The record-union., 1891-05-03

tame an the GyDl91dSe IHe0ter an Paris, IS
taken from de MdupdSSdnt's sketch giUen
beGoaO.
After having sworn for many day
that he would never marry, Jacques
Bourdillere suddenly changed his mind.
This change had taken place unexpect-
edly one summer at the seashore.
One morning as he lay idly reclining
on the beach, watching the bathers COM
ing out of the water, his attention was at
tracted by little foot, pretty and grace
full as fairy's. Raising his eyes, he was
instantly and completely fascinated by
the form which met his gaze. He could
see, however, only the head and ankles
peeping out from the white flannel wrap
per which carefully concealed the bath
er's dainty outline.
He was considered sensualist and
debGUche, so it was quite likely that he
was captivated, in the first place, by the
exquisite beauty of her form, but he was
afterwards held by the charm of her gen
tie, glrlish nature-simple, pure and
fresh as her peach-like cheeks and ruby
lips.
Bourdillere lost no time in being pre-
scented to the family of Berthe Lannis,
and succeeded in producing a favorable
impression. His fancy soon developed
into the widest love, and whenever he
saw Berthe afar upon the long, yellow
beach, his whole being trembled with
emotion. At her side, he became abso-
Iuuely mute, incapable of either word or
thought, with a wild throbbing in his
heart and brain, and sound as of rush
ing waters in his ears. Was it love that
moved him thus?
be neither knew nor sought to analyZe
his feelings, but was resolved, come what
might, TO make that lovely girl his wife.
Her parents hesitated a long time be-
fore accepting the young man, held back
by his bad reputation He was credited
with being even then involved in
LtGiSon of long standing-one of those
chains which seemed TO be broken, but
which always bind. More than that he
was accused of having loved, for longer
or shorter period, all the women who had
come within range of his acquaintance.
But at the birth of this new and higher
love, Jacques reformed his ways, and
would not consent even TO see once more
the woman with whom he had dwelt so
long in guilt. One of his friends attended
to the question of the allowance by which
he assured the livelihood of his former
mistress. Jacques willingly paid all she
demanded, but would not hear her name
mentioned, and pretended thereafter to
be ignorant even of the existence of such
person. Every week there came to him
a letter on which he recognized the
crude writing of the forsaken woman,
but with each successive appeal a greater
repugnance to her took possession of him,
and he tore into fragments the envelope
and paper without opening it, without
reading single line of it, knowing full
well what complaints and reproaches
would be contained therein.
But, as little confidence was felt in his
perseverance, he was put on probation
during the whole winter, and it was not
until spring that his suit was formally
accepted. The marriage took place in
Paris in the early part of May.
1t was decided that he and his bride
would not make the stereotyped wedding
tour, but that, after a little party for their
young relatives, not lasting beyond
eleven O'Clock, so as not to prolong the IA
tlgue OF the trying, ceremonious day, the
young couple should pass the first night
of their marriage under the paternal roof,
and the following morning set off alone
for the beach so dear to their hearts-the
spot where they had first known and
loved each other.
The momentous night had come, and
the merry guests were dancing in the
large drawing-room. Jacques and his
bride had withdrawn to a little Japanese
boudoir, hung with brilliant silken cur
tains, and dimly lighted that evening by
the gIlmmering rays Of large colored
lantern. The open window admitted
breezes soft as q caress and laden with
the perfumes Of spring.
They sat holding each others hands,
pressing them from time to time without
speaking. She remained with dreamy
eyes, half affrighted by this great change
IN her life, but smiling agitated ready to
cry at times, and as ready to sWoon with
Joy-thinking that the entire world was
altered by what had happened TO her
uneasy, without knowing why, feeling
Nv
Unable happiness.
He kept looking at his bride unceas-
ingly, with a fixed smile, wishing to
speak, yet finding nothing to say. and
giving expression to all his ardor by
fervent pressure of the little hands that
lay IN his. From time to time he MUIR
INJURED, rapturously, "Berther' and each
time she raised her eyes with q gentle,
tender glance; but, after a moment. as if
penetrated and fascinated by the intensity
of his gaze, she let fall her snowy lids in
charming confusion.
They found no thought to interchanpn
but no one sought to disturb their seciu-
sion. At times a couple of the dancers.
passing by, cast a furtiYe glance uDon
them, as if they had been the discreet
and involuntary witnesses of mystery.
Suddenly a side-doOr opened. and a
servant entered bearing upon a tray a
pressing letter which messenger had
just brought Jacques took the envelope
with trembling hands, seized with q
vague and sudden dread-the mysterious
dread Of swift and unexpected misfor-
tune.
He gaZed for a long time at the enveloDe.
not recognizing the writing, yet not dar-
ing 10 open the sinister-lookinp missiye
lie had wild desire not to read it-not
TO know its contents-but to put it into
his pocket and say: Let it go till to-
morrow; Tomorrow I shall be far away.
w att ff,n,-t 81, ~
But the words every urgent" written
in large letters in one corner of the en-
velope, and heavily underlined. re-
strained and terrified him. So, with a
nasty Permit me, my love?'' to his
bride, he tore open the letter and read,
growing, CHASTITY pale as he glanced
rapidly down the page, and then seemed
20 spell 1t slowly, word by word
When he raised his head his face was
conYulsed with emotion. "Berthel
darling!' he stammered ''my-my best
friend has met with very serious acci-
dent. He needs me immediatelv-in-
stantly-for an affair of life or death :
" on will let me go for twenty minutes
/ will return at oncer'
Trembling and frightened, she faltered:
$50, my love-" not feeling that she had
been his wife long enough to question
him, or TO exercise her right to know his
affairs. So he disappeared, and she re-
manned alone, listening to the dancing in
the drawing room.
Jacques seized the first hat and over-
coat that he found, and ran precipitately
down the stairs, but as he was about to
rush into the street he stopped beneafh
the gas-jet in the vestibule and re-read
the letter. This is what it said:
Monsieur: a young woman named Ravet
your former mistress, has just given birth 10
a child OF which she claims you are the father
30 4 a AVraFNl