The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-02-05

chede and Jacques Davanne. the art
list. The former, thou. n far from
prepossessing. with his angular
J frame and fair, insipid face, had The
advantage of family and title, be.
sides being an accomplished man OF
the world, while Davanne. who
claimed no coatof arms, made up for
the deficiency By his frank and man.
~ bearing and bis artistic talent,
which was universally acknowl-
edged.
Eva do valrev reflected upon the
respective merits of her two caval-
iers and found that she was inoapa-
BILE of making choice between them.
4
The sultry day was drawing to a
close, and a cool breeze springing up
blow softly through the leafy arches
of the great park of Grillon.
The setting sun seemed to linger
in its descent, bathing the whole ho-
rizon in its gold and purple hues and
sending its rays obliquely through
the foliage to the green moss below,
where they made little spots of
brightness among the shadows All
nature seemed to be falling into a
calm, majestic slumber
jacques Davanne walked slowly,
thoughtfulIy, through the woods,
deaf to the harsh cries of the jays
which flew away at his approach,
unconscious of everything except his
sorrow. He could think of nothing
but his love for the young countess,
and he longed for courage to throw
himself at her feet, to ask her to be
his wife-he, the poor artist While
he stood bordering at place where
several pathways met he heard the
sound of approaching footsteps, and
not wishing to be discovered in his
sad revery he shrank back into the
shrubbery. The next minute two
persons appeared, and as he caught
sight of them Davanne turned palo
| with agitation. He saw Eva de Val
rey leaning on the arm of the mar
| quis Their conversation was very
earnest, and the young widow s clear
tones reached his ear as she ex-
claimed:
"You say you love me entirely.
Why, then, should not return your
| love-
The breeze carried away the rest
of the sentence as the couple passed
on, and jacques Davanne rushed off
in the opposite direction. He was
broken hearted, desperate, for he saw
that his love was indeed hopeless
His rival was preferred before him,
and there was nothing for him to do
but to go away, to stifle his love and
his despair. Night fell, unfolding
her dark mantle spangled with sill
very stars, and still the mourner
wandered on under the spreading
trees. In the Chateau Grillon all
were sleeping, and the only sound
in the forest was the plaintive voice
of the screech owl, which from q tall
oak tree made answer to the signs of
the wanderer.
In the little oriental parlor of the
chateau sunbeams were coming
through the chinks of the closed
blinds and falling in long, slender
lines of brightness upon the mating
which covered the floor.
Eva de Valrey was gazing absent
ly at her little son, who, sitting on
q stool at her feet, was playing noisi-
ly with a wooden horse. Leaning
back on the sofa, she reflected with
a smile upon the success Of the trick
she had played on the marquis the
evening before and on her aunt's
look of horror when told of her de-
ception.
Suddenly jacques Davanne in
travelling attire entered the room.
At sight of the young countess he
drew back hastily and would have
retired, but that she spoke to him.
"Well, M. Davanne, are you very
anxious to escape from me?" she
asked gently.
"Ah, no, madame, on the con-
trary, but--but," he stammered, Il
am about to leave Grillon."
"You also?" she said, with some
bitterness. "Then the marquis has
told your"
HE has told me nothing, but /
know too well, and ] cannot stay
here and witness his triumph, his
happiness. All, do not think hate
or envy him. The simple truth is /
have been dreaming such dreams Of
bliss that my heart in falling sud-
denly from the height of its mad
hopes, has received fatal wound. "
what do you mcan?" said Eva
sadly, motioning him TO cit beside
her on the sofa. what has hap
pened to grieve you 50? Tell me
your trouble"