The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-09


Letitia augured no good from this
silence She withdrew her hand, and,
turning away her head, began to
weep.
At this Greuze awoke from his
dream.
"Do I love you?' he cried. ''Ah!
I.etitia! Behold me! l am lost in &C.
stasy now tnat l see you again"
'You love mer' she jOyfully eX-
claimed.
She threw herself into his arms,
and for Il second there was there but
single soul. Greuze was the first
to break the spell.
"Alasr' said he, Eve are but chill
dren. Think of it, Letitia. You love
me? But you are the daughter of the
Duke of Orr. / adore you; but | am
poor painter without fame and for
, tune. Love mocks me cruelty"
you do not know what you are
saying" replied Letitia, who was
still under the charm; Il love you,
and will marry you; it is perfectly
simple
You cannot think of it. Your
| father
my father. my father! I am quite
aware that he has in view for me Il
| hideou3 old husband, his everlasting
| CaZsa-or, il case he should fail, that
idiotic Count Palleri whom | have
never seen. l am rich, fortunately,
| by inheritance from my mother. L
give you my wealth, my heart, my
| life. all that L have. if you will love
me forever. We will go to France,
| and there cottage will be better to
is than palace. Greuze will be-
T II lNr |,
| l shall be there to smooth his brow
| and to love him; l shall dwell in his
heart. But why do you look so sad!
| Do you not love me truly?'
GreuZe allowed himself to be led;
| he forgot the claims of nobility; with
Letitia he built the most charming
to himself again.
| a duke?"
what child you are:' said Lett
tia. What are those sounding titles
worth? What do you want of them:"
And as she spoke, the lovely italian
leaned toward her lover like a gra-
ciOus fairy, took his blonde head be-
| tween her delicate hands, and gave
| him on the forehead a kiss so sweet
| that it would have awakened Alain
Charter.
| ''There!' said she, with a charming
smile, ''is not that as good as any
title?'
But they were obliged to part.
Greuze went away happy, deeply
charmed, promising to come again
the next day.
Tomorrow" said Letitia, ''you
| shall not go away alone
| Once out of the palace, however,
the painter felt Eden lay behind him.
| Farewell, enchantment! Greuze be-
| comes reasonable once more; he dares
not give himself up to the poetry of
his adventure.
| "No," said he, mo; 1 will not bring
| desolation to the house of this noble
Duke of Orr. Letitia is blind; |
must see for her" He gave up all his
illusions and his hopes; his love alone
remained.
| The next day, when he came to
Letitia, he was pale and heart-brokcn;
his victory had cost him many tears.
"Ah! Letitia,' said he, Il am sad,
because 1 love you too well, because
give you up, my holiest and purest
joy. Yesterday 1 was mad, 1 listened
only to my heart. Today
| Are you serious?" cried Letitia.
almost in anger. '"Then you do not
love me. You have broken my heart.
Go! Let me suffer alone. 1 will never
see you again.
And she waved him to the door.
Again Greuze had not the strength to
withstand so much love. He threw
himself at her feet, and swore to
obey her like slave.
| "Then," said she resolutely, "let us
leave at once. Ny father is with
| Count Palleri; when he returns. we
shall be far away. A carriage is at
the door; L have provided for every
thing; L was not afraid like you.'
She drew Greuze to the door of the
chamber, and cast a last look behind
her. She suddenly grew pale, and
Greuze felt her tremble.
what is it, Letitia?" he cried.
seizing her hands.
"Look!'' she replied, growing still
paler, "look!''
She was gazing wildly at her
fathers picture. 1t was one of
Greuze's portraits, and, like all his
heads, it had so tender and sweet an
expression that ones heart was
| touched at sight of it. The duke
seemed to reproach his daughter sad
| ly for leaving him thus. In her
| heart, which throbbed violently. her
father contended with her love
| Greuze dared not speak.
Il cannot CO." said she; support
| me, and lead me back"
| Il, too, have no strength" he sadly
| replied. "One last kiss, Letitia. be-
| fore your fathers eyes-and farewell
| forever"
She began to weep, held out both
hands TO GreuZe, and said in a
| broken voice:
Il thank you; farewellw
Five weeks later the Duke of Orr
again entered tn. artists studio.
My dear Greuze,'' said he. ssmy
daughter greatly desires you to paint
her portrait. Can you come tomor-
row?"
The next day at the rxlace of CIR
the painter found Count Palleri care
lessly embracing Letitia, who blushed
Mt the sight of Greuze.
MY daughter is married." said the
duke. Had 1 forgotten to tell YOU
of it,"
The Daintor bou,a6 10 TIL