Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-03-20
THE THREE SONS.

magnlhcent rooms overlooking the Rue
de Vaennes sat three men anxiously
awaiting the result of the consultation
which was then taking place to know if
there was the slightest hope not for the
recovery, but for the prolongation of the
sufferings of Gabrielle Anne Sophie,
dowager Marquis de Guebrianges, their
mother.
The Oldest gentleman, the marquis,
was tall and thin. He might have been
80 years old, but his age was difficult to
guess, his face being so utterly devoid of
expression. His few remaining hairs
did their best to disguise their scarcity,
but in spite of their well meant efforts
it was distinctly visible that this "glass
of fashion" was bald. The marquis was
cold, heartless man, in whom none
could feel the slightest confidence; he
was egotistical to the last degree, with
no superior intelligence to palliate his
overwhelming selfshness.
The second son, Count Rene, was quite
different. Full of life, with frank blue
eyes that looked a man full in the face
and smile as winning and nature as
expansive as the marquis was reserved
and repellent, he seemed to be of a diff
ferent race, and his restless energy and
keen intelligence had shocked the old
marchioness and driven the late Marquis
Hercule de Guerbrianges to the verge of
distraction. Rene is quite unlike the
rest of the family" he often said, with a
sigh. 81 wonder from whom he inherits
his disposition. Perhaps from your side
Nf 81, -
from mine"
The youngest son, the vicomte, was
just 20, but his wrinkled face and bent
figure made him look much older. He
was one of those old young men who are
so frequently met nowadays and so
painful to see, who appear to be a
growth peculiar to this end of the CEN
tury.
At last the door opened, and the men
of science stepped softly across the
threshold. The famous specialists who
had been summoned at the last moment
began long account of the case couched
in terms which, though doubtless intel
ligible to his colleagues, conveyed no
meaning at all to the young men. AT
last he came to the point, and with
trembling voice and fearful eyes told
them to prepare for the worst. The old
lady was sinking rapidly. Then the ply
sicians withdrew, and the brothers heard
the old doctor invite his comrades to the
theater in voice which did not tremble,
and, to judge by his cheerful tones, the
tears were very far from his eyes in
deed.
"Old hypocrlte! Thought Count Rene.
The others thought nothing at all.
The three sons entered the darkened
room and stood around the bedside OF the
dying woman.
The marquis asked her II she was SUI
fering. She shook her head. There she
lay, just alive, and nothing more. She
seemed to realize what slender hold she
had upon life and to try and economic
her little remaining breath, for she did
not utter word' ana the Dlue eyes, so
like her second sons, gazed wlstfully
|, upon her children, and two tears-the
last she would ever shed-rolled slowly
down her Wlthered cheeKs.
What hfe hers had peenl full OF
the ponnps ana Vanlties OF TINS world,
prllllan1 ana ehViaoie wlthout, put Ill re-
amy one long martyrdom. She Thought
OF all sne had endured Tor her boys sake,
OF the insults OF the neglect, even pru-
tahty OF the husband OF her youth, and
she wondered as she lay there gasplng
her lie away II nalf her punishment for
her SINS hau not peeh meted out TO her
on earth' lhstihcUlVely, IN TINS supreme
moment she turned 10 hene, Tor he was
the only one OF her sons VINO mad ever
SHOWN her any reai anectlon, and now
she remembered now she mad always
.curoed his exuoerant nature ana received
MS caresses colaly enough ana sent MN
away many time WIN somethng very
like tears III those prlsht piue eyes. She
Irieo W eA.enu iei NAM, " ~, NIL ou' ne,
strength failed her, and the hand fell
wearily to her side.
do you know us, mother! asked the
marquis
low niSSlnp SOUND Issued lrO11 nGr