Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-17

Olympic with her life; she knew, of
coarse, that nothing would be sad
about the loss of the diamonds till she
spoke herself. And it seemed to her as
if she had herself been stricken with
dumbness. All her shadowy fears
vanished like thin phantoms before
this terrible reality of evil. Not that
the diamonds were gone; not that any,
one could reproach her for neglect, was
she concerned. What had she ever
cared for them, other than as they rep
resented the long-descended luster of
the family itself? And it was not she
who had been robbed, any more than
the long line of all that dead and long
people. She paced the great hall and
looked angrily at the dark portraits
were the eyes there stabbing her with
rcproach for what she had brought
among them? She went out and es-
sayed to busy herself among her late
lingering flowers. 1t was no use: there
was worm at every root. When she
walked along the shore, the restless
wash and roar of the water was the
only thing in tune with the tumult OF
her thoughts. When she came in she
whirled. without reading it, a letter of
BeauxlieuX into the fire that always
smoldered on the hearth, and sat there
wrapped in cloud of gloom. She did
not eat in these days. She did not
sleep. White and thin and with n Lit.
tie brcathless air, the blacl1ness of her
gown was not SO black as the shadow
that surrounded her. '.Thev were
his!" she said over and over to herself.
like the tolling of bell. "Thev were
his-dc quelque maniere. He had only
to speak. l would have put them into
his hand. But to-oh, no, no. no. let
me not say the word! 1t is impossible.
Mother Of God and it is true! Oh! Oh,
Oh! Beauxlieux! Beauxlieux, my sonr'
And her grief was more hopeless than
that of another who buries her child.
Sometimes she would wonder if she
were dreaming. Or even, with throb
of relief, if it could be that she were
crazed. Suddenly she would deny it
all, and accuse herself of an infamy.
She to suspect the noblest, the truest,
p-'S iOtbANtsV VI itio llllC. GIG W btIltVS
evil of that upright, proud soul! And
then the facts flashed before her again
like a chain of lightning on the dark
ness-the ease that had insensibly
come into the house, the accursed
gowns. from Worth, the frequency of
the costly journeys, the repairs of the
roofs of the chateau. Where had
Beauxlicux obtained the money? ooh,
| can bear it no MORE" she cried once,
starting back from the embrasure of
the window as Nj. Etienne came in, and
not knowing that she spoke aloud, 81
can bear it no more"
pardon me-" said the monsieur.
Pardon if overhear. have seen be-
fore that your grace is troubled. Have
you lost all confidence in me, madame?
AT least, will you not remember that l
am your Physician" He stood there
as pale as she, his head bowed, his sad
eyes at her feet.
She ran toward him, but stopped,
lettering, SO that she would have
fallen but for his quick arm. ooh,
monsieur" she cried. You are all ]
have-for he has broken my heart"
You are wrong" he said to her,
when some time afterward, with sobs
and tears and wild cries and exclama-
tons, she had unburdened her heart.
st is just as much out of the question
as that the sky should fall. Doubt
Beauxlieux? would as soon-let me
say it as l would say a prayer-doubt
the Lord. 1t is simply impossible"
''Oh, so said. II"
ave will let it rest there then"
"Oh, Etienne; it is SO long that you
have been comfort, help, shield to
me-"
"And will be foreverv"
ooh, but the money, Etienne!" she
cried, with recurring memories coming
like the waves'of subsiding waters. 1--WE
who have been so long without money
all that money he must havei"
wringing her hands again.
THAT is his affair. 1t is not mine. If
the Duke des Sarazines Beauxlieux has
q purse befitting him, he came by it as
the..earth comes by the sun, through the
grace of God. 1t is not possible that
white should be black, and Beauxlieux
is white! White as innocence and good
ness. No, no, no, do not give it
thought. You wrong yourself. My
God! You've wronged him. We must
look elsewhere