The morning call., 1894-08-06
EVER BEAUTIFUL,

On the banks of the Orge, only short
distance from Belles-Fontaines. can be
seen an elegant little chateau. Occasion
ally a fisherman has perceived, on the
heights above. woman, her face covered
with thick veil. and young man who
walked slowly beside her. His arm was
always in hers. They seemed to be
lovers, but at the slightest SOUND Of an
ear both disappeared around the bend of
path or behind a clump of shrubs. The
people of Juvisy had vainly employed
every effort to penetrate the mystery.
Asked who was the owner of that sheltered
Notwithstanding park, they. replied:
st is a madman VINO lives there"
This is the story:
On July 10, 1884, the Vscount de Mont.
brun left his small hotel in the Rue Varnet
and walked down the Champs Elysees.
The preparations for the approaching 18th
of July festivities saddened his heart.
where can | take refuge for three
days?" thought NJ. de M0ntbrun. The
year previous he had gone to Saint Ger
main, and they had made just as much
racket there as at Paris. MOntbrun then
remem bered that he had promised himself
an excursion into Brittany. Just the thingl
q
Montbrun arrived at Vtre on Saturday
evening. In provincial towns, to Judge the
collective beauty of their women fairly. it
is necessary to take ones post on Sunday
at the door OF a church. That is why
Montbrun stood as early as before the
splendid edifice dedicated to Saint Martin,
waiting for mass 10 be over.
Before leaving Paris he had thrown into
a post box few words addressed to Mile.
Paula Salmb eri. Paula was superb girl,
native of Southern Italy, with all the
ardor of that cline beaming from her
large, dark eyes. She had made her the
atrical debut at Naples, and after a season
at Nice, had displayed to the Parisians her
irreproachab!e shape and varied graces.
MOnttrun was then % and handsome.
His personal charms were AUGMENTED by
an income of 10000 francs year His adj
miration for the charming ballet dancer
was at once reciprocated, The young
mans fancy was short-lved, however, and
he longed to escape from her altogether.
But OthalO's jealousy was puerile COM
pared with hers. Montbrun had simply
dropped ii note TO her upon his departure
for Wire, bidding her long farewell and
Intimating that he might never see her
again.
Mass was over and people were coming
out. MOntbrun stared as he caught sigh
of the face of young girl. Never in hi
ardent dreams had he imagined aught o
lovely as that face. He held his breath
as he gazed on her descending the church
steps. smiling at an older woman who ac-
companied her. MontbrIn followed them
from afar, and saw them enter small
house of modest appearance Taxing the
number he returned to the Motel and
asked for information.
1.-The beautiful girl? Mile. de Larade
Her father was an excellent man; his
| family was rich before the Revolution,
each succeeding generation has sold off
| little by little lands and fields aud woods
to keep up their rank"
The viscount wrote to his notary to send
a letter OF introduction TO q notary Of
! Wire, who might introduce him To the La
| lade family, family wherein he hoped TO
| find happiness.
EVERYTHING happened as the Viscount
| had arranged. He was presented TO Mile.
| Jeanne de Larade, found her all he had
thought, came again and again to her
! home, and was finally accepted as. her
| future husband.
In the midst of his dreaming he re-
ceived through his nOtary-he had care
! fully concealed his address from all
! olhers-a letter saying that Paula Salmberi
was seeking him and utterlng direiul
threats.
The eventful day arrived. The guests
left in carriages for the Mayors office.
! The Viscount and two or three persons
| w -
| office when they were startled by pierre
ing scream. Rushing to the windows. they
saw a crowd massed about recumbeut
| form.
what has happened?" exclaimedlMont-
brun, almost suffocated with apprehen-
| sion.
san unknown woman has thro wn vitriol
in the face of Mile. de Larade. All one
| side Of the poor child's lace Is badly burned
and an eye destroyed. They are carrying
her TO her home"
Montbrun fell. rigid and unconscious, to
the floor.
He tried vainly during the day to be re-
ceived at the home of his betrothed.
"TeI him that he will never see me
againv" she cried, shedding tears that.
rolling over her raw wounds, burned her
like fire.
The suffering of Mons. lie Montbrun was,
| intense.
The unknown woman, arrested imme-
diately, was Paula Salimberi; her motive.
vengeance.
A small package was delivered to Mont
! brnn. He shut himself in his bedroom
| and opened his parcel, which contained
small quantity of white powder. FOLDING
a handkerchief into bandage he meas
ured out two sDoonsful of the powder and
spread it on the bandage, which he then
placed over his eyes.
Two hours after he arrived at the home
OF NJ. de Larade.
DO not come in," said Nine. de Larade,
ut would kill Jeanne"
Tell her she may receive me now" re-
piled NJ. de Montburn; I'VE shall be mar
ried as coon as she is able 10 leave the
house. For me, her image will remain
eternally what it was-I am blind"
M. and Nine. de Montbrun lead q re-
| tired life in their chateau at Juvisy.-FroEl
! the French of Aurelien Scholl.
| Part 20 of s.Picturesqus California"
| will ba roodv for ssEauD subscrTb.rz