The Portland daily press., 1894-05-22

| from me. for l am still their father"
II pfUInlse
Every we'll have only to bid goodby.
You have judged me strictly and have
given blow for blow. I can't complain, for
the law is on your side. Will you call the
children and let me kiss them before goS"
Certainly"
The countess left the room, returning
presently with the girls.
care you going awayP" exclaimed Chris
tine, clinging to him.
The count faced about and saw Yvonne
sleeping heavily in her mothers arms.
He drew her close to him and gently kissed
her.
"Yes," he answered, II am going on
journey--a rather long one-little girl,
but 1 shall be back soon and find you quite
grown up"
AS the two little girls left the room Gae-
tan rushed in. He brushed by the count
ess, gathered up his books and exercises
and hastily bundled them into his satchel.
Are you not going to kiss me?' asked
his father. Don't you know that am
going on journey"
"Wait till get my things" he said.
Then he took the satchel and fastened it
on his fathers valise with strap.
WAdu thIC you uOluS,, 0ttOCcut eaohcu
the countess. Ibid I not tell you that
your father was in haste?'
Gaetan Strengthened himself up and
turned toward his mother, saying in a tone
of resolute defiance, II must certainly take
my books, for I am going with father!"
In vain the countess held out her arms
to him. He only said: 81 do not love you.
heard you drive papa away"
Pis fatbar triod to draw him foruard bis
mother, saying gently: my boy, be rea-
sonable. You are causing your mother
much pain"
In the middle of his nervous fury the
boy sank to the floor and lay his length
upon the carpet, crying over and over
again, Papa, papa!" as though his heart
| would break
The count lifted him and placed him in
the great armchair, and his mother in
great agitation knelt by his side. But
with a violent movement of his arm the
boy pushed her rudely from him.
who could have told the child such
stories?" asked the count.
Nobody has told me anything" said
Gaetan through his tears. "They took us
in to dinner, but saw John packing
valise, and I came back. The door was
opened, and got behind the screen. When
heard mamma scolding you and found
that she had taken her keys, made up
my mind not to love her and to go away
with you.'
My boy, you did very wrong to listen,
and you did not understand what your
mother said. Be quiet and believe what
tell you I have given her the keys be-
cause I am going away for awhile.''
Come, my dear Gaetan, papa is telling
you the truth. He will return in few
days"
why do you say that, mamma? heard
father say he would never return, even to
come and see US. Beside, Yvonne warned
us. She has often caught papa crying in
his study
"Ah,'' said the countess, "you wept!
Why did you hide that and let me think
you wrapped in your proud insensibility?"
because you could have laughed at my
distress, and I would not give you the
pleasure of seeing my tears"
Both parents were now kneeling by the
side of their boy, and the countess was
gazing Into her husbands eyes as though
she would read his very SOUL
'You see very well that must go with
him. said the boy. "You will have
Christine and Yvonne, and it is not fair to
leave father alone"
$50 you refuse to stay with me?" said
the countess.
Eyes, because you are so mean"
''And suppose I give the keys back to
your father and make him stay here?"
'Oh, my dear, good mammal"
The boy passed one arm around his
mothers neck, his other being still around
his fathers, SO that he held them both in
one embrace.
'Then, mamma, as you have made him
cry, kiss him, and then will kiss you
with all my heart
''ClotildeP' begged the count, overcome,
for our boys sake!''
'Yes, and for yours, too," sighed the
countess, laying her head upon her hus-
bands shoulder.-Exchange.