Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-13

WIG. beSlueSs Dy aCC0pGlnR you cnOcr and sweeten his last moments. for he has long loved you" Jeanne reflected few moments: then she said: "I accept"
 She saw in the proposed union the | means of insuring a happy and com l fortable old age to her cousin; perhaps, unconsciously, she also held another | thought. Some days later Jeanne be- 1 came Mime. Brigannes, was installed at her husbands bedside, and began to | fight the dread visitant A sudden im- provement took place in the condition of the sick man, due as much to the great happiness he experienced through his union with Jeanne, which pro- claimed his heroically concealed love, as to her intelligent and devoted nurs- ing. There was something touching in Brigannes' attitude on his return to life and health. Full of attentions for his young wife, deferential even, he yielded to all her desires almost with humility. It seemed as though he were excusing himself for not having died, asking for pardon, as though he had behaved dishonorably in the matter of the unexpected prolongation of his ex- istence.
 One evening in society-for Brig annes went into society now. on his wife's account-Jeanne suddenly felt as though her heart stood still, and she paled as she gazed at a well-known face
 'Is not that young man MT. Julien Devicq?" she asked her hostess.
 ''Yes," was the response, The is an engineer. He has just returned from America, where he made large for tune. There is a marriage on the ta- pis for him with Mile. de Maules.".
 "Ah!
 Julien had seen her, however and came to speak to her.
 Do you know me?" said he.
 ''Why certainly!'
 Silence fell between them. Julien continued, in changed voice:
 II congratulate you on your mar riage to MT. Brigannes!"
 And l." said she, 'congratulate you, on your approaching union with Mile. de Maules."
 She could say no more; too many: re- membranes of the past stirred within her She became as white as her handkerchief, and lost consciousness. When she recovered, Julien had disap- peared; her husband was with her. She accounted for her faintness on the score of dizziness, and asked to be taken home. The return was silent The incident had not escaped Brig. annes He was thoughtful and somber.
 The next morning a letter was brought to Jeanne; she recognized Julien's handwriting, tore it open and read the following:
 My marriage with Mile. de Maulcs is not yet definitely settled. One word from you, and I will break it ot, resolved to wait till you be- come widow that may offer you my nama | Julien"
 The letterfell from her hands; at this moment Brigannes entered the room, saw her trembling, in tears. He re- mained motionless. sadly contempla- ting her. Pointing to the letter, she said to him: "Read!"
 He obeyed, then seemed to mediate deeply. Finally, he seated himself by his wife, took her hand in his, and said, gravely:
 My dear Jeanne, I am not blind to the disparity of our union. When I married you, I believed that, hardly a | wife, you would become a widow, and that your marriage would simply have changed your name and your position in life, without imposing on you 8 companion who was not meant for you. My plan has failed, but I will not be the cause of your unhappiness I saw what took place last evening; all night I pondered over our situation, and l