The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-03-18
THE THREE SONS.


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
so 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
II was distinctly visible that this "glass
Of fashion" was bald. The marquis was
a 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 selfishness.
The second son, Count Rene, was quite
different Full of life, with frank blue
eyes that looked man full in the face
and a 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. irene is quite unlike the
rest Of the family" he often said, with a
igh. 81 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 20, but his wrinkled face and bent
figure made him look much older. He
was one of those old young men whoare
so frequently met nowadays and so
painful to see, who appear to be
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
hgible to his colleagues, conveyed no
meaning at all 10 the young men. AT
last he came to the point, and with
trembling voice and fearful eyes told
lady was sinking rapidly. Then the ply
sicians withdrew, and the brothers heard
the old doctor invite his comrades to the
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 hypocritew 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 marqui asked her if she was suf-
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 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 a life hers had beenl Full of
the pomps and vanities of this world,
brilliant and enviable without, but in re-
ality one long martyrdom. She thought
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 meted out to her
on earth. Instinctively, in this supreme
moment, she turned TO Rene, for he was
the only one Of her sons who had ever
shown her any real affection, and now
she remembered how she had always
curbed his eXuberant nature and received
his caresses ooldly 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
wearily 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 stihed cough with his
handkerchief. The marquis listened at
tentively, but on these two faces there
was no sign of emotion. They might
nave oOeh q 'iiS Deualuo VI INC interest
acquaintance, while Rene, poor fellow,
telt lump rise IN his throat and the
tears stream down his cheeks. This wom-
an was his mother, and she was dying.
MY sons, gasped the woman. "I
know that am dying, and before go to
my last account l have a confession TO
make. Don't weep, Rene; keep your tears
Tor a better woman. God knows what
you VIII thlnk OF me when you know
All. nave been an unraithful wife, and
one OF You mas no rlsht 10 the name he
bears. II is-it is Here the voice
died away, and she sank back among her
pillows
IL was over ana one more soul had
gone INTO the presence OF It's Maker. Inc
orothers reured sottly' and once IN the
ADJOINING room looked at each other
apart. (which could II bew At last
the MARQUIS smoke with more emotion
than he had ever shown in the whole
course Of his self absorbed life.
death has cut short the paiuful reve-
lntion which has startled us all so terri
bly. and am sure Won will both agree
with me in what ann about 10 saw. To
the dead we will PLEDGE ourselves. and
no human being will suspect that in the
veins of ons Of us flows blood perhaps
less proud than that of our mothers mus.
band. Before the world we will continue
cur present relations. and in respect tc
the dead we will pledge ourselves neye,
10 seek To elucidate tbis mystery But
we must part Each must 20 his oVr
way. for with this fearful doubt in ON
minds we could never live under m,
same roof IN barmonv