The Yale expositor., 1895-08-16


mot unpleasantly). Ibid he say any
thing about my attack of cholera"'
"Not a word. OF course he did not
know of it, or he would have told me-"
''No. he would not. He did know il;
but he knew also would not wish you
to learn of my sickness until your re-
turn" Then after brief hesitation,
"Vivette, it was Joseph Gust nursed
me all through that terrible agony"
The girl started, suppressed an ex-
clamation, but ma lie no response.
''Do You know anything of Joe
Gusts history? Has he told you any
of his suspicious as to his parentage?
Have you heard anything about that
matter in any way?"
Not word, papa. from him or from
others. Why, papa"
Every good. DO not ask him il you
meet-as | suppose you Will"
you did not forbid that, papa"
"No; | do not now forbid it. Has
your cousin Adolf asked your handP"
"Ile has"
"You rejected him?"
at gave me great pain to do So on
your account, papa-and his"
Il can not doubt your word, my
daughter; but you know the alterna-
tive?"
81 pledged you not to marry without
your approval. l can not break my
word. even"
Even for Joe Gust, my pet? Never
mind, keep your pledge. And nov for
the Gray Sulphur"
And for two hours Vivettc recited to
her father what she had learned of the
Blalkes and their history-Molier TAX
ing notes in his memorandum book.
At length he said:
And neither yourself nor anybody
else has any suspicion as to what be-
came of jeff Blake and-and the boy?"
~ have none, certainly; and know
that Mrs Blake has none. She told me
all her feelings. She is noble woman,
papa"
Good night, my daughter. 1t is
getting late"
And when Vivctte had retired, Old
Charley talked to himself:
Get the whole story-old Tom
was his grandfather-Sam Blake
well his uncle-great scoundrel-
father was Jeff-high life folks, and
rich-Joe's MN all over-has got
Kentucky blood!-gets the whole es-
tate by the will-sorry for Adolf,
though; couldn't be helped-bad about
the medal; but the wax will cure that
and that lost memorandum may
breed trouble"
And so he muttered on for half an
hour, when he prepared for bed, say
ing as he tumbled in:
III bring Mr.. Sam BLACKWELL 10
time" And in ten minutes he snorcd
like one with clear conscience.
And now Adolf Molier was prepar-
! ing for his return TO New Qcleans. He
had been met with such an emphatic
NO" from his cousin Vivette' lips-all
regardful of his feelings though ii had
been-that he abandoned his suit in
despair, though he loved her all the
more. lie had never read certain
now oft-quoted poem, but he medi-
tated on what might have been" like
one forsaxen of all men as well as one
woman. But Vivette kissed him good
| bye when he left with much honest
cousinly warmth, but not a spark of
love. And Adolf left for New Orleans
wise enough to be thankful for What
he got, remembering pr. Goforth's phi
losophy, and rcgretrlng that he was
not six feet high in his stockings.
A few days after Adolf Molier had
departed for New Orleans, Mr.. Joseph
Gust, Junior, called at Charley Molier's
| jewelry store to say that he had been
| commissioned by his father and mother
to invite Mr.. Molier and daughter to
be present at the thirty-first anniver-
sary of their marriage. And he re-
quested that the old man should COM
municate the invitation to his daugh-
| ter
They deserve to be your father and
mother, Joe-excuse me; knew you
as Little joe when you did not know
yourself-and for Gusts sake--I have
! known him for twenty years-and for
yours, Mr.-Gust, / would like to be
there. But never go out. Vivette will
go; she is in her room; she would be
pleased TO have her invitation at first
hands VIII you go up?-first door to
the right above stairs"
Gust needed no urging; he went at
once.
vivette was pleased, and promised to
go, of course. 1t had been long since
they had met under her fathers roof,
though they had frequently met else
where; and her father had himself sent
him up. They discussed this fact, and
wondered what might be its import.
They did not talk tender nonsense;
their love was too well established for
that; and arranging that Gust was TO
call for her at in the evening"
the long baffled lovers separated with
hope renewed.
At the appointed hour there were
gathered at the pleasant home of Mr..
and Mrs Joseph Gust, a small and
select because carefully selected COM
pany. Among these, Rev. William
Burky, ("Billy Burky" as everybody
called HIM, was certainly the most
noted. He had, in his day, tied the
| marriaoc knot more frequently than