The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-01
THE WIDOW.

of her fance, Jean de Themanes, had been
laid.
This brilliant young man. the eldest son
of the family whose name he bore. died
from the effects of a hunting accident at
% years of age, and on theseve of a mar
riage ardently desired by all concerned and
one that seemed to combines all the condi-
tions Of happiness.
Marianne sank down in state. of ex-
haustion on sofa in the deawings room.
Her strength was exhausted. So many
overwhelming emotions hEd completely
FRUSTRATED her, and she fain5ed away. The
careful attention of loving bands Brought
her back to consciousness Ehen she swOre
to God to bury her 20 years i'm the sorrows
of voluntary widowhool and in she sol
emn duties of eternal fidelity to the mem
DRY of the past. The resolution that Mile.
de Courvoy had formed and had c5mmu-
nioated to her family did net take cong to
make itself known generally to theworld.
Among people who did not know her
well she found only unbelievers Her ia
Their and mother alone believed in Fer res
olution, for they knew her firm will and
the energy and singleness of her soul.
They were convinced that as the widow of
Jean de Themines she would wear her
widow weeds forever, SO N uch convinced,
indeed, that they made no; effort to COM
bat her resolution.
During the year that followed the death
of her betrothed Marianne received two
proposals of marriage. She refused them.
A third who arrived upon 1.-The scene re-
ceived the same treatments Her sisters
married, and their marriage furnished an
opportunity to test somewhat the strength
and depth of the young widows fesolu-
ton, but she remained Unchanged.
Il am a widow she said land "a wild
ow I mean to remain" Every six months
she spent few weeks with 1ean nAother,
who lived since his death in retirement in
the chateau of Themines.
When she returned to her parents after
these periodical absences, sac showed the
same disposition to remain single, and by
degrees the conviction at wAich the world
had laughed was accepted as serious and
final.
1t was believed that Nile de Courvoy
would never marry again
Nine de Themines had a second son,
Pierre de Themines. He was younger than
Jean and was now at the age at which his
brother had met death in the hunting
field.
Marianne did not know him. At the
time when she was betrothed to Jean he
was away in Asia on a voya ye of eaplora-
ton, and although after gals brothers
death he had signi6ed his intention Of
coming home for two years he had been
detained by the delays of a long and diff
cult journey. His mother vas Etin wait
ing for his return.
She awaited his arrival with impAtience
that was the more keen BECAUSE she had
not been able to console herself for the
death of her eldest son or to fill the void
caused by that loss Her g*ief was only
partially alleviated when size was able to
talk of Pierre, her second kon, in whom
all her hopes were now conferred. She
hoped that soon after his rekurn home he
would marry and by his marriage. bring
back to her hearth and home some of the
joy and light that jeans death had over
Swallowed.
Marianne was almost the only person to
whom the old lady had confEded this hope.
She was the person to whoms in preference
to all Others she spoke of tie absent enc.
She would praise his excellent qualities of
heart, his personal appearance aad his
character.
He is the exact image of his brother"
she would often say.
Marianne heard SO much about Pierre,
read SO many of his LETTERS saw his pic
lures and heard his praise SD often and so
loudly sung that she began; to feel:an in
terest in him, although she lad never seen
him. She began to form If her Lnind a
picture of what he should bh If his char
acter and appearance had been truly
drawn.
But in this interest shefeit for tne alb
sent Pierre was no trace OF the leve she
had conceived for Jean. She merely pro-
tossed for Pierre, without knowing him,
the affection that she was bound to feel
for everybody who had loved or known
Jean. She looked upon hefself in some
sense his sister, and she woulG have
protested strongly against ANY suggestion
that the character of her affection far this
unknown brother could change into love.
One evening while she.wAs staying at
the chateau a letter came announcing the
arrival of Pierre in the COUNTRY. 1t was
followed two hours later by Pierre him
self
you will see him, and 5ou viii love
him. said Nine. de ThesnGnes to Mari
anne
She attached to these words no Special
meaning, but when he came into the room
she was overwhelmed. M1nes de Themines
had not exaggerated when she sai1 that
Pierre was the image of Jeap.
Marianne thought that she saw before
her the old lover alive from the dead. The
same face, the same hair, the same frame
and build and the same manners. She
listened for his voice 1t was the voice Of
the dead man, and in the accent and turn
he gave to them it was as if she were ao-
fully in the presence of the dead jean and
listening to his words from the grave.
This interview resulted in an att&ck Of
prostration.
On the following day she snade hurried
preparations to go away, as is some danger
threatened her. But Nine. de Themines
would not allow her to depaEt.
If you go away now, Z sIse saidr ''you
will throw a shadow over the joy feel at
the return of my son.
| of her alarm there soon took place in her q
transformation that, unknown to herself,
resulted in the awakening df hopes that
| she would not admit.
| Once again she experienced in talking
with Pierre the charm that she had loved
SO well with his brother Jean.
With the help of this illusion her. heart
ODened and vvarned once again vvitE love