The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-14

upon the waves OF desperate Irritation.
But tho young mans fancy was short
lived. 1t was not long before the shall
low attractions of the Italian beauty
ceased to please him, and he longed to
escape from her altogether But Othel-
los jealousy was puerile compared to
hers. Montbrun was fairly afraid of
her. He dared not tell her outright what
the gradual decline of his attentions
portended. He had simply dropped
note to her upon his departure for Vitre
bidding her a long farewell and intimat-
ing that he might never see her again.
AS she believed that he had no means of
procuring his address, he thought him
self now we'll out of her way.
Mass was over, and people were be.
ginning to come out Of the church.
Suddenly Montbrun was seized with ad-
miration. Amid the crowd he had
caught sight Of the face of young girl
Never in his most ardent dreams had he
Imagined aught SO lovely as that face
with its ideal lines, its more than earth
ly beauty--beauty SO calm, SO SERENE
so radiantly pure that it seemed that of
one of Gods angels. He wondered if it
were possible that such creature exist
ed. He held his breath as he gaZed on
her descending the church steps, smil-
ing at an older woman who accompa-
MED her, her mother doubtless Instinc-
lively Montbrun followed them from
afar and saw them enter small house
of modest appearance. Taking the num-
har ba f, fba bntaI aud ae1-oI
for information.
''That beautiful girl? Mile. dc La
rade. Her father was an excellent man.
His family were rich before the revolu-
tion, but each succeeding generation had
sold off little by little land and fields
and woods to keep up their rank.
Finally poor NJ de Larade had taken
refuge in small building formerly oc-
cupied by his intendant. There he lived,
as best he could, with his wife, nee
Laroche- Glaieul, and his daughter
Jeanne. He had probably not more than
1900 or /, 900 francs income, but the
ladies knew how to live on very little,
while he, poor gentleman, had even
given up taking snuff. "
The viscount wrote to his notary at
Paris, requesting him to at once send
him letter of introduction to notary
of Vitre and to apprise that gentleman
that he, Montbrun, came of good fam
lily, had the reputation Of being man
of honor and was not without fortune,
after which the notary of Vitre would
effect his acquaintance with q 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 thought, came again and again to
her home and was finally accepted as
her future husband upon certain condi-
tions. Montbrun promised everything
they wished He was In an ecstasy of
bliss during the few weeks which pre-
ceded the day fixed for his marriage.
In the midst of his dreaming he re-
ceived through his notary--he had care
fully concealed his address from all
others-a letter from one of his friends,
who wrote him that Paula Salimberi
was seeking him in every direction and
uttering direful threats.
At length the eventful day arrived.
The contract had been signed. Two
friends of Montbrun had come from
Paris to serve him as witnesses, and
on the 10th Of September, at II in the
morning, the guests left in carriages 70,
the mayors office. The viscount and
two or three persons were speaking
with functionary at that office when
they were startled by piercing scream,
followed by long clamor of voices.
Rushing to the windows. they saw 8
hurrying crowd, amid which small
group were massed about rceumbent
form
"What has happened?" exclaimed
Montbrun, almost suffocated by appre
hension.