Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-08-30
BETRAYED BY A CHILD

Ill ~, mOlioicui NC ciOhi
widower, an advocate in good prac-
tice and repute, resided at Marseilles
with an only child, who had just
completed her nineteenth year.
Mademoiselle Mathilde de Feron,
being a young lady Of great person.
al attractions, amiable disposition,
and by no means dowerless maiden,
had, as a matter of course, crowd
of admirers; among them certain
Monsieur Eugene de Beaurepaire,
Lieutenant of Cuirassiers, a gen.
tleman of good family and distin-
guished appearance, able to hold his
own both in the ballroom and in the
field. 1t was not surprising, there
fore, that even the belle of Mar
settles should listen to his VOWS with
willing ear, nor that her father,
well informed as to this military pre-
tendant's" position and prospects,
should give him the cordial welcome
of son-in-law expectant.
So far, the course of this true love
ran very smooth indeed.
The lieutenant, possessing and ex-
ercising all the rights of future
husband, meditated seriously how
best to disclose, whether by letter or
by interview-love made him nerv-
vous and timid-the news of his pro-
iected marriage to his relatives;
the whole town of Marseilles look
ed forward to the approaching nup-
tials as to festival, when--mille
tonnerres down came an order
from the Minister of War, directing
him to hold himself in readiness for
foreign service.
The next morning, at very
early hour, he presented himself at
Monsieur de Feron's residence and
communicated the distressing news.
He himself was in despair-Ma-
thilde in speechless grief-even her
father was overwhelmed with the
intelligence. But when the first
shock was over, some feeble glim-
merings of hope began to revive.
The lieutenant talked of hasten
ing the marriage, and taking his
wife with him. Monsieur de Feron
would not listen to it. He then Of
fered to resign his commission.
San act of consummate folly"
replied his senior, who in the mean
time was calmly resolving upon "a
line of action. THE engagement
shall continue" he said at length,
"but you must wait for matrimony
until you return from the wars.
Refusing to entertain for a mo-
ment Beaurepaire's final proposal to
marry Mathilde forthwith, and leave
her in her fathers care, he contin-
ued.
"You are both very young; two
or three years separation will only |
test the strength of your affection,
and eventually you will be the hap
pier for this trial.
The usual protestations of love
and constancy were exchanged.
The moon, so friendly to lovers,
witnessed their vows, as they sat be-
meath fragrant orange-tree laden
with flowers. They fixed the hours
in which they should think of one
another, and ended, by agreeing to
think of each other always, and as
the lieutenant imprinted passion
ate farewell on the lips of his beau
tlful mistress, she murmured.
20 Eugene! if | were dead your
kiss would recall me to life!
And with these strange words
they parted.
Six years passed away.
In the year 1903, Major Eugene
de Beaurepaire landed at Cherbourg,
and on the 18th of August arrived
at his mothers house at Fontaie-
bleu.
Hard fighting and hard fare had
been our heros portion since his
love-making day at Marseilles-
three times severely wounded-once
left for dead on the feld-and for
the last two years prisoner in
England.
Madame de Beaurepaire welcom-
ed her son as one risen from the
dead; but after the first transports
of this happy reunion were over,
she noticed strange sorrow and
d,oou;at IN his looks and nreoccupa-