The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-06-09

"Hush. dear childT' Madame Leroux
! spoke soOthingly; de not excite your
self. You will soon get TO like Mon.
sieur Deyrient. You have been away
more than . week, and your father has
taken yo1r silence for consent; II you
meant him to decline this gentleman's
offer you should have written At once
my father is--- Madelaine began
vehemently, then she looked angrily at
Madame Leroux. why did not my
father tell me all this before he brought
me away from Caudebecl IshOuld have
refused to come with him
Madame Leroux rose from her chair
Il was afraid you would not be rea-
sonAble. MAdelaine, and that was why
looked serious Have patience. dear
child; yOu viii think differently by and
by. Why do You not trust your father
with your happiness? He has always
been good to you. Rm sure II. when
you have seen Monsieur Devrient. you
still say you cannot be happy with him
your father will leave you free
81 will go and speak to my father NJ
once" MAdelaine said quickly Il saw
4 Monsieur DeVrteut the day ! left home
a. he was going from the house; he ia too
old for me-"
THAT was the father OF Monsieur
Devrient Be reasonable, Madelajne.
you cannot SEQ your father: he has gone
/ ont. We are tn dine at five. remember.
and now must go out to buy fruit and
fOwerS YOn will End that have had
yOur white frock freshly trimmed for
this evening"
She went away without waiting 'G7
an answer. and Nadslaine was glad to
be alone. She was too angry ~ be IN
happy; her fathers treatment Of her
seemed to her too tyrannical for belief.
and 1t was wholly unlike him. She was
not angry with Madame Leroux; she
knew that 80 devoted wife would think
It her duty to side with her husband
MAdelaine wondered for a moment
whether her fathers talk with Aunt
Virginie hal decided him to take this
imperative course: but no, this dinner
had evidently been arranged before her
father came to Caudebec.
She sat. lost In sad thought. till II was
almost Tins TO dress: she had not moved
even to look at the freshly trimmed
frOck" which was doubtless hanging In
her wardrobe; she thought Of It once
with feeling Of disgust. II would
much rather make myself look ugly !"
she said.
Suppose, after all, she should find her
self unable to dislike Monsieur Dew .ent
What would happenP Could she lind
courage 10 say TO her father that she
could not marry this gentleman because
she was always thinking Of some one
else?
She hid her hot face In her hands
Even " she could say this It would not
abe thought. be accepted as a reason, for
she could not plead that Monsieur Heuri
cared for her. She would simply dis
grace herself II she confessed how easily
she had been won to think constantly Of
man who had parted from her almost
as though she had been 4 uere Rcquaint-
Rnce.
Heavy footsteps outside her door ronSed
her to decide on her conduct. Her step
mother had sent Victoire to warn her
that 1t was time to dress. and the maid
stRid to help her.
victoirs held ont the frOck to be al.
miretl, and MAdslaine saw that II was
charming, but she pushed II aside and
told Victoire abe did not want to talk
An idea had come TO her which she con.
Sidrred an inS. iration.
She would try, when she saw her IA
ther. to convince him that she was un
willing to marry Monsieur Devrient. and
she thought II she disliked this gentle
man all might so smoothly, but Aome
thing warned MAdelaine that her step
mothers kindness and truth had never
yet failed, and she could not forget the
glowing terms In which Madame Leroux
had described the proposed hance. But
she was determined not to marry him.
that could never be- She knew that
there WIS an early train to YvetOt. and
tomorrow. long before her father and
mother were stirring. she should be safe
with Aunt VirEnie. and she should re
fuse to come home until her father
promised to leave her In peace on the
subject Of Monsieur DeVrient.
While she was dressing Madelaine had
become impatient for the interview with
her father.
Things always seem worse at n dis
tance," she thought as she went down
stairA. She met Madame Leroux in
the entrance hall, and she slipped her
hand under her stepmother's arm.
lyon are coming with me; ! am so
glad"
your father is not In the drawing
ronm. child. One Of our visitors has come
very early, 80 we must 60 in and receive
him."
MRdelaine's hand was on the lock
and she opened the door and went IN
She did not notice that Madame Lrroux
had stopped to speak to Vict0ire. she
stood still, too much surprised to move
forward. Monsieur Henri was In the
room, facing her; he looked as bright
and happy as possible He took both
her hands in hls and drew her IN chair.
In her intense surprise 1t did not Ocrur
" MHdrIaine that there was anything
unusual In his doing so,
'Bnt how-whAtT She heRitated; she
saw be was dressed for dinner. hs was
evidently an invited guest
You are surprised TO see me here; I
have the pleasure Of knowing your
father" he Raid. nnd then Madame a.