The morning call., 1890-07-13

entered with mad freedom upon the gratitica-
lion OF his passion for gaming. Entire days ana
nights Mathde's husband disappeared from
sight, unwilling even 10 break away from the
fascination of the card-room long enough TO join
her at meals. She had the melancholy satisfae-
tiOn of knowing that he was beneath his own
roof, however, thanks to the wild outbursts OF
merriment or the sounds OF mad carousing or
startling elamor of enraged voices, which alter
nately fell upon her ears, often breaking in upon
her troubled sleep and leaving her TO watch, III
the silence and loneliness Of her spacious but
cherries chamber until day dawned.
On one night in particular, continued losses
awakened De Courcils' worst passions. lntiamed
with drink and rage, he turned upon MS guests
with demOniac fury. and the chateau rang win
piteOus cries for help uttered by the terror
stricken servant Although the avoidance OF all
excitement had been strongly enJolned upon
Mahilde by her physlcian-fOr she was ABOUT 10
become a mother-yet deeming her husbands
life in danger she had hastily caught up taper
and da shed out OF her room. AT the loot OF the
great stairway, clad in neglgee OF white cash.
mere heavy with lace, Mathllde, with the light OF
the taper fun upon her pale but beautiful coun-
tenanoe came face TO face with a knot OF the
jewellers grouped ABOUT De Courclls, whom, over
come with drink, TWO lackeys were assisting TO
his room.
at sight of the slight girlish figure, capped with
| Its Psyche head, from which looked Two lus-
trous wide opened eyes in half inquiry, half in
dignatlon, the de bauehers shrunk away ike dogs
beneath a lash.
Turning 10 The two laekeys, who were support
| ing the almost lifeless form of her husband, the
daughter Of the CroiXluces waved her hand Tor
tain steps as they struggled up the stairway with
their burden, she followed in silence. The birth
| OF her child now gained for Mathde year OF
comparative quiet, not that De COurclls' abated
any of his efforts TO drink deeper, play higher,
ride fereer or hunt wilder than before, but the
care OF her child took her thoughts from her nus
! band and made existence In the bare and un-
| friendly chateau seem tritie less monolonous.
She was beginning TO think that after all she had
possibly been at times little too censorous when
| passing judgment in her own thoughts upon her
| husband-fOr she never put them into words
| and as her babe was strong and handsome her
| mothers heart took courage, and for the first
| time In many month her naturally sunny dis
| position broke out into ringing laughter upon
seeing the maiden aunt approach her infant son
| with huge ear-trumpet. For thirty years Mile.
| de COurclls had stoutly maintained that she was
| not deaf
But Mathide's joy was short lived. Vague
and uncertain at first, the rumorS OF DE Conrclls
| conduct we're followed up by crcumstantal ac-
| counts which closed all avenues OF doubt. 1t
| an accomplished fact. Mathilde was COM
| pletely prostrated The kind souls VINO just
| previous to her marriage had crammed her ears
| with much valuable information had told her
! that she must steel her heart even to this. The
| eternal song was rung with The same cEanges
| centuries old: