The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-03-10
THE THREE SONS.

The house was to all appearances IN
tenanted. There was not a sign Of life
visible from without, but in one of the
magnificent rooms overlooking the Rue
de Vaennes sat three men an~xiously
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 lave 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
a cold, heartiess man, in whom none
could feel the slightest confidence; he
was egotistical to the last degree, with
no superior intelligence to palliate his
overwhelming selfishness.
The second son. Count Rene, was quite
different. Full of life. with frank blue
eyes that looked a man full in the face
and a smile as winning and a nature as
expansive az the marquis vas 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. Il wonder from whom he inherits
his disposition. Perhaps from your side
of the house. marchioness: certainly not
from mine"
The youngest son, the vicomte, was
Just go. but his wrinkled face and bent
figure made him look much older. He
was one of those old young men who are
SO frequently mel nowadays and SO
painful to see. who appear to be a
growth peculiar to this end of the cen
fury.
At last the door opened. and the men
of sciences stepped softly across the
threshold. The famous specialists who
had been summoned at the last moment
began a 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 eyer 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 this
theater in a voice which did not tremble,
and, to judge by his cheerful tones, the
tears were very far from his eyes in
deed.
"Old hypocriter' 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 if she was suf-
fering. She shook her head. There she
lay. just alive. and nothing more. She
seemed to realize what a slender hold she
had upon life and to try and economize
her little remaining breath, for she did
not utter a word, and the blue eyes, so
like her second sons, gazed wistfully
upon her children. and two tears-the
last she would ever shed-rolled slowly
down her withered cheeks.
What q life hers had been! Full of
the pomps and vanities of this world,
brilliant and enviable without, but in re-
atty one long martyrdom. She thought
Of all she had endured for her boys sake,
Of the insults, of the neglect. even bru-
tality of the husband Of her youth, and
she wondered as she lay there gasping
her life away if half her punishment for
her sins had not been melted out to her
on earth. ~Instinctively, in this supreme
moment. she turned to Rene. for he was
the only one of her IONS who had ever
shown her any real affection. and now
she remembered how she had always
curbed his exuberant nature and received
his caresses coldly enough and sent him
away many time with something very
like tears in those bright blue eyes. She
tried to extend her hand to him. but her
strength failed her. and the hand fell
YEARLY to her side.
DO you know us, mother?" asked the
marquis.
A low kissing sound issued from her
lips. and the men leaned over her to
catch. if possible. the words she was try
ing hard to frame.
The vicomte stif1ed a cough with his
handkerchief. The marquis listened at
tentively. but on these two faces there
was no sign of emotion. They might
have been at the bedside of the merest
acquaintance. while Rene. poor fellow,
felt a lump rise in his throat and the
tears stream down his cheeks. This wom-
an vas his mother, and she was dying.
MY sons" gasped the Il
know that l am dying, and before | go to
my last account | have a confession to
make. Don't weep. Rene; keep your tears
for a better woman. God knows what
you will think of me when you know
all. | have been an unfaithful wife. and
one of you has no right to the name he
bears. It is-it is Here the voice
dief away, and she sank back among her
pillows.
It was over, and one more soul had
gone into the presence Of its Maker. The
brothers retired softly, and once in the