The morning call., 1891-09-03
A DREAM OF. HAPPINESS


pretty with her blue eyes, her fair face, her
blonde hair.
. In allow voice they spoke, evoking the
passing of that threshold on the morrow
which would. make OF their child woman,
and in remembering thus grand emotion
which made their voices tTemble.
Z. TRemofherof Yvoune, a widow for many
years, and. her sister, Aunt Hortense,"
tile most adorable of old maids, had passed
:; sixteen wears in ecstatic devotion before the
little blonde flower their sole love. They
had fondled, pampered, spoiled her to their
hearts desire,
:: All three, during these sixteen years, had
dwelt together in the pretty villa which the
child Quilted on the morrow. This VlLla
= their universe, had it not known OF all their
. pleasures and all their pains? How could
they hope to be consOed for the absence oil
Yvonne?
. =. TO the sorrow from the seyering of this
loving bondage was given in compensation
joy-at knowing their Yvonne happy. She
loved and.one loved her; thefuture appeared
: wAthGut a; cloud. Aunt Hertense was
aroused: she talked without 1ntermlSSlon,
and her sister, as she was carried onward by
memories, gave an occasional reply. But
ten o'clock sounded; this aWoke her.
.-=- ."COne, my dear Yvonne" cried ner aunt
''we must rsronduct Paul to the gate, after
= which to bed. 1t is necessary Tor you TO De
fresh aud r"Sy to-mOrrow
At the entrance TO the villa Paul took his
"To.morrow you will be my Yyonne,"'
said he, embracing the young girl, anu
= afteTWard forever.
In the distance il o'clock family sounded
. Yyunue was at her window. Siumber had
fled, and she preferred in this deep silence
to dream Of her aspratOnS-ot her love.
Around her all was peaceful. The leaves
did not rustic, the flowers were closed; they
slept. The little lake was like mirror OF
silver and the twinklIEg stars appeared to
Contemplate tendery the young girl.
- Her Teverie was SO FAR prolonged that the
moon had set, the stars departed one by
one. the sky paing towards the east, till liz
tie By little a band Of Ike color extended
all along the horizon And the dawn was
born.
IAN example" murmured Yyonne. smil- |
ing This is what Is called watch-night.'
In haste she crept to he'd.
- .'Dh I'll is very bsd, she added TO her |
self, ,as she shiyrred under the cover "One |
would said that l had a veil over my face;
l cannot See anything; l have taken cold.
The air is fresh this morning, and auntle |
: has always guarded me while sleeping by
, having the windows closed. Ii she knew
that / had done the contrary, she would
scOd not lIttle."
- And. sneezing, she fell asleep.
Ats o'clock in. the morning, as there was
tno-souqd Of one 'astir in Yyonne's room, the !
two mothers decided to awaken her.
"S!uggard, size sleeps still" they said en-
teriug the chamber.
.Atthe SOUND the young girl stirred
''SlQggdTdi" murmuTed she, vet sleeping. |
as it iafe, aunrie2 1 did not know it was
- NO. dayW the two women exclaimed,
laughing, "and the sun SO bright. Look at I
E. IT,"
."But auntie." said Yyanne With pout,
onen-vide ber blue eyes, Il DO not see any |
thing al all.
!: Madame de C0uIcey and her sister gave a |
cTy Of:dsmay. -, -
= tWhat, ycu see nothlng?" --...@.
They Leaned over the child. all in a
. .trenor, YYonne extended her arms,
p n touch YOU l feel you are here" said |
She i6utcannot see you"
: :'MeTCiiul heaven she is blind z -. -.
- The young girl raised herSeiESuddenly |
she diIated The lids Of her eyes and turned /
!. her glances about the chamber without per- |
.ceivlns aught In inezpressihle agony she.
cried - -:-!':
s.'B md II shall never see Paul anyamore!'
OPPRESSED, terrified, crushed, :" a. long:l
silence ensued. Nine de .Courcey=Yas.the- +
=, first TO recover speech. -: ~
=. How said she, sis it possible for one
to become. blind al, at.once? Thismust bed
but temporary afhctOn.. The doctor GER. /
g. tainly viii quickly reassure u.s. -.
= Orders were immediately given, and a |
servant hurried away Tor the locaLphysi-':I
:. elan. F.. .-."z.:~:- : |
= q Meanwhile, at YvOune's bedside tie two |
guardians, overwhelmed with fear, concern I
trateG all their forces, all their courage. to-
appear almand keep their charge ignorant |
of Their terror. Il
They caressed her soothed her and I
: nearly persuaded themselves by the power
Of reassurng speeches that this was noth-
Ing, nothing at all. In an hour or two she
might see again. :. e:
. The doctor came. He examined carefully
the soft blue eyes. Then he said:
- q" Itls not serious, my little friend Some
lotions which Will quickly make will re-
store your sight as clear as ever, but you
must be patient. Your cure requires some
time. Thiswltl delay a.little your marriage"
4VOnne seized the hands OF the old man.
you promise me thatI shall see, that | !
:: shall not always be:bllnd?
-. =" Most certainly" stammered the poor
: man. Confused Have patience, dear; this
l. is not serious It is a. severe attack" be
said in II ilndertoue to the two women, who
" Listened in CONSERVATION" The cure will be
- Slow, difficult, impossible. perhaps l need
. not hide IL from you,' but she may be kept in
: ignorance. You have made her heart so
: tendet that If she knew she would die, my
poor friends"
- 'Now."' resumed the aunt, when the
doctor had departed, .we nave brok en-
hearts, but must appear gay"
!. What an awakening" said the mother
So much happiness: we had expected to-
: day" -.
=: While a servant was gone to inform Paul
what had happened. the two ladies remained
= by Y-Y0nne.:
. = Bewldered by the announcement ofthe
misfortune, Paul Volney bastened to- the
villa. YYoDHe was sleeping when he ar
rived. No.nne-had courage to awaken her
: Paul. blending over the couch, contemplated
fora long time:Ihe gentle face, so beautiful,
soPale, so sad. a struggle was going on ia
his heart. Finally he took tile hand of the
: young girl In parting, promising to return
=; Both the mother and the aunt doubted
: him. -.
- He does not love her well enough to wed
= Der now they said.
: : And sadly both sewed upon the white
? dress and the lace veil. They placed her
= with. her feet in her small slippers and her
= crown upon her head, in large chair. .
= Paul returned as he had promised. He
was grave. Softly he approached the
fauteui In which Yvonne with closed ewes.
was seated and kneelmg before her said:~.
=. !" My belOvedl My Yyonne, you would
:: know II love you Well, to-day, though
you are sad, III, love you more than ever
II swear to you 70 be. a good husband; VIII
you be my wife?" .-
T., The marriage took place fve-hours after
. this unexpected dehouement. Yyonne and
: Paul dwelt in the villa.
-. A year passed. There came a little in
: Ian1i a gltl, Blonde and roselike. who had
three mothers to adore her. :
:; Always hUDing for the cure of Yvonne.
the doctor aft rmed that it was but a dueS-
tion OF time. How long he could not saw.
':.:but hoped to make the Interval brief 1t was
always to-morToW.f
=. Oae day:near midsummer, under an arch
OF .hQneysuckle BLOSSOMS Yvonne Graded
= In her arms her pretty babe. Near by Paul
regarded her lovingly Nine. dc Coureey
aud the aunt were engaged in knitting little
stockings Of white wool for the dear one.
"She has pretty. ways" said the father,
suddenly. She MARBLES already like a. lit
tie lady. She is your portrait, my dear,
Your blonde hair, your eyes,"
YvOnne raised the baby TO her face, fixing
upon her eyes .bathed in joyfulness. Then;
IN voice that struggled with emotion, She
said:
I" Deceiyerl You know we'll that she has
dark ewes like yoursP