Marble Hill press., 1896-05-14

gaily making himself master OF her
other hand.
She laughed, and drew him away to-
wards the drawing-room,
Gomez she cried, and let all the
ladies see what a tyrant am going to
marry. Come and show them what an
obstinate, unreasonable, wearisome-"
Her voice suddenly failed her, she
shuddered and turned faint DanVille's
hand had in one instant grown cold as
death in hers; the momentary touch OF
his fingers, as she felt their grasr
loosen, struck some mysterious chill
through her from head to foot. She
glanced around at him affrightedlyt
and saw his eyes looking straight into
the drawlng-room They were fixed
In 4 strange, unwayering, awful stare;
while from the rest OF his
face all expression, all charac-
ter, all recognizable play and
movement of feature had utterly gone.
1t was a breathless, lifeless mask-a
white blank. With cry Of terror, she
looked where he appeared to be looking,
and could see nothing but the stranger
standing in the middle of the drawing
room. Before she could ask a ques-
ton, before she could speak even sim
gle word, her father came to her, caught
Danville by the arm, and pushed her
roughly back into the library.
"Go there, and take the women with
you" he said in quick, fierce whisper.
Into the library"' he continued, turn
Ing to the ladies, and raising his voice.
Unto the library all of you, along with
my daughter"
The women, terrified by his manner
obeyed him in the greatest confusion
AS they hurried past him into the
library, he signed to the notary to fol-
low: and then closed the door OF com
munication between the two rooms.
stop where you are"' he cried, ad-
dressing the old officers, who had risen
from their chairs. Stay, insist on 1t
Whatever happens. Jacques Berthelin
has done nothing to be ashamed " IN
the presence OF his old friends and com
paniors. You have seen the begin
ming, now stay and see the end.
While he spoke, he walked into the
middle of the room. He had never
Quilted his hold on Danyille's arm
step by step, they advanced together tt
= the place where Trudaine was standing
"You have come into my house, ant
asked me for my daughter in marriage
and have given her to you" said thu
general, addressing DanVille quietly
''You told me that your first wife ant
her brother were guillotined three year.
ago in the time of the Terror-and be
lieyed YOU. Now look at that man
look at him straight in the face. HI
, has announced himself to me as th'
brother of your wife, and he asserts tha
= his sister is alive at this moment. On
of you two has deceived me. Which il
it?"
: Danville tried to speak; but no sount
, passed his lips; he tried to wrench hi
arm from the grasp that was on it, bu
: could not stir the old soldiers stead!
hand.
Are you afraid? are you coward
Can't you look him in the face?' asked
the general, tightening his hold sternly
Stop! Stop" interposed one of tn'
; old officers, coming forward. Give hin
t time. This may be a case of strange
, accidental resemblance, which would b'
= enough under the circumstances, to dis
Z. compose any man. you will excuse
| me, citizen" he continued, turning II
3 Trudaine. But you are a stranger; yol
/, have given no proof Of your identity.
l There is the proof" said Trudaine
5 pointing to Danville's face.
r Yes, yes" pursued the other; "h
r looks pale and startled enough, GER
tainly. But l say again-let us not b.
E too hasty; there are strange cases OF
record of accidental resemblance, ant
!, this may be one Of them"
e AS he repeated these words, Danvill
!, looked at him with a faint, crinSini
1 gratitude stealing slowly over the blanl
terror of his face. He bowed his head
1 murmured something, and gesticulate'
/, confusedly with the hand that he wa
1 free to use.
e Look cried the old officer: ,"look
Berthelin, he denies the mans iden
) tity."
1 do you hear that?" said the genera
. appealing to Trudaine. Have yo
l proofs to confute him? If you have pro
V duce them instantly"
y Before the answer could be given, th
0 door leading into the drawing-roor
t from the staircase was violently fun
Y open. and Madame Danyille-her hal
a in disorder, her face in its colorless ter
, ror, looking like the very counterpart
: of her son's-appeared on the threshold
9 with the old man Dubois and grou
$ OF amazed and startled servants benin
her.
A,..a- g. 4 a