The Dickinson press., 1893-11-04

Margot bowed her regal head, and smiled
as her noble visitor withdrew, listening to
his retreatinG footsteps with strange CLEAN
in her eve, and a scorntul curl on her lips.
''Watch-watch, monSeisneur; watch over
her night and day. ifyou Ike" she burst
forth, yet Mango: Eavarse will circumvent
YOU for all that! His words of menace
have served to oil the hinges of my con-
science. which same conscience, will now
open to any extent. l wish | had Il giants
hand. that | might crush her thus!" she
cried, clutching the mir with her long
fingers. How | hate her! She sands be-
tween me and fortune; at every turn she
arrests my progress But LET her take good
heed; her reign OF triumph is well-nieh
over. Yes, though her guardians were the
angels themselves, Margot Favar.e would
find wit enough to overreacll them,.'
Affairs were now Frightening under
Corona's roo but still Madame Paul
Favarge came not near her husband, nor
sent she any message to inquire after his
state.
The Count was now Corona's daily
visitor; and (alas, for the INCONSISTENCY of
woman's hearty she was beginning to vel
come his visits-to welcome them with
outs,rctched hands and glad smiles. and
with q certain tiulter oftle heart as we'll.
And day followed day. And while Paul
F%avarge's health and strength were return
ing to him. the. breast in which he had
once reigned supreme was opening 10 re-
ccivie another. Gradually and s,ealthiiy
sens BILE CT his approaches. AT length,
about the matter. Why was she ever
counting the minutes OF his absence? Why
did she feel this tiuttering in her bosom
whenever his voice Or his footsteps
hit her anxious hearing? Why did her
hands always tremble. and grow cold. when
he touched them with his own?. Surely she
knew the cause OF all this; there was no
need to make these queries.
And was it SO indeed? Yes: this man
lad, at last, really succeeded in rekindling
tho dame O tlovo within her bosom. And
her pulses wero wildly %throbbins her
blood warmly mantling on her cheeks, her
eyes sparkling with a new joy, for II who
had been long indifferent to her-for one
whom she imagined would never win q
single smile from her.
Al first she tried to thrust from her the
knowledge OF all this. feeling almost
ashamed of the change IN her sentiments,
but it would not he, for although the
wound invisible that love's-keen arrow
makes. its smartins must be ever felt.
Paul Favarge was now recovering rapid
ly; Corona's care had preserved his life.
anu llC KNEW rs IluCl, uIl'l Nd5 ElhtClul l)I
the services she had rendered him. lie
did not seem astonished or erieveh when
those about him told him how ut erly hi3
wife had neglected him. lIo had never
cared for Margot, never oven respected her;
aud now the old passion @! which she had
Cor = time 1attered him into partial forget
iu,ilexs, had resumed IT. iormer sway with
in lin. Heaven! how lo wa' suffering! He
adored Corona more ardently
tell her that he did so; he
dared not so insult her. 1t was a sin to
think OF her thus. he knew it was, but lie
could not tear her image from his breast;
no, try as lie would, Corona was not to be
driven from the place she had so long oc-
cupied. Oh, thought he, it ] could but re-
cali the past; if l could only unsay the
Ladre-bound me to q loveless wife, what
happiness might be mine!
Now that Paul was getting better, Corona
seldom visited his chamber; she avoided
doing so, for although no word of affection
had been breatlled between them, she
could not fail TO understand his iurtive
%glances. and his deep-drawn signs. Besides,
Corona's whole heart and brain were now
filled with thoughts of another, and llel
professional duties were once more claim
ing her attention.
The ill reports which Margot had spread
all over Paris about Corona had been stout
ly contradicted, while Marquis own cor
duct, during her husbands sickness. hac
been openly exposed far and near. People
having now heard both sides OF the ques
ton, as you may readily suppose, loudl,
less wife of Paul Favargc; an,
every night that she appeared before thu
public she was received with marked dis
appreciation and scorn. Margot WINGED
She was we'll aware she had to thank I'll
Count for all this; and she breathed u sccre
vow that she would never forget that TACT
Murgot hated Corona worse than eve
now, II Loldly showed her that she di
so. But in the CorOna'S bosom at this tim
there was so much happiness, that sh
p,id no heed to any of Margots threaten
ing looks. The Count had once MOI
pleaded his cause i'll Corona's ear and ha
been accepted by her. And now she wa
about to take her leave OF the stage alto
gether, and to become the Countess d
Brandenburg."
To Paul Favarge, the announcement {
Corona's approaching marriage was a te
rib" b'ow--a blow lie was not likel
to su vive. Before he was stro,
II ugh 10 fulfill his duties with any cred
o i'm u, lie insisted upon appeurir
wi, orona in ali the plays in which the
ha,i al ways ac'cd together. He had III
&c " llcl Ilt'Ilc W IT'S WIZ ne hdS lltII
at an hotel III the suburbs of Paris. as II
away from her as circumstances would pc
nit him to remove. -.
Mursut had lallen. and she felt that ST
would never be able TO rise a!ain; an
therefore her wrath was implacable again
those whom she deemed the authors OF HI
downfall. From her husband she felt th'
she was for ever separated; but that ia
gave herno pain whutsoever-nay, itscarc
ly disturbed her thoughts.
Well. night after night. Paul acted, an
his strength. instead OF returning to hin
was gradually torsaking him. But lie di
not appear to be suffering any rarticult
| pain all this time; excessive weakness al
languor were only apparent in him. Y.
his heart was breaking slowly but surel
its tibrcs were being rent to pieces An
Paul well knew how all was within hin
and was rejoicing to think that his wear
when Corona was gone from his view. Ii
would act no more; it was only her prescnt
and her voice that Upheld him at the pre-:
ent moment. When lie could no longer b'
hold her beautiful iace--no longer hes
the tones of her soft, sweet voic
then he should droop.. droop and die.
He thought how widely different his tat
| might have been had his disposition ut
been a steady one-had he not loved fin
! Siv o1IA HVSVIl liItii oibN ~
pie, honest faith. But regrets were useie.
now-now that the grave was yawning {
his feet.
His subtle disappointed wife, meanwhile
was weaving her dark me>hcs. Was til
woman. the Corona. who hal so steppe
be.wixt Margot and fortune, ever to las
the Joys she was anticipating? No; Mar.t
would endcavor to revent her happines
She was only watching LOT all opportunit
and then and then--
One night Corona was suddenly taken
inthe middle oil the performance; and Il
curtain was dropped-thc audience d
m~iSsed-doc,ors were summoned fro
every quarter round about-and consterr
ton reigned throughout the walls OF
theatre, in which, there was n rumor IL
the Corona had been poisoned.
Yes; the doctors. one and all, agre
that their patient was suffering from
effects of poison; how. or when, or
HON administered. nom could tell.
Corona was quite sensible, but in exc
ciating torments.
Over and over again the doctors OF
toned her respecting what she ! ad b.
taking. bnt they could learn nothing ir
her replits,an were compelledt O give Il
S vera antidotes at random.
= The Count was in a state bordering
frenzy; and Paul Favarge was al limos in
same condition. The actor sought