Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-27
STORY OF A MANS HEART.
Written by Alexandra Dumas. Enolish
Adaptation by Emile Dufais.

when it discovers that, either under
duress or undue influence, il surren-
dered unwisely. Marriage is purely q
moral compact into which the man,
generally speaking, goes knowingly,
with iuil knowledge Of what he is do
ing put the woman, gropingly, blind
", IN my opinion the man alone is en-
t1tieo TO be called contracting party.
solemnized,' continued Lucien. 1T de-
wolves upon the man by every possible
means to win over to HIM and incor-
porate into his existence this outside
party OF whom he often gets possession
Dy surprise, BY ruse, by deceit; and his
own fault Is it If he fails to accomplish
this, for having had perfect liberty 60
to do, he should before asking her to
become his wife have made q close
study OF the young girl and given her
up II he deemed her unfit for or un-
worthy OF him. Let us hope that the
time Is close at hand when fathers and
mothers will prepare their children
Inherently from what they do now for
this grand marriage act, so that the
parties will know beforehand what q
magnificent partnership they have it
In their power to enter into by simply
pronouncing the word yes. Civiliza-
ton. ! grieve to say, has not got so far
as this yet. 1t will be necessary for
women to learn many things which will
be kept from them long time yet.
There will be no true marriage until
choice on the part of both shall be alb
solutely free and there shall be full and
complete knowledge in both of re-
ciprocal rights and duties. Until that
day comes there is but one court COM
petent to pass upon this question, and
that is conscience"
Surely, no one will wonder at it
when told that Lucien Barthelemy's
forty-fifth birthday found him still un-
married. In the sunless atmosphere Of
his philosophy, resolutions cheek was
pale and sickly looking, and Il dare
not" still waited upon Il would" but
physically Lucien was in the very
bloom OF manhood, his broad shoulders
carrying a magnificent head with q
great wealth of curly brown hair
thrown boldly back, while full beard
OF lighter tone ill concealed the
placidity and sweetness of his smile.
His forehead indicated spirituality as
his straight eyebrows denoted firm
ness, energy, obduracy if necessary in
opinions as in action; while his clear
with mingled Intelligence and kindli-
ness. This handsome face was set
upon a chin of great beauty which like
a pedestal impaired an air of dignity
and self ontrol to it, and held it up, so to
speak, for the admiring and sympa-
thetic glances of the looker-on to rest
upon. In spite of the few gray hairs
which diligent search might have
found in that thick fleece OF brown,
Lucien still looked the young man. In
studying his hands, the skilled palm
reader would have discovered unmis-
taxable signs pointing to that union of
imagination and will, of faith and rea-
son, of love of the ideal and need of in
! dependence which is found in all men
whose minds, whose consciences, whose
souls are in open conflict with the
world.
While yet in his forty-fifth year
Lucien fell in love. What paragon Of
all beauty and excellence was it that
was thus able, the first of all woman
| kind, to attract the attention of the
man of As?
Largely from sense of devotion to
! his mothers memory Lucien had been
accustomed from time to time to pay q
| visit to various old friends of hers,
among them the Duclos people, in good
circumstances and of considerable re-
fnement. Madam Duclos had come
from beyond the Pyrenecs, and had
all the beauty and grace of the Span
ish woman. Their daughter, Made
leine, when mere child, felt the per-
sonal charm of the "big gentleman" as
she called him, and play was aban-
doned and dolls hastily thrown aside
to enjoy the privilege of sitting at his
feet.
Barthelemy had the power of hold
ing enchanted the attention of any
listener. 1t was marvellous. His
words had coloring, suppleness,
strength, elasticity; they could be
somber, gay, luminous, solemn; as his
voice delivered them they affected the
audience like Beethoven symphony.
With slight stretch of the imagine
ton one could fancy that he detected
the wood and the brass and the strings
| with the necessary sordine to enable
the speakers mind to imprint its
thoughts and ideas in relief upon this
! harmonic accompaniment. Lucien
knew his power and delighted to exer-
else it; but upon no one was was he
more successful than upon Madeleine.
The moment he opened his mouth she
yielded to the fascination of his voice,
sitting at his feet with her glorious
dark eyes riveted upon his face. as if a
spell were upon her. There was mani
| testify a counter influence upon him, for
his eyes never quilted her. 1t seemed
as if, disdaining earthly embrace, he
sought to enfold her in his breath, to
enwrap her In his thoughts, to care So
her with the sound of his voice.
1t was Monsieur Huclos' custom to
| adjourn to the garfen when the
weather was fair, in order to enjoy
coffee and dessert in the open air, and,
here, with his magnificent head reach
ing almost to the roses above him, with
the dark-green of the bower sharpen
ing the noble outlines of his face and
heightening the almost womanlike del
icacy Of his coloring, Lucien, at Mad
eleine's request, was always ready to
show the fertility of his fancy by in
venting some quaint story in which
everyday maidens and masters, fairy
mothers and Obedient spirits were
brought into daliQhtful c0ntiruitx