lips parted.
'But mother the time has come when our
WiliS Huot pau COtHpduls dY uluic, pei udpo
our hearts must fall apart too. L do not
love. l never have loved this fair and ae-
complished maiden"
"Merciful heaven, my son." calculated
Nine. d'Athis, you do not mean"
Mean, mother, Continued Count Charles,
raising his voice and looking Nine d'Athis
full in the face, that Irma Sale is my
wife,"
"Oh, my son. my son." sob bed the Coun-
tess Dowager.
And mother and Mile. de Seychelles -
added the poet, pushing open door and
conducting Irma and little Robert toward
them, when you both have learned to know
how much Countess Irma is worthy Of your
affection L am confident you will not with
hold it from her."
Grandma, are you angry with me?" in
quired little Robert still clinging to his
mothers hand.
But before the Countess Dowager could
reply lrma had taken a step forward and
was about to throw herself upon her knees.
But strong hand stayed her.
"Nay, lrma," exclaimed Charles his
ewes nglOM with SUPPRESSED indignatinn