The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-10

my secretary. you Will ma cash anu
title deeds all safe"
"And how about yourself? How are
you to live? Though have been wronged
bear your name, and cannot permit
you to suffer"
81 thank you, Clotilde, for your COM
misseration, but | cannot accept it at
your hands.
$50 having broken your faith, you
wish now to play the magnanimous!"
Remember that have been defeated.
l am punished enough"
"That is so. But that punishment
weighs upon me. too, and more heavily
than you imagine. The sight of my
ruined home, the publicity of all and
the scandal afoat!"
"You were infexible."
"My dignity was at stake, sir"
"Say your pride"
"Yes, and my hate. could not forgive
you for giving me rival"
ga rival! have told you hundred
times how it was. You were off in the
country, nursing your mother You had
all the children, and there was alone
dElS lOl laOaOtlS, Will aOOiliLSo W. ~
and bored to death. Then the oppor-
tunity came.
"Howeyer. enough Of this. / shall
say nothing further than is necessary,
and hope you will spare me any more
determinations. But promise me that
you will not try to ALLEVIATE the children
from me, for am still their father"
81 promise"
Very well. have only to bid good
by. You have judged me strictly and
have given me blow for blow. can't
complain. for the law is on your side.
.Will you call the children and let me
kiss them before l go:
care you going away" she exclaimed
in alarm, clinging to him.
The count faced about and saw
Yvonne sleeping heavily in her mothers
arms. He drew her close to him and
gently kissed her.
Eyes," he answered. II am going on
a Journey rather long one-little girl,
but shall be back soon and find you
quite grown up"
AS the two little girls left the room
Gaetan rushed in. He brushed by the
countess, gathered up his books and ex-
ercises and hastily bundled them into
his satchel.
.Are you not going to kiss me?" asked
his father. Don't you know that am
going away?"
wait till get my things" he said.
Then he took the satchel and fastened
it on his fathers valise by the straps.
"What are you doing, Gaetan?" asked
your father was in haste"
Gaetan Strengthened himself up and
turned toward his mother, saying, in a
tone of resolute defiance, 81 must GER
tainly take my books, for | am going
with father!'
In vain the countess held out her arms
to him. He only cried still more vehe-
mently, mo, no; l do not love you. l
heard you driving papa away"
His father tried in turn to draw him
toward his mother, saying gently, ''My
boy, be reasonable; you are causing your
mother much pain"
But in the middle of his nervous fury
the boy suddenly sank to the floor and
lay at his length upon the carpet, crying
over and over again, 'Papa, papa, as
though bis heart would break.
The count. lifted him and placed him
in the great armchair, and his mother
in great agitation kneeled by his side.
But with violent movement Of his arm
the boy pushed her rudely away.
sWho could have told Gaetan such
stories?" asked the count
Nobody has told me anything" said
Gaetan through his tears. "They took
us in to dinner, but saw John packing
a valise and | came back. The door of
the room was open and got behind the
screen. And when l heard mamma
scolding you and found that she had
taken her keys, | made up my mind not
to lows her and to go away with you"
MY boy, you did very wrong to listen
and you did not understand what your
mother said. Be quiet and believe what
[ tell you. | have given her the keys
because am going away"
Come, my dear, my Gaetan, papa is
telling the truth. He will return in a
few days"
"Why do you say that. mamma? l
heard father say he would never return,
even to come and see us. Besides, WON
ne warned us. She has often caught
papa crying in his study"
HAh," said the countess. "You wept!
Why did you hide that and let me think
you wrapped in your proud insensibil-
ity:"
Because you would have laughed at
my distress, and / would not give you
+bo ,,1oaS,1re of seaino nv tears !"