Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-03

! weighs upon me, too, and more heavily
than you imagine. The sight of my
ruined home, the publicity of all and
the scandal afoatl'
"You were infexible."
"My dignity was at stake, SIR"
"Say your PRIDE"
eyes, and my hate. could not forgive
you for giving me rival"
"a 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
in Paris for months, with nothing to do
and bored to death. Then the oppor-
tunity came.
However, enough of this. l shall
say nothing further than is necessary,
and hope you will spare me any more
recriminations But promise me that
you will not try to ALLEVIATE the children
from me, for am still their father"
II promise"
Every we'll. 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 goY'
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
journey-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. He brushed by the
countess, gathered up his books and ex-
| ercises and hastily bundled them into
his satchel.
care 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
the countess. "Did l not tell you that
your father was in haste?" oses
Gaetan Strengthened himself up and
turned toward his mother, saying, in a
tone Of resolute defiance. 81 must GER
tainly take my books, for l am going
| with father!''
In vain the countess held out her arms
to him. He only cried still more vehe-
mently, "No, 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" aa
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
a 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 is
telling the truth. He will return in
few days"
"Why do you say that, mamma? l
heard father say he would never return,
even to come and see us. Besides, Yvon-
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-
ity9"
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 I 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
"Yes, because you are so mean."i
s"And suppose give the keys back to
your father and make him stay here?"
"Oh, my dear, good mammaw
The boy had passed one arm around
his mothers neck, his other one being
still around his fathers, SO that he held
them both in one embrace.
''Then, mamma, as you have made
him cry, kiss him and then will kiss
you with all my heart"
"Clotilde!" begged the count, over
come, ''for our boys sake!"
Eyes! And for yours, too" sighed the
countess, letting her head fall upon her
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