Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-08-05
OONSOLED.

The dull winters day was drawing 10 =
close when Marianne de COurYoy came
home from the cemetery where the re-
mains Of her fance, jean de Themines,
had been laid.
This brilliant young man, she eldest son
Of the family whose name he bore, died
from the effects u hunting aestdsnt az
Is years OF age. and on the eve Of a mar
riage ardently desired by all concerned and
one that seemed TO combine all rho condi-
tisns Of happiness.
Marianne sank down In a stass Of ez
haustion on sofa IN she drawing
room. Her strength was gone. so many
overwhelming emotions had completely
prostrated her and she tainted away. The
careful attention OF loving hands brought
her back TO consciousness. Then she swore
20 God to bury her 20 years in the sorrows
Of "a voluntary widowhood and in the sol
emn duties OF eternal fidelity TO the mem
ory Of the pas. The resolution that Mile.
de Couryoy had formed and had cnmmu-
nicated TO her family did nst take long 70
make itself known generally 10 the world.
Among people who did not know her
well she found only unbelievers. 5sr "a
ther and mother alons believed in b". re-o-
luton, for they knew her firm will and
the energy and singloncf1 OF her soul
They were convinced thac ~ ehe viaOu OF
Jean de Thcmines she would wC.r her
widow weeds forever, so much cot .inoed
indeed that they made 10 effort to G-ln4 bat
her resolution.
During the year that followed th4 death
Of her betrothed Marianne received t@O
proposals ~ marriage. She refused ghcnE
A third who arrived upon the "-ns re-
ce;ved the same treatment. Her listers
married. and their marriage furniLhcd "a
opportunity to test somewhat the strength
and depth Of the young widows resolu-
ton, hut she remained unchanged
~ am a widow" she said, ''and
widow / mean to remain" Every six
months sho spent fow weeks with jeans
mother, who lived since bis den,a in re-
tirement In the Chateau OF Themires.
When she returned to her parents after
these periodical absehces, she showed the
same disposition TO remain single. and by
degrees the conviction at which The world
had laughed was accepted as serious and
hnal.
1t was believed that Mile de Couryoy
would never marry again.
Mime. de Thenines had n second son,
Pierre dc Themines. Ho 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 betrotbed to Jean he
was away in Asia on voyage OF explora-
ten, and although after his brothers
death he had signified his intention Of
coming home for two years he had been
detained by the delays OF ~ long and diff
cult Journey. His mother was still wait
ing for his return.
Sho awaited his arrival with impatience
that wns the more keen because she bad
not been able to console herself for the
death of her eldest son or to I'll the void
caused by that loss. Her grief was only
partially alleviated when she was able to
talk of Pierre, her second sor, In whom
all her hopes were now conferred. She
hoped that soon after his return home he
would marry and By his marriage bring
back to her hearth and home some of the
Joy and light that Jehn's death had over
shadowed.
Marianne was almost the only person to
whom the old lady had conflded this hope.
She was the person to whom, In preference
10 all others, she spoke OF the absent one.
She would praise his excellent qualities of
heart, his personal appearance and his
character.
"He is the exact image of HIS brother"
she would often say.
Marianne heard 80 much about Pierre,
read so many Of his letters saw his pic
lures and heard his praise 80 often and -
loudly sung that she began TO feel an in
terest in him, although she had never seen
him. She began to form in her mind a
picture of what he should be II his char
aoter and appearance Ind been truly
drawn.
But in this interest she fel& for the nb-
sent Pierre was no trace Of the love she
bad conceived for Jean. She merely pro-
fessed for Pierre, without knowing him,
the affection that she was bound to feel
for every body who bad loved or known
Jean. She looked upon herself in some
sense as his sister, and she would have
protested strongly against any suggestion
that the character Of her affection for this
unknown brother could change into love.
One evening while she wns staying at
che chateau n 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 you will love
him." said Nine. dc TheInines to Mari
anne.
She attached to these words no special
meaning, but when hs came into the room
she was overwhelmed. Mms. dc Themines
had not exaggerated when she said that
Pierre was the image Of Jean.
Marianne thought tl.at 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. II was the voice OF
the dead man, and in the accent md turn
he gave to them It was as II she were nc
tually in the presence of the dead jean and
listening to his words from tho grave.
This interview resulted in an attack Of
prostration.
On tho following day shs made hurrisd
preparations to go away, as II some dan
ger threatened her But Nine do The,
mines would not allow her to depart.
"K you go away now" she said, you
win throw q shadow over the 10y feel at
the return OF my son."
So Marianne did not go away. In spite
OF her alarm there soon took place in her
transformation that, unknown to her
self, resulted In the awakening Of hopes
that she would not admit.
Once again she experienced in talking
with Pierre the charm that she had loved
30 well with his brother Jean.
With the help Of this illusion her heart
opened and warmed once again with love.
One day Mime. de Themines came up TO
her and whispered in her ear:
'Pierre loves you, my dear girl. Love
him"
She did love him. Now they are mar
ried -Exchnnoe