Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-04-10


told that he had fallen from the top of
a long flight of stone steps. His wound
was made the preteSt for q thousand lit
tie attentions from his gentle fiancee.
Marcelle put the sugar in his tea,
stirred it, and believe had her aunt's
back been turned she would have tasted
it for him, the roguel
Suddenly Us Aunt Herisson read she
became very pale and trembled with
emotion She held the paper close to her
lamp and then dashed it ON the floor.
''What is it?' asked NJ dc Saint
Juirs.
''It is, monsieur, that I do not wish
an assassin in my house. And turning
to George, "Go Immediately, never to
returnr'
NJ. de saint-Juirs took up the paper
and read aloud the paragraph of yester-
days duel and of George receiving a
wound
Profound silence followed.
Aunt Herisson watched George and
said at last angriIy;
DO you deny it, monsieur?"
''No, madame.
''Then have told you what to do. >"
Marcelle commenced to sob.
'Marcelle, so to your rooml"
cit is not possible, " said George in q
Cor
Marcelle went to her lovers side, and
with tranquil courage said in a hollow
voice:
George, we must say goodby. love
You and will never love any one but you.
Embrace me. -
The aunt was surprised at this audac-
ity-to see an assassin embrace her
niece before her eyes.
Marcelle threw last look at her lover
and reached the door us her fathers
voice said:
''stay, Marcellel' Tho aunt turned
to her brother-in-law.
81 swear to you this man shall not
marry my niece.
81 would let you know this house is
mine, not yours,
Very well, said tho ounti ''it is for
mo to leave, -
Then he said to George: "Re good
fellow. Go now and return tomorrow,
and will arrange everything.
George was about to leave when Mar
cello reopened the scene and raised her
voice TO defend him.
IF he had killed the other man,
could understand, but when he is the
wounded one and you call him an assas-
sin it is very hardl"
81 have sworn, " repeated the aunt,
"and will never consent TO this mar
riage."
NJ. de saint-Juirs, knowing her OBJ
stinacy, then said: every well. You
will not stay here. -
$50 let it be. -
But now Marcelle spoke: eff, my
aunt, You will stay, will not marry
without your consent. You replace my
mother and have given me all the kind
attentions of mother. Though will
never cease to love George, will not
disobey you.
''But it is all wrong said NJ de
Saint-Juirs
''No, papa, it is my duty" And the
young girl broke down and hastened to
her room, where she gave away to tears.
George Went to Paris.
Marcelle little by little lost her color,
her animation, her life. She was failing
rapidly, and it worried Aunt Herisson.
She confided III the good old cure, and
the result was that Marcelle was sur
prised the next morning by a loving let
ter from George. They were now to be
allowed to correspond under cover of NJ.
Barbon, in Vichy.
The letters came with perfect regu-
larity each month, but with no post
mark. Marcelle discussed this point
with Cyrille, who watched one night to
see how the letter reached Marcelle's
table in the little blue salon. She saw
Mile. Horisson herself put it there. This
was made known to NJ. de Saint-Juirs,
who arranged little counterplot.
The next month when Mile. Herisson
opened the door of the little blue salon
to carry in the letter she saw NJ. de
Saint-Juirs, George de Sernay and Mar
celle, who was half Laughing, half cry
ing.
The young people dropped before her
on their knees, kissed her hands and
said:
Your heart has melted toward us.
Now do no more and take our two heads
in your hands and bless us 4"
''Yet 1 had sworn, you rogues, " said
Aunt Herisson.
God will not reproach you for break
ing your word "-Translated From the
French For Cincinnati Post