The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-19
my SCI etary. You win find cash and
title dads all safe


II thank you, Clotilde, for your COM
misseretion, but | cannot accept it at
your hands.
$50 having broken your faith, you
wish now to play the magnanimousw
Remember that have been defeated.
am punished enough"
THAT is 50. 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 atioat!
"You were inflexjhle."
MY dignity was at stake, sir"
"Say your pride.
YES. snd my hate. lcould not forgive
you for giving me a rival.
"A rivall | have told You hundred
times now it was You We're of in the
country. nursing your mother Yoa had
all the children, and there | was alone
in Paris for months. with nothing 70 DO
and bored q death Then the oppov-
tuniiy came.
However. enough cs this. | shall
say nothing further than is necessary,
and hope you viii spare me any more
recriminations But promise me that
you will not try 10 ALLEVIATE the children
from me- for ana still their father"
Il promise.
Every we'll | have only TO bid good
by, You have Judged me strictly aud
have given me blow for blow can't
complain. for tie law is on your side
"Will you call the children and let me
kiss them before | goy'
Are yon goias away she exclaimed,
in alarm, clinging 70 him.
The cognt faced about and saw
Yvonue sleeping heavily in her mothers
arms tie drew her close to him and
gently kissed her
ayes, he answered. Il am going on
iourney--a 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. lie brushed by the
countess gathered up his books and ex-
ercses 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, Gaetang" asked
the countess. Ibid | not tell you that
your father was in hastey'
Gaetan Strengthened himself up and
turned toward his mother, saying, in
tone Of resolute defiance, II 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; do not love you. |
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 his 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,
"Who 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
valise and came back. The door OF
the room was open and got behind the
screen. And when | heard mamma
scolding you and found that she had
taken her keys, made up my mind not
to love 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 il
telling the truth. He will return in
few days"
"Why do you say that, mamma?
heard father say he would never return,
even to come and nee us. Besides. WON
ne warned us. She has often caught
papa crying in his study
"Ah,' said the countess. you weptl
Why did you hide that and let me think
you wrapped in your proud insensibil
ityY
Because You would have laughed at
my distress. and would not give you
the pleasure of seeing my tears"
| Both parents were now kneeling by
the side of their boy and the countess
was gazing into her husbands eyes as
though she would read his very soul
"You see very well that must go
with him. said the boy. "You will
have Christine and Yvonne. and it is
not fair to leave him alone
$50 you refuse to stay with me-" said
the countess.
eyes, because you are so mean"
"And suppose | give the keys back to
your father and make him stay herey
"Oh, my dear, good mammal
The boy had passed one arm around
his mothers neck. his other one being
! II II L 4 I