The morning call., 1891-02-21

Surely you remember that l said | did not
want husband; and then you advised me
not to decide hastily, and l asked to 90 10
Caudebec. l have never said L was willing
to marry Nj. Devrient; l cannot, l will not,
marry him."
Hush, dear child" Nine. Leroux spoke
soothingiy; do not excite yourself. You
will soon get to like NJ Devrient. You have
been away more than a week, and your
father has taken your silence for consent a;
If you meant him to decline this gentleman 5
offer, you should have written at once"
MY father is" Madeiane began vehem-
emily, then sue looked angTily at Nine. Lee
roux. why did not my father tell me all
this before be brought me away from Caude-
bee? L should have refused TO come with
him."
Nine. Leroux rose from her chair.
II was afraid you would not be reason
able, Madelaine, aud that was why looked
serious. Have patience, dear child; you will
think differently by and by Why do you
not trust your father with your happiness?
lie has always been good TO You. l am sure
| if, when you have seen NJ. Devricnt you
| still say you cannot be happy with him, your
| father will leave you free"
Il Will 20 aud speak TO my father at
| once Madelaine said, quickly. II saw NJ.
Deyrient, the day | lett home, as he was
going from the house he is too old for me. "
That WAS the father of Monsieur Dew
rlent. BE reasonable, Madelalne; you can
not see your father; lie his gone out. We
are to dine at D, remember; ard now l must
go out TO buy fruit and flowers. You will
ind that | have had your white frock fresh
ly trimmed for this evening""
| She went away without waiting for an
| answer, and Made.aine was glad to be alone
| She was too angry to be unhappy; her fa-
| theirs treatment of her seemed to her to be
| too tyrrannical for belief, and it was wholly
| unlike him. She was not angry with Nine.
LerOux; she knew that SO devoted wife
| la l. lid Ia
band. Madeaine wondered for moment
| whether her fathers talk with Aunt VIr-
| ginie had decided him to take this iEpera-
| tive course; but no, this dinner had evident
| y been arranged before her father CAME to
| Caudebec.
She sat lost in sad thought till it was al
| most time to dress; she had not moved, even
| to look at the freshly trimmed frock, -
| which was doubtless hanging in her ward
| robe. She thought of it once with feeling
| OF disgust. II would much rather make
myself look ugly" she said.
| Suppose. after all, she should find herself
| unable to dislike Monsieur DevrieEt; what
| would happen? Could she find courage to
say to her father that she could not marry
| THIS gentlemen because she was always
| thinking OF some one else?
She hid her hot face in her hands; even if
| she could say this, 1t would not, she thought,
| be accepted as reason; for she could nos
| plead that Monsieur Henri cared for her
| She would simply diSgrac e herself if she
confessed how easily she had been won to
| think constantly OF man who had parted
| from her almost us though she hau been a
| mere acquaintance.
| Heavy footsteps outside her door reused
| her to decide on her conduct. Her step
mother had sent Victoire TO warn her tuat
| 1t was time to dress, and the maid stayed to
| help her.
| Victoire held out the frock to be admired.
| and Madal aine saw that it Was charming
but she pushed it aside and told Victoire she
| dld not want TO talk; an idea had come to
| her which she considered an inspiration.
She would try, when she saw her father,
| to convince him that she was unwilling to
marry Nj. Deyricnt, and she thought il she
| dlsliked this gentleman all might 90 smooth
! ~, but something warned Madelaine that
| her stepmother's kindness aud truth had
never yet failed, aud she could not forget
| the glowing terms in which Nine. Leroux
had described the proposed fiance. But she
| was determined not to marry him; that
| could never be. She knew there was all
| early train to Yvetot, and tomorrow, long
| before her father and mother were stirring,
| she.shOuid be safe with Aunt Virginle, and
| she should refuse to come home until her
father promised to leave her in peace ON the
subject Of NJ. Devrient.
| While she was dressing, Madelaine had
I become impatient for the interview with her
| father.
Things always seem worse at dis
| lance, she thought, as she wen. downstairs.
She met Nine. Leroux in the entrance hall,
ana she slipped her hand uader her STEP
mothers arm.
You are coming with me; / am so glad"
| our iather IS not in the drawing-ro0m,
| chlld. One OF our visitors has come very
| early, go we must 90 in aud receive him."
MadelaiDe's hand was on the lock. and
she opened the door and went in. She did
| not notice That Mime. Leroux had stopped