The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-20

ing MI was old enough. Pm sure" she
said in heart-broken tone, 81 am much
too young to marry man ever SO much
older than am.
II How ola is this is; proposed husband; and
He is NJ. Devrient. My mother said
he was about thirty; but l saw him
from the window the day left home, and l
am sure he looked more than fifty
My dear Madelaine, are you sure of
this? Aunt Virgiuie felt indignant with
her br0ther-in-law and his wife.
81 could not be mistaken. l saw this
gentleman come up the steps, and he
stayed long time with father in his study
then when had seen him 90 away, ask ed
Victoire who it was, and she said it W as
NJ. Devrient."
Il wish l had known; oh, how l wish 1t ~
Aunt Rlrginie broke out so penitently, that
her niece looked hard at her. She longed to
ask a question, and yet she shrank from
uttering 1t; she went on brushing her hair
in silence till she saw that her aunt was
ready to go to bed.
Goodnight, my dear child" her aunt
said
MadeIaine swiftly crossed the room and
put both arms round her.
-" No, Aunt Firginie. that is eowardly
You shall not go to bed till you have given
me your opinion; you know came to
! Caudebec on purpose to get it," Then she
| hid her hit face on her aunt's shoulder, and
known 1t you would have been less Hospital
bic than you have been lately?"
Mademoiselle moved her shoulder so that
| size might see her niece's face. And what
she saw did not reassure her. She kissed
Madelaine lovingly, and patted her shoulder.
| Courage, dear child, and try TO sleep"
| she said. The fault has been mine; |
| shall therefore tal1e the blame on my old
| shoulders. No, Madelane, for once you
must DO what l tell you; go to bed n ow,
Aunt Virginie could not sleep She had
seen that evening the parting between NJ.
Henri and her niece, and she felt sure
| that, as she expressed it, ths mischief was
| done. II l had only knowR!' she repeated
! 10 herself; but, after while, she reflected
| that this regret was tacit reproach to the
| creature Sue loved best in the world-her
| darling Madelaine. No, it was her own i'm
pulsivenesS that had done the mischief. If
| Madelaine had not seen so much of NJ
Henri, the child would no doubt have
gone home, and, after a time, would have
accepted the husband chosen for her by her
parents; now that would be impossible.
| What can do? L have just made life
miserable for her by my folly;" and she
| sobbed hers II to sleep long after Madelaine
had entered into Kaleidoscope dreams, in all
of which NJ. Henri figured.
Mile. Chaumelle eXerted herself to be
| cheerful at breakfast; but Madelainc
thought her aqnts manner to NJ.
| so much more polite and acrimonious.
He did not seem to notice the change. but
ne devoted himself almost entirely to Mile
| Chaumelle tIlllit was time to start homeWard.
he sky looked so dark and threatening that
| Aunt Nirglnie decided to have the carriage
| closed for the homeward journey, and, as
| there was only room for two inside, this pre-
| vented any talk with their escort. Aunt
| lIrginie told her niece that she had not
slept well, and should try to get a nap as
| they drove home. She was really planning
way out Of this terrible dilemma.
The only plan she could think of-and
| that seemed feasible one-wa3 to accom-
pany her niece to Rouen and to confess her
| fault to her brother-in-law. Surely if this
proposed husband had never seen Made
| laine, his offer could be declined, ana the
child might for the present he left free
an. Henri is evidently in a position to
marry; and surely they must wish for their
| chlld's happiness above all things"
When they reached Caudebec and found
letter from M. Leroux, saying that he should
come next morning to fetch his daughter.
Madelaine felt how true her forebodings
had been.
She was dlsmayed to hear her aunt say to
NJ. Henri, Goodnight. monsieur, and thank
you for all your kindness. Do not think
me inhosptabe if l say that we are en-
gagged this evening; but it is the truth"
Madeleine thought that NJ. Henri looked
mortified, and She tried to be extra friendly
Good-by." she said. "lt is really good
Dy Lhls time: am going home to-mO row"
"Good;;by He held her hand for a mo-
ment; but he spoke quite calmly, she
thought Some day or other l have
fancy that we shall meet again"
To be continued