The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-19
MADELAINE LEROUX,
BY KATHARINE S. MACQUoD.
II-CoNTrSUED

lect and tried to forget it.
On that first morning she had begun to
lecture her aunt as soon as NJ. Henri went
away; and then Nine. Chanmelle had
stopped her. and had made most touching
confession. She told Madelaine, in simple
pathetic words the lOve-story of her youth
"a story which, till now, her niece had
never suspected. Madelaine had, indeed,
twingeS of rem0rse as she listened to the
tender little narrative: till now dear Old
Aunt Virginie had seemed too unattractlye
to be the heroine of such q romance. The
girl listened with full sympathy she had
never felt so much interested. 1t was plain
to her that Aunt Virgrie's betrothed had
been hero; it was very, very sad that
death had stepped in to part such pair of
lovers.
The girl wondered, while she listened,
whether special qualities belonged to special
features, and whether NJ. Henri, who, ac-
cording to Mile. Chaumele, was the living
portrait of her dead Maurice, possessed his
heroic nature.
Since that first day it had been difficult for
either aunt or niece to think of any one but
NJ. Henri, he had taken such complete pos
session of them both. He came TO see them
every evening, and before he left them he
planned some delightful expedition for the
next day.
One morning he persuaded them to drive
to Jumleges, and they had dined at the little
inn there, and driven home in the dusk be-
side the river. Another day they went in
the Seine steamer to Havre, and visited
TrOuville. To-day they were embarked on
Il much longer journey.
They had driven over early to LillebOnne;
and after seeing its lions they were bound
for Tancaryllle, q pretty little village with
an oil castle beside the Seine. NJ. Henri
had assured them they could lodge at Tan
carville, AS the days were nov 10 short for
them to return to Caudebec the same even
ing Madelaine thought the plan delightful.
1t seemed 10 her like some happy fairy tale.
When they were leaving LileUonne Mile.
Chaumelle had greatly surprised Nj. Henri.
81 Do you mind exchanging places with
me, monsieur? | will sit beside the driver,
said the old lady; " l shall get better view
of the country
Madelane felt pleased: she had grown
tired of her role of listener. Since that first
day NJ. Henri had talked exclusively to her
aunt answering any remark of her own as
briefly as possible. Madeaine thought he
was unforgIying, but, then she felt sure she
had been rude; she was glad of this chance
VI showing tnat she knew how to behave.
Nj, Henri looked as If he also liked the
Change as he seated himself beside her, and
W
happy to-day that everything pleased her.
" Is it a long drive to Iancarville?" she
asked.
About the same distance we came this
morning; but YOU will find it pleasanter,
think; the country is so much prettier"
" 1t viii be about the last drive We shall
have" she sad. - must soon 80 back to
Rouen."
He looked at her very earnestly.
suppose you VIII he glad to go home,
will you nOt?"
Madelaine thought he said this little
sadly
"Glad?-oh dear, no. am 50 fond of be-
ing at Caudebec with my aunt Besides"
She hesltated, and there came a pause of
Silencs
DO you mean," he said presently, that
you are happier here than you would be at
ROuen?"
Madelaine gave an impulsive sign She
lOnged to tel her trouble to Monsieur Henri
In these four days spent together She had
seen as much OF him as She would have seen
IN much longer series of occasional visits;
she liked him very much, though lie did not
seem to care about her, ana she was sure
that he might be trusted.
He looked at her Inquiringly, but, except
by her sigh, she did not answer him.
That was heavy sigh, he said at last;
lit sounded as If some trouble were waiting
for you at Rouen"
Madelaine darted swift glance at him,
and she saw that he was smiling.
Eou say that as a joke" she said" Sup
pose it happens to be real earnest? Suppose
there is trOuble-something horrible wait
ing for me when l 90 back to R0uen?"
There was such pathetic reprOach in her
dark eyes that NJ. Henri looked grave at
once
y am so sorry" he said; and Madelaine
thought how fall Of sympathy his voice was.
Il Wish knew the nature OF this 'horrid'
thing DpPluSn | nj npTlanS h. a aia tO
help you"
Thank you ever so much"
Sue gave him grateful g.ance, and VI.
Henri thought he had never seen her look
SO sweet; TIL to-day he had had so little
talk with her, and 1t was when she talked
that Madelaine's face became expressive
and sweet. Every moment he grew more
fascinated with his companion.
will you not tell me?" he said.
81 should like to tell you"-she looked
frankly at him, then her voice faltered and
her eyes fell under his, but am afraid /
must not, because it is not quite my own
trouble-it belongs also TO my parents"
Il wonder how old you are" he said.
You look very young to be SO discreet"
Madelaine laughed.
81 am 80; but monsieur, I think that a
girl much younger than | am knows when 10
speak and when TO hold her tongue
He laughed.
Yon must pardon my indiscreet re-
MARI" he said
why did Monsieur Henri laugh ?" Made
laine asked herself. She was not vexed
with him, but she could not help wondering
what lie could ind to laugh at in her words
lie was silent after this and She too, had
lost her wish to talk; it was new and de-
lghtful feeling TO have him there beside her.
She did not care how long the journey might
prove; she was not in hurry to reach Tan
carville; this drive was pleasant enough to
60 on forever.
Meantime Aunt Virginie had become very
tired Of the b0x-seat The driver was so
deal That she soon gave up any attempt at
conversation with him, and, though the
country was pretty, the succession Of green
helds and trees, with an occasional bit of
blue distance, had become monotouous. All
| at once she broke into the delicious silence
| of her fellow travellers:
Il saw five marked on the last stone "
she said. DO you think, monsieur, We arc
| still five kilometers from Tancarville ?'
| About that, | should say" then he Gale d
to the driver TO stop. Your aunt must %
| tired Of sitting up there" he said to Made
| laine. Il had better take her place"
Mile. Chaumelle protested a little, but she
| allowed herself to be helped down, and
| placed by the side of her niece; it was really
great relief to her to tiud herself once more
in her proper place. 1t had seemed to her
only kind and natural to give NJ. Henri the
| chance of talking to the bright youup girl
/,
but, while she sat there in silence, it had oc-
| CURED to Mile. Chaumelle that, although NJ.
| Henri evidently admired her niece he had
not spoken to her on the subiect.
and her brother and sister = in law
might justly blame her for giving him this
| opportunity with their daughter, when per
haps he was not, in their eyes, a suitable
husband for Madelaine, even If he had seri-
| Gus intentions regarding the girl.
Mile. Chaumeile felt far more pleased al
| tue change OF seats than her niece did; now
| that the chance was suatched from her.
Madelaine remembered ever 80 many things
! she would have liked to talk TO NJ Henri
| about; perhaps they might not be left to-
getler again; and though Aunt Virginie
was 50 nice, it was different to talk before a
third person, the girl thought. The sum-
mons home might come any day, and Mad
| elaine knew that ii would probably come in
the shape Of her father, who would arrive
without giving any previous notice. and ask
| her to pack up and return to Rouen with
! him. Life was not as happy as it had
seemed in the morning; the remembrance OF
that deferred consultation with Aunt Vir-
| ginie, and Of her father probable insistence
| had dpsfrOVi1 Tho ulamor of hpr fairy ia la