The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-07-12

llDcSS ne murmur0u 10 nlI0Seil
Man is strange creature. There
is bu, one animal to which he may be
compared. and that is-man.."
Clemence Villa was gazed at With
envious eyes y the thoughtless. giddy
throng which lowered around the gam
ing tables at Monte Carlo. Not only
does the poor lover with delicate con-
sideratiOn commit suicide. and his rich
friend make haste to fall madly in love
with her. but size wins .O,HOO francs in
the very nick OF time for her trousseau
She is in luck
This was the gist of the conversation
at tie Casino.
To LAY that Clemence enjoyed her
suddenly &c iuirel notoriett would be
putt rs it YER mildly she fairly rev.
tled in it. 1t seemed to impart Il new
charm to her beauty. Il new strength
TO her powers of fa>cinati L. Admirers
sprang up like armed men from the
dragons teeth. and We're Just alb Dut rs
r"aiy to destroy each other: but as
Clemcnce, with persistent and seem
ingly unaffected constaLcy, turrel u
deaf ear to the honeyed words of all
these woo Is. Jacques de Eignes felt
tlattcrcd by ne vehemence of the court
paid to the beautiful woman whose
smiles seemed to be 81 carfully gar
nercd for h III.
The fa:t il. tlcmence Villa, with
the quick sightedness of the woman IF
the world. had noted in herself the
first faint trace, invisible to the keen
est observer. of decaying charms. The
discovery had alarmed her. and she
had not been slow in coming to con-
clusion, which was to draw Jacques de
\ignes INTO marriage Is speedily a
possible. She saw tina: in the natural
cour of events her reign as queen
in Bohemia must come soon to 4 close.
and she called to mind the utter heart
lessness and cruelty with which the
dethrOned rulers of that l-detine1
but 10y no means shalOwy kingdom
we're abandoned by the courtiers and
followers of former days.
Once Jacques de Eign IS wife, her ca
reer as a daughter of Bohemia would
soon he forgotten, and his honorable
name would slowly but surely lift her
from the slip, erv paths she had trod-
den to the firm, safe and pleasing
ground OF eminent res cctahllitv. Ii
was dream that such woman often
INDUCES in. bnt has not the moral c our
age to tranfo:m into reality. Glenn
encc Villa lacked nothing less than she
did audaci;y. 1t had been the keynote
of her success in life. 1t had given
her mediocrity as an actress the stamp
of talent. She had taaen the world
10y TIE throat. rather than by the
heart. She had not corrupted the jury:
she had Ovcrawcd it.
Never was man 50 Ovcrwhe med with
tenderness. so literally bc,ieged with
attention and consideration. as .lacq ueS
de Eignes 10y Clemcnce Villa. 1t was
| a revelation to him. He had been &C.
| custt IN ID to look upon woman as full
of guile, many hundred times gentlcr
! than doves when occasion required.
but always great deal wiser than the
best educated serpent 1t is not to be
wondered at that jacques was touched
| by these delightful manifestations of
| tirelcss devotion and unaffected unself-
| iShnesS. In few short weeks he
found himself, as Davidotf had phrascd
| it. "foolishly. unrcas onably. mad1y" in
| love with Ciemence Villa.
Iulictte noticed his frequent and
protracted absences from home, and
was not a little surprised at Nine. de
! Nignes' calmneSs and composure under
such circumstances. When he did
make his appearance. Jacques was Ii
, amiability and gentieEess. but. with
a woman's intuition. .Juliette felt that
| there was certain Indifference latent
under all this show Of friendliness.
/ Nothing occurred to mar the serenity
Of the existence which had spread its
gentle powers of fascination over
Jacques untii toward the clo-e of the
season. and the lease OF the pretty lit
tie rOee-colCreG cottage rented by
Clemence was about TO run out.
Now or never" thought the en-
chantress. Is her thoughts were busy
with her approaching return to Paris.
She. knew only too we'll how danger
Gus it would b, for herto allow Jac4 ues
to taste the pleasure Of life at the
capital after his miraculous restora
ton to health. unless the scheme OF
marriage could bc first carried out
That evening a dread feeling Of I'M
certainty took possession OF her. She
followed la cues To the door and en-
deavored - get from him a p: Omisc Il
return tomorrow morning and break
fast with her. But all in vain. He
would set no hour.
"Good-ry. good-hy. my sw Ct" va:
his CHEEKY cry. as he walked toward
the door: don't be foolish. you shall
SEE me again Tomorrow some time. L
will not be long before YOU shall SCI
ne again
|
Elemenres bloodles- lips in strang
ling voice. As she staggered bach
aga nst the wall.
For God 5 sake. Clemence what
The natter" criea lie >ignes. catch
ing her in his arms. Why. how al,
goa are, How YOU tremble. Let m,
call your maid
Ne No." sasped Clemence: it viii
soSn tie ever: a sort Of vision came Owe
me. ny darling: it seemed as if l Wa
parting with you forever. I'm bette
now. Now II let you go. dear Jace ues
bu, come early tomorrow: you will
won't YOU:
"Ie-. yes, certainly replied D,
Nigne,: and now that you re ailing
sweetheart. III come and take break
last with Y u" and. aging his hant
upon the knob OF the door. ne drew
himself up IN mock dignity and ex
> claimed in measured tones: Neve
mind your visions. tiemence, you sha.
/ ga. nr,4Iy ~ ~