The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-02-27


This day did not come. Instead, he
paid them farewell visit, during
which he reiterated an expression of
his love for Jeanne, and that his dear
est wish was to marry her; but, after
careful thought and reflection, he did
not dare. He had no fortune; Jeanne
had not SOU of dowry. To mate their
respective poverty was preparing a
very uncertain future. He, Julien,
was offered a very good position, for
immediate acceptance, as superintend-
ent OF an undertaking in South Amer
lea. He was going-perhaps in few
years he would return with fortune.
Then, il Jeanne was still free, and her
feelings had not changed, he would be
happy to claim her hand.
Jeanne and Mile. DeVernol inter-
preted these words as final rupture.
Julien took his departure. She who
had thought herself his fiancee shed
many bitter tears. Our first disillusion
is cruel, the ruin of our first hopes.
Brigannes reappeared on the scene,
more affectionatc than ever. He con-
soled her to the best Of his ability.
Had Devicq truly loved you,
Jeanne" he said, she would not have
been so calculating. He would have
married you without money, finding
you rich enough in beauty and virtue"
The girl did not answer, but shook
her head sadly. Little by little her
tears were dried, the wound was
healed. One night her old cousin
after having had a visit from Brigannes,
in the course of which they had been
closeted for quite a long time, said to
Jeanne:
"How do you like Mr. Brigannes?'
''He is good friend,' answered the
girl
"Yes; but as man, how does he inn
press you?"
"Well, he is not young. and he is not
handsome. Why do you ask me?"
20, nothingn'
On the morrow Brigannes returned
to Mile. DeVernol, and again had
private conference with her, from
which he emerged looking broken
hearted. Again his visits became few
and far between, and when he came he
spoke little, and seemed more melan-
choly than ever. Soon he ceased going
to his friends altogether. and they
soon learned that he was very
ill, so i'll that the doctors expressed
great anxiety. subtle disease,
whose ravages they could not stay,
had taken hold of him.
One morning Mile. D,Vernol was
sent for by Mr.. Brigannes. She went
alone to the old bachelor. On her re-
turn she said to Jeanne:
"Jeanne, our friend Briganpes has
but short time to live; the physicians
have unanimously condemned him. He
has commissioned me to ask you if you
will marry him on his deathbed. Con-
sent, and in few weeks you will be
free and wealthy. 1t is with the OBJ
iect of leaving you his fortune that
Brigannes wishes you to become his
wife. Besides, by accepting you cheer
and sweeten his last mou,ents, for he
has long loved you."
Jeanne reflected few moments:
then she said: II accept"
She saw in the proposed union the
means OF insuring happy and com
Portable old age to her cousin; perhaps,
unconsciously, she also held another
thought Some days later Jeanne be-
came Nine. Brigannes, was installed
at her husbands bedside, and began to
fight the dread visitant A sudden i'm
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
brlgannes' 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-
lstence. Jeanne perfectly understood
his delicacy of feeling, and responded
to it by increased care. She unwearied-
ly watched over his health, she even
persuaded him to consult a specialist
on nervous diseases, thanks to whom,
the facial contraction from which he
suffered was sensibly diminished. In
short, she surrounded him with a filial
affection and tenderness.
Could Brigannes expect more? Could
he expect wifely love from a Young
girl married under such circumstances?
Certainly not; and, STILL sometimes, he
felt restless, uneasy. 1t was when he
had seen shadow on Jeanne's face,
little sadness in her beautiful eyes. He
would then ask himself what regret
could haunt her, and tremble lest he
might divine it.
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 assshe gazed at well-known
face. O.
rs not that young man Mr.. Julien
Devicq?" she asked her hostess,
Yes" was the response, '.he is an
engineer. He has just returned from
America, where he made large for