The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-09-12

ate only very little, just enough to
sustain me, and even that with diff
Guilty. Every mouthful stuck in my
throat.
In the midst of the breakfast JUS
tine opened the door.
"Madame, Monsieur de yalente has
left his glass eye in his room. Shall i
send it to him"
Had the heavens been opened to let
fall on the table the sun and the moon
l couldn't have felt a greater shock.
The end of the world will, perhaps, be
nothing to equal it. repeated
with horror:
"His glass eye, Justinep"
"Yes, mademoiselle it is on his
washstand."
Mamma grew pale, but remained
calm.
every we'll, Justine, You may leave
the room. We will see IL II is neces-
sary to send it to him."
1 had only two ways to express my
intense emotion-either to faint or
burst into convulsive sobs. chose
the latter.
"Mamma-mamma, he has a glass
eyel Good heavens, is it possible?
How horrible 1 shall never console
myself | shall die of grief"
"Calm yourself, my child, calm
yourself. 1t is ridiculous to put your
self in such state. This gentleman
has deceived us, that is all. Ialways
thought he had rather queer express
sion"
Mamma had risen, and 1 was sob.
bing on her breast.
"Why did he not tell me? I, who
had avowed all my own defects-the
wisdom tooth, aud the anger-all-
everythingl Dear me! How unhappy
am! And only last evening he had
said you are the Joy of my eyes. He
should have said, You are the Joy of
my eye All, it is dreadful-dread-
full"
"Comc, calm yourself don't cry
like this. 1 tell you it is ridiculous.
Think no more about it try to restrain
yourself. How unfortunate it is that
things have gone so far. Only eight
days before the wedding, and every
body ready! Well, it is lucky we
found it out in time
hardly listened. One question
burned in my throat.
81 am sure he must have lost that
eye in some honorable, magnificent
way it is a wound of which he should
be proud; in saving some one, perhaps
from n fire; in sacrificing himself, it
is certain-he is so good, he has such
noble sentiments. quite understand
he would dislike confcssing it."
"What do you say? Are you crazy?
Do you think l am going to allow you
to marry this man with such an in
trinity? You, beautiful as you are,
and only seventeen, and with your
fortune, too? No! a thousand times
no. my child. Do not weave for your
self romance of devotion and sacri-
flee, it is perfectly useless. 1 will
never consent to your marriage with
a man with one eye. Should he lose
the otherh would be quite blind, and
how agreeable that would bel"
"But, mamma, will be his faithful
dog 1 will lead him. will take
care of him, and l will love him in
spite of his intirmity, in spite of every
thing which interferes to separate us. "
Twas in an extraordinary state of
exaltation. My sobs began again
harder than over, and did not promise
soon to stop, when Justine re-entered
the room, her honest face showing
every expression of astonishment and
stupefaction.
''It isn't possible that madamoiselle
can put herself in such state because
Monsieur de Yalente has forgotten his
eye at all events, he can buy another
if he needs it before this evening, and
he won't throw himself in the river
because he hasn't that thing in his
face.
And Justine showed me, hanging
delicately at the end of her fingers,
Raouls monocle that I knew 80 we'll,
with its round glass, encircled with
tortoise she'll, which seemed to me for
the moment like a luminous halo.
My emotion forbade me speaking,
Mamma, however, went quickly TOWARD
Justine.