Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-09-26
NEW SERIES, VOL. XVIII, No. 50.
riage which might have saved his rela-

riage which might have saved his rela-
iyes.
But while lowering his eyes he saw his
red ribbon, and it seemed to him he
heard an interior voice repeating thesen-
tence he had just uttered, "It would not
be acting like gentleman"
| Ho also saw that Martha no longer
curled her dolls wig. Sitting ON the
ground motionless and silent, the child
was looking at her mother, who wept 81
lently. She wept-in silence also.
Julia, said the young man soberly,
ego, in my name, to ask for Nile. Bour-
geois' hand"
Cat lastp triunphantly exclaimed An
toinette's mother after Julia had formu-
lated her request. Then calling her
daughter she added in the same joyful
tone: "Come-he has como to It'll An
swer, darling. Tell-telI how backward
we found hiinr'
A lovely smile, so chaste in its frank
ness, lit up the young girls face and
without speaking she advanced toward
Mime. Duchemin with extended hands.
Then. kissing her:
Il am SO happy" she exclaimed
bravely.
very IeAb OGH L began
his ''Tooing." as it is called.
Yet what q strange thing! He, so out
spoken till then-so open and so gay
was formal now, circumspect, stilted,
almost unpleasant. Goodby to intimate
''chatter," to all freedomi He chose his
words carefully. No more jokes nowl
AT first. Antoinette was Disconnected
by it, but surmounting her painful i'm
Il,
two. She was the first to speak of their
plans, saying, as if Inadvertently, "these
dear plans"
He still called her "mademoiselle,"
while she called him Frederick" She
consulted him about the details of their
future home. What shade did he pre-
fer for the curtains? And when they
We're passing the glass works, stopping
to kiss Martha, she prompted:
Say Good morning. Aunt Fred"
The attorneys had taken the matter in
hand. Everything was ready, for the
lieutenant had told his sister:
"Act for me. Have the settlements
drawn to suit yourself"
As for him, to all questions he an
swered:
AL 4sstlls EAo y GU illCtSt.
So much so that at last Julia took him
aside and said to him:
Take care, Fred. Take care lest You
grieve this child"
"Grieve herI" he repeated, startled.
at would cause Ine the most bitter re-
morse"
Yet one would think you do not love
her."
Mot love herr exclaimed the young
man. Il would be the most ungrateful
fellow. Oh, on the contrary, l love her
with all the power of my soul, of my
conscience and OF my probity. Devoid
of feeling as l may appear, my heart is
all her own. admire, and 1 adore her,
All, why is she not poor? You would
see-you would see then, Julia" he add
ed, relapsing into his darker mood.
The eventful day was fixed. The bans
were to be published.
After dinner the lieutenant accom-
panied the ladies home, walking by their
side along the road at the door they
bade one another goodby. After TINT
word had been spoken Antoinette re-
manned at Frederick's side, very close to
him. She appeared to await something.
He understood. And once more low
SAAA4eo AAAo O9 Co AAO othN AlG AGh 4lDDOn III
by the last rays of the setting sun. And
as in an hallucination in the rustling of
the leaves he thought he heard again,
ut would not be acting like gentle
man"
Then, dazzled, he stepped back, and in
choking voice said: Listen! My heart
is bursting. Even if 1 unsettle every
thing, Unjust speak. 1 must tell you"--
What? Everything! He stated every
thing indeed-the situations, his scru-
pies, his great sorrow.
Antoinette and her mother sought to
interrupt him, repeating, "But-but''--
He did not listen. He went on to the
end. And then only We're they able to
finish their sentence:
"But-we know itT'
"Whatl You know that my sister and
her husband are threatened WITH
Certainly, we know it," said the
widow. "And this is why we hurried the
conclusion, which will at last give us the
right to ward off the misfortune they do
not deserve"
And you, Antoinettey'
Somewhat confused, she replied:
"I5 Oh, had but ono fear-not to
please youT-New York Commercial Adj
vertiser.