The Dickinson press., 1893-10-28

one person had his story, 4 second his. and
q third at>n his: each one oil which, though
widely different from ills fellows, WAS iull
ot hack-wouniinS calumnv and r,perous
SANDER. Madame Favarge's was the voice
that had first sent forth unto he world .
tale oi hideouS di>turIiun-a tale hlacken-
ing and staining to Corona's reputation.
And who could doubt Marquis re,resen-
laliun>, when they all apl cared So fair and
uuthfn!' She said that She was a much
10 be such. She had been deserted by
her husband (>he lurthcr saidl-been
and a. Paul Favarse was lying
sick beneath that lady's roof the world did
not question the honesty oi Marquis state
mcnt. y >to'y that travels must surely in
crease Il, every advancing step il takes, and
so it Was With Madame Favargc's.
YIN SEQ. appearances we're altnsether
icariully against Corona, and such being
the case. She wa condemned without a
moments pause or reflection. And wnile
She was performing a most charitable TART,
watching br a tevcr-Siricken man, riskins
her very lite in order to preserve his, she
was hclng maligncd Tor the act by almost
every one who knew her, while Margot
Favarge received the SympathicS OF all.
Never once dreamed Corona of the SIAN
dcrou> tales so RTE against her. Her WI
THOUGHTS were so pure, that She suspected
not impurity i'll the minds of others.
Corona IL" longer loved Paul Favarge;
les>-Sick OF n 1rishttul malady which drove
even TIN, h 'red nurses from his side-sick
and deserted 10y his newiy-wedird wife;
and she felt she had a woman's duty to
perform towards him.
One morning Corona was startled and
surprised lay the arrival OF n visitor. AS her
plague infected house had not known such
49,. r,rt yr~ ,,,a -, ~. 81 .N.N. l. Nr.nr SN,t ,N~~
pared Tor the newcomer: and, moreover
Than that, was reluctant to see him. But
the Count de B~randenbur. dor it was he)
would not depart without behold ng Coro-
ia: and she was at length forced to grant
him an interview
"Mon>ieur lie Comte has come hither at
the hazard o his very lile." she SAID. as she
cnterc': the room. where he was awaiting
her p'c-encc. Keep back, for heavens
seeing him advancing towards her. Il bear
about me the tainted atmosphere of fever
ward. and my whole house is u ~hospital-a
place stunned and deserted bv every one.
What brings You here, may l ask?"
"Respert and love, mademoiselle!" he re-
piled. i'll earnest tones. Corona" he pro.
ceeded. when n man gives his whole heart
to a woman-aS l have given mine to you
she becomes in every way most precious
to him." And here he broke of, as If reluvt-
ant to go On.
Corona was silent. Of the evil tales
abroad against her she had not the slight
est suspicion; therefore she demonstrated
neither confusion nor interest at the
Counts words.
You have here, under your roo, aman,
Corona-a M II whom the world says you
once fondly loved-a married man; and
your name is being deride1 by smiling
pickthanks and base n~ewsmongers."
Monsieur lie Comte!" she exclaimed, the
color rushing into her face. Il do not UNI
der,tand you!' she added, after a pause.
Twill you permit me to ask you u few
questions, made.noiselle? Believe me. 1
am not prompted TODD so by any Idle Curl
ositv.'
Corona. considerably bewildcred, bowed
asscntingly. and the Count went II
"Why is Monsieur Favarge on inmate of
your house, and his vile living apart from
him9 am aware that | have no earthly
right to ask these questions, Corona; but
tale in which your name is cruelty mixed;
and am wi>hiul to contradict that tale
to prove it false. wheresoever l go!"
The Count had spoken with honest cam
dor, and with much feeling as we'll. Cor
ona understood the honorable motives that
had moved him to speak to her OH this sub
ject. and at once replied to him.
>StVI W my IN VI A1S w
frce-will, did Monsieur Paul Favarge enter
my doors; he was discovered lying insensi-
BILE ne'r my lodge-gate, was recognized by
o ragpicker, by whom my porter was at
once aroused, carried into my house,
whence lie cou 4 not be removed, and to
which he is still confined, q iever-stricken
delirious man, left entirely to my charity,
and my care, and
"Tu his wife-Madame Paul Favarge?"
'flcd hence, afraid of the contag on,
leaving her husband to live or die, even as
heaven might will it,"
MADAME Paul Favarge was, then, sum-
moncd here to her h%uSband?"
Most certainly She was. The very
moment l learned that he was unfit to be
removed, despatched q messenger for the
lady"
And she came??"
"Ycs. she came; first to overwhelm me
with insulting reproaches which did not
deserve; next. hearing her husband was
pros rated by n malignant fever, she flew
from him. and ir,nm the house, the door
OF which neither she nor messengers OF
hers has since disturbed"
The Counts face q dgrown much bright
er while listening to the above. He felt
that SANDERS mark was ever yet the fair,
II he now began to comprehend how
much Corona's name had been abused, and
how her noble actions had been perverted
| Df JslSS uilu MlChcNl LOIIeucS, dIII'tlHok
which that of Madame Paul Favarge had
been the verv busiest and loudest.
You have al enemy-a most potent
enemy, Corona" he observed. Beware o
Madame Paul Fayarge!. She has been the
originator OF all tile base reports now i'll
circulation about you from one end Of
Paris to the other" =
Corona looked utterly COMPOUNDED. She
the subject of base report she; who,e
nane had ever been re>p"cted II honored.
Oh. impossible. impossible! She could
not believe it!
"But she must believe it," he answered
"And furthermore thar that, she must dis
prove all these intamous misrepresentation:
-disl rove them without delay"
What can do: my lord-what can ]
do. in order to disprovr them?" she ask
ton Of my innocence through the column
Of the public press: nor can l send ~ bell
man round about Paris, to publish, b.
word OF mouth, my honesty, of which un
til now, l believe there meyer u sing!
doubt in any ones mind"
"Calm yourself, Corona. and pay atten
ton to what l an abou: to say. First: in
form me relative to the condition OF Mon
sieur Paul Favarge?"
ut il an almost hopeless one"
so l will take upon myselfto inform
madalne; she snail no: nave tn' game all u
her own hands. will unma>k he
wickcdncss to the whole Of Paris. l viii
expose ii Tar and near to every one"
Acting on impulse. as Corona nearly al
ways did, she flew to his side, and seizin
one OF his hands. implored him to be
friend her.
Corona he said, II love you; and, i
heart and soul. am wholly at your serv
ice. But tell me how can best serve 20
here? You must no longer remain unde
this roof: your bodily health is sutierin
severely. You must so hence at once"
And leave al my servants to perish'c
the plague which Paul Fayarge has brough
he:e among>, us! | couldn't do SO
could not be so utterly SELFISH.
Selfish! Is it Sc .ti>hne-s to guard tn
safety of your W health-of your ow
happine.s-both of which are here impel
Tiled? Corona. you ask mcto befriend vol
how can l do so if you persist in refusin
to follow the advise l offer your
But none will come here, or near her,
the place is Stunned 10y almost eyery OF.
How then can | follow your ,teachin,
: when such would instruct me to desert nj
PROSTATE riend, and all my poor helple
, household? Ii Madame Paul Favar.e wi
] | come hpra anl tol.o ,nx, n ,,l =,