The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-23
THE THREE SONS.

ViSlDl0 LfoIn W1InouL Out IN one OF the
magnificent 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 wa theelightest 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,
bat in spite Of their well meant efforts
it was distinctly visible that this glass
of fashion" was bald. The marquis was
a cold, heartless man. in whom nome
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, wasquite
different. Full Of life. with frank blue
eyes that looked q man FUN in the face
and a smile as winning and q nature as
expansive a. the marquis was reserved
and repellent. he seemed to be OF q 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
I The youngest son., the yicomte, was
Just 90. but his wrinkled face and bent
figure made him look much older. He
was one OF those old young men whoare
10 frequently mel nowadays and 80
painful to see. who appear to be a
growth peculiar : 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 a long account of the case couched
In terms which, though doubtless intel
iigible to his colleagues, conveyed no
meaning ut all to the young 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 a voice which did not tremble,
and, to Judge by his cheerful tones, the
tears were very far from his eyes in
deed.
"Old ny pocriter' 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 q slender hold she
had upon life and to try and economic
her little remaining breath, for she did
not utter a word. and the blue eyes, 30
like her second sons, gazed wistfully
upon her children, and two tears-the
last she would eve shed-rolled slowly
down her withered cheeks
What q life hers had beeni Full OF
tho poInps and vanities of this world,
brilliant and enviabls without. but IN 70
Atty M long martyrdom. She thought
II oil she had endured tor her boys sake,
Of the insults, OF the neglect, even brur
tality OF the husband OF her youth. and
she wondered A. she lay there gasping
her life away II half her punishment f0l
hsr sims had not been meted out TO her
On earth. Instinctiyely. in this supreme
moGnent she turned TO Rene. for be wa
the only one % her sons who had EVIL
shown her any real affection. and now
shs remembered how she had alwayl
curbed hin exuberant nature and received
his caresses coldly enough and sent him
away uaany j time With ponsethin8 YER
Hks tears In those bright blue eyes Sha
'trisd 70 extend her hand to him, but hel
strength failed her. and The hand tel
wearily to her side.
DO you know us. mother2" asked th.
marquis.
A low Missing sound issued from be-