The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-23
d at last found for herself a WORTHY

had at last found for herself a worthy
mate.
The lady was sitting alone once in the
drawing-room, laying out grande-patience
when Bourmin entered the room, and at
once inquired for Maria.
she ls in the garden" replied the old
lady. .''go to her, and / will wait for you
here" Bourmin went, and the old lady
made the sign of the cross and thought,
Perhaps the affair will be settled to-dayp'
Bourmin found Maria in the %ivy-hower
beside the pond, with a book in her hands,
and wearing a white dress-a veriteble
heroine of romance. After the first in
qulries, Maria purposely let the CONVERSE
ton drop; increasing by these means the
mutual embarrassment, from which it was
only possible to escape by means of a sud-
den and positive declaration.
1t happened thus: Bourmin, feeling the
Maria that he had long sought ar opportu-
nifty of opening his heart to her, and that
he begged for a moments attention. Maria
closed the book and lowered her eyes, as a
sign that she was listening.
"llove you" said Bourmin,. II love you
~passionately!" Maria blushed, and bent
her head still lower.
81 have behaved im%prudently. yielding as
l have done to the seductive pleasure of SEQ
ing and hearing you daily" Maria recol-
lected the first letter of st. Preux in La
Nauvelle Heloise." 1T is too late now to
resist my fate. The remembrance of you,
your dear i~ncompara ole image, must from
to-day be at once the torment and the con.
ISOLATION OF my existence. l have now a
grave duty to perform, a terrible secret to
disclose. which will place between US an in
s~urmountable barrier"
cit has always existed! !" interrupted
Maria; II could never have been your
wife"
II know" he replied quickly; 81 know
that you once loved. But death and three
years of mourning may have worked some
change. Dear, kind Maria. do not t v to
deprive me of my last consolation; the idea
that you might have consented to make me
happy is g.. DOM speak. for Gods sake
don't speak-you torture me. Yes, l know,
] feel that you could have been mine, but
l am the most miserable of beings-I am
already married!'
Maria looked at him in astonishment.
II am married." continued Bourmin; II
have been married more than three years,
and do not know who my wife is, or where
she is, or whether l shall ever see her again."
What are You s%ayine?' exclaimed Maria;
"how strange! Pray ~continue.'
In the beginning of 1872" said Bourmin,
II was hurrying on to Wilma, where my
regiment was stationed. Arriving one even
ing late at a station l ordered the horses to
be got ready quickly, when suddenly a fear
full snow storm broke out. Both station
master and drivers advised me to wait till
1t was over. l listened to their advice, but
an unaccountable restiessness took possess
ion of me, just az though some one was
pushing ME on. Meanwhile the snow storm
did not abate. | could bear 1t no longer,
and again ordered the horses and started in
the midst of the storm. The driver took it
into his head to drive along the river, which
would shorten the distance by three miles.
The banks were covered with snow drifts;
the driver missed the turning which would
have brought US out on to the road, and we
turned up in an unknown place. The storm
never ceased. could discern a light and
told the driver to make for it. We entered
a village and found that the light proceeded
from a wooden church. The church was
open. Outside the ratings stood several
sledges and people were passing in and out
through the porch.
"'Here! here! cried several voices. l told
the coachman to drive up.
one to me. The bride has tainted; the
priest dpcs not know what to do; we were
on the point of going back. Make haste
and get out!
II got out of the sledge in silence, and
stepped into the church, which WAS dimly
lighted with two or three tapers. A girl
was sitting in a datk corner on a bench; an
other girl was rubbing her temples. Thank
God said the latter, you have come at last!
You have nearly been the death of tho
young lady
The old priest approached me, saying:
"'Sball ! beginS
"'Begin-begln. reverend father ! re-
piled, absently.
The young lady was raised up.
thought her rather pretty. oh, wild. un-
pardonable frivolitvl l placed myself Ivy