Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-01
CHAPTER III.

The next morning Count Charles had disap-
peared. At break OF day, upon finding his
room unoccupied, the countess dowager had
almost with fear and trembling dispatched q
messenger to old Father saile's A sigh of
relief burst from her lips when word was re-
turned that Count Charles had not been at the
cottage since the evening before. A messenger
to Paris likewise failed to discover the where
| abouts of the poet. The countess dowager
stru ygled hard 70 satisfy herself that her sons
flight might with justice be accepted as q
favorable omen. Aurelie had not told her all.
That wretched girl scarcely knew herself what
had and what had not taken place on the ter
race. She only knew that for some reason
utterly incomprehsnsible to her, Count
Chsrles's breath, which for . blisstu instant
had famed her cheek like the perfumod ether
OF some philter, had suddenly filled tho air
with appalling objurgation, that the gentle
Orpheus, the sweet Persusder had in a wink Of
an eye been transformed into Apollo the
Driver, the irate god. and that she, poor luck
less, woebegone maiden, had been pitiessly
hurled from 1.-The Chariot Of Fire." and fallen
bleeding aud torn upon the dull and insensible
earth.
1t was terrible for AursIie, too terrible TO put
into formal speech, and hence the countess
dowager was strongly inclined to regard az
favorable the outcome of the fots, and she was
prone to rsprove Aureiie for her dependency
My sweet child" cried Nine. de Athis. II
thank you with all the fervepcy Of mothers
heart. You were heavenly as the prisstess Of
this demi-god Of ours. No wonder that he fol-
lowed you 50 willingly into the garden. No
wonder that his eyes chung to you with a look
| that would have burned into your very soul
could you have caught its full potency. Cheer
up, sweet Aurelie, all will yet be we'll. Charles
| absence is most fortunate for us; nay, it is .
divine interposition to save my poor boy. Now
that there Is no danger Of having him overhear
me intend to have an interview with-with-
the-the-pOachere daughter"
Aurelie gave a start and the blood ran back
ward in her heart until a touch of death
| seemed almost upon her cheek, SO GOLD it felt
to her own touch.
"Yes," continued the countess dowaser,
with smile IS full of meaning as it was of
crime, now is my opportunity and I'm going
to try the effect Of-of-gold upon her. All,
Aurelis, you don't know what q world this is
and Whist sort of people there are in il. Gold
| IS thor god. and that is tho divinity which
intend to invoke to save my SON! / shall sue
coed. too, never fear, Aurelie. You have acted
your part nobly, sweet child. Charles fees
from you because he loves you. l know men;
1t IL 9 sure sign of a surrender, this retreat.
She-she-the poacher's daughter knows this
too, and it makes her just so much cheaper
for me-just SO much cheaper for me, Aure-
he" added the countess dowager, with such a
Kissing sound Of long pent-up wrath escaping
from the heated chambers Of her Utmost heart
that Aurelie drew back horror stricken at the
go, my dear child to your ROOM" resumed
the countess dowager, checking Ter flood of
hatred and smiling on Aurelie as she kis.ed
her tenderly. go and write to Charles Put
your dear heart in words. Never fear he eX-
poets it. and use some of his sweetest lines in
so doing. I'll see you again upon my return
from the poachers cot, and, mark what 1
promise you, Aurelie, I'll bring you good
news"
Irma Sale had never come face to face with
Cha had
heard the voice of the poets mother as that
lady poured out her love for little Robert as
only can be done by woman in whom the
maternal instinct amounts almost to a passion,
and In listening to the delicate modulations Of
that carefully trained organ, for madame the
countess dowager had been lady Of honor and
favorite reader to Queen Maria Amelia. Irma
had with the simplicity OF the child of nature
pictured the poets mother to be grandly and
gloriously beautiful and sympathetic being
Of another world, rich in that sweet and placid
expression of a genuinely aristocratic face
when framed and softened by wealth of white
hair as line and silky as spun glass.
The countess came upon 1rma unanncunced.
Old Father Sale and his daughter were sitting
in the shade of the vines which ciamberei
over the cottage roof, he smoking his pipe with
that half-solemn demeanor 80 characteristic of
old people, the best of whose hearts seem dying
away in the distance; she busy repairing a tiny
garment belonging to little Robert, who was
his brood Of duck lings as not to note his grand
mothers arrival Father Sale was the first to
perceive the countess dowagsr's approach, for
Irma's eyes. though apparently fixed upon her
work, were really closed to the world about
her. The old peasant made haste to wipe the
dust from q chair and invite madame the
countess" to be seated.
lrma sprang up and uttered an involuntary
ali! but in another instant she had recovered
her composure and bent her tall, statuesque
fIrx,rra tbatx ha,,N
powers OF the former reader to Queen Maria
Amelia even in her palmiest days. For brief
moment the eyes of the two women met full
and fair. They were both stricken with won
der, the countess dovager to find herself con-
fronted by woman of rare and almost start
ling beauty, but what was still more unex-
pected by woman of such noble bearing and
goddess-lke dignity; Irma to discover that her
ideal was far, far above the actual, that the
poets mother, while she had much of the
stately elegance of the great lady. yet behind
1t all and shmmering through this mask of
sweet and noble condescension there was a
hard and carved expression. sharpness of
line that meant unyielding purpose and in
domitable will.
1t was, in reality, work Of supererogation
on Nine. dAthis part to proceed to put into
words what lay SO heavily upon her heart.
With the instinct of the child of nature, Irma
knew it all. 1t had rung in her ears for long
and weary months, had come to her sleeping
ana WAKING anu Win QenClsn cruelty had taken
ON new emphasis and additional soemnity OF
every coming. But one thought had busted
her weary mind of late and that was how
shall bear it when it does Gomez"
At last the moment had arrived when this
fearful question was to receive answer.
Observation-Disclosures be-
gan the countess dowager, coloring deeply, for
lrma's large dark eyes were riveted upon her
with q power that seemed as if it might dis
solve the thin she'll enveloping her thoughts
and lay them bare in merciless show to the
whole world, my errand here today is a sad
one. As God Id my witness come to you only
because a sacred duty commands it, a duty
from which there Is no escape for me, and to
neglect which would sink me into well-merited
infainy. No matter how it may wound you it
must speak; nay, must, if need be, entreat,
implore on Bonded knee. You love my son and
he loves you, but mademoiselle, gave him
be worse than death. Forgive me il / speak
and we are part Of it, and must be governed by
good cheer. What ask at your hands is an
like honeyed balm upon your wounded heart.
You WILL ere many months have passed. thank
heaven that came to you as do now and ask
you to let go your hold upon my poor boy
Give him back to me, mademoiselle. You are
| SO beautiful be as good as you seem to be
able to be. Pardon Q mothers love for such q
twice-ennobled son by birth and genius. / read
your answer in your beautiful face. You say
yes. You consent Gods blessing on you'll
Gods blessing on you!"
Tina IL ia that Irma'a had fall Sorvard In