Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-26

He went away. For month and q
half was entirely alone. He returned
the old and happy, devil may care lad.
You should have seen the joyous man
ner in which he greeted me. Everything
was we'll as far as he was concerned.
He was to marry her.
1 thought should faint upon hearing
the news. 1 could no longer restrain
myself 1 told him all knew Of this
Juliette, for I had gathered no end of
information concerning her. knew
some stories connected with her name
that Vie Parisienne would hardly dare
print, and those fellows, you know,
publish anything. l admit some Of the
narrative would not hold water; maybe
many were inventions pure and simple,
bat preferred to believe everything,
and told Maurice all knew, endeavor-
ing at the same time to inspire him
with confidence in my reports He lis
tened attentively and, without words
reply, went away. l saw him bite his
lips as he withdrew; his face was deadly
pale.
When he came in at night he en-
braced me in his usual fashion and said
in a tone that forbade further argument:
"See here, little mother; you mustn't
talk that way to me. 1t is highly un-
dignified in a woman to repeat such in
famous tales concerning another. JUL
cite deserves my love, and loves me with
all her heart. Pray, do not force me to
choose between her and my mother. "
Well, they married Although JUL
cite invited me, would not live with
them. 1 could not have done so. l
packed my things and with the two old
servants buried myself in small sub
urban villa Maurice visited me quite
frequently. On Sundays he took lunch
con at my house. AS to my daughter
in-law, saw her only when 1 went to
the city. So two years went by, the
sorTiest of my life. LACED at least dec
ade during that unhappy period. No
deceived wife, no deserted mother, has
ever been more tantalized by the pangs
Of jealousy than was.
did not begrudge her his kisses and
caresses-he had made so many others
happy with that sort Of thing-but she
was his friend, his confdant. She was
all that 1 had been to him. She repre-
sented the great turning point in his
life, and l was nothing to himl
During the first year of their mar
riage he created not a single canvas
The salon knew him not Perhaps you
won't believe it, but l felt highly elated
at that l said to myself: "She is in his
way. She binders the development Of
his genius. He will sicken Of that. "
But my calculations went for naught,
for in the year that followed he sur
passed himself by 1.-THE Death of Ma
non," that grand painting which drew
the prize of the salon. Strange to say, l
did not feel any satisfaction at this either
Il had once lived but to see him
succeed.
1.-THE Death of Manon" panied me.
That 1.-THE body, those red curls, those
alga eyes-they belonged to her whom
hated. Still he never neglected me.
Every now and then Maurice visited his
old mother, and after awhile l noticed
he came oftener and remained longer.
Had anything happened? 1t seemed to
me as if he had something to confde,
but hesitated and suffered because he
hesitated.
Mothers eyes are uncommonly sharp
My poor darling undoubtedly was I'M
dergoing fortunes, and who loved him
80 we'll knew the cause of his unhappi-
ness, but could not bear to ask him to
free his mind on my bosom. In fact,
did not want him to obtain relief.
meant he should feel the extreme sor-
rows of the position he had got himself
into, bear it all alone, wanting consola-
ton, crying in vain for sympathy.
desired him to return to me exhausted
and all forlorn. Then, and only then,
would heal his wounds, and he would
forever thank me for saving him.
And as this Juliette ceased to be my
rival, my hatred for her diminished.
While they were happy, cared not to
visit them. Now, when dissolution was
threatening, invited myself and staid
for days and weeks, for there were things
to be found outl What an observer
came to be-a regular spy and detective,
and in the end got it all down fine. My
daughter-in-lawh had no adorer so far,
but her breast yearned for a change.
Let us reconnoiter, said to myself, and
attended one of her "at homes.
Presto, found the man whom she
was eager to capture. He was one Of
those with whom she had flirted when
a girl, perhaps her first sweetheart; now
that she knew what love was she meant
to possess him, for women drag the
chain Of their initial enchantment for
ever after them, and often submit to the
original yoke in after life against theil
will.
Appeased, full of hope for the future
I returned to my quiet home in the
suburbs, more settled in my mind ant
convictions, happier than 1 had been fo
long time. And when, after six weeks
my poor, beloved Maurice threw himself
upon my neck, crying, desolate, bu
also storming, full of rage, furious an(
violent against the woman who had de
serted him, opened my arms wide anC
thanked God who had given him bacl
to me.
All my former torments were forgot
ten. Maurice was himself again, be
longed once more to me; the other WON
an was conquered. From the French.
He Knew 1t.
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