The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-02
THE SECOND LOVE.

lently when he found himself in the pres
ence of the man upon whose decision his
future so depended.
NJ lie Hecqueux a fatherly-looking gen.
rIeman OF about forty-five with greyish hair
and clear, true eye, looked at him for a
few minutes as though he did not grasp the
intellectual and moral value of the man who
came to him to ask for the most precious
thing he owned. Kindly he pressed his hand
and asked him to be seated, and divinine~
the anguish which choked his throat, he be-
gan the conversation.
Il received your letter." he said, land.
sincerely. my dear Pierre your offer is quite
an honor. 1 have also heard my daughters
ideas. So you see ] have undergone tortures
since yesterday. Ah poor dear children.
How little you understand life! You have
seen each other here. in society, and pure
and tender love has grown out of it-and
both of you come to me and beg me to unite
your destinies- Ah why is this fatherIy
care not be allowed me?''
Pierre. very pale, lifted his hands in sup
plication.
you are man, Pierre; you have given
us the proof. Hardly two years have elapsed
since you voluntarily offered your life for
your country-that terrible year-yes. Weigh
my words, indulgent to my selfshness, if
YOU choose so to name my prudence, and
the unique love with which 1 surround
Alice even in the future You are an engi-
neer: you are twenty-seven years old, and
have as yet no assured position. But l have
no doubt of your ability in that respect; you
will make a name for yourself. But in the
meanwhile? And, again, you and Alice have
decided that there shall be no dot, you de-
sired that, under pretext that you were
n
How give her the luxury to which she is
accustomed?'
Monsieur lie Hecqueux, you are very
hard: you leave no room for hope, much
less for love, which means mutual devo-
ton" interrupted Pierre Bresson, sadly.
sOh, yes, L do. 1 doubt neither you nor
Alice I know her to be noble soul, ca
pable of sacrifice; but this sacrifice is ex-
actly what 1 won't allow. l do not want
TO think that she can in ecstacy of hap
piness-even for love-sacrif1ce herself And
you, Pierre, if you love her, would you
wish t?'
I'VE love each other. You reason things
out; we do not
And even should you accept the dot
which I give to Alice-would it suffice? I'm
fortunately, it is not what l had hoped to
make it. We have had some very hard
struggles. and great deal has to be made
over again.
Pierre arose his eyelids swollen by tears
which he had not allowed to show them
.'Forgive me, Monsieur lie Hccqueux; we
have acted like children. Tell Mademoiselle
Alice that my, love for her IS sucn IL a. l
myself: that she should make none. 10
give her up is the greatest one can make.
4 great emotion overcame the father also
He took Pierre affectionately by the Shout
II will tell Alice all your words, and
later on both she and you will understand
that ] am not cruel, even though my eX-
alas! But it is pleasant for me to give you
some proof of my esteem Tor you. You sn lal
write to her; you shall tell ner goodbye ..o,,
Tears suddenly sprang to Pierres eyes.
He pressed NJ. lie Hecqueuxs hands, Ieel-
ing in his words bitter happiness
mo your heart is not 1nhuman. Ihank
pierre wrote to Alice, his first and, alas!
last letter He told her he was leaving Tor
a region yet unknown, far away from
France-no matter where-that he might De
alone in his misery
Monsieur Robert Bresson, Wnere are you
Young, twenty-four, perhaps: very slen-
der under his opened overcoat Robert Bres-
son stopped at the call from this tender
musical voice, and a happy smile lighting
his rather brown face encountered the tiInld
smile of the blushing child - child, even
sbnuyb eiphteen wears old, because she was
SO gentle and candid, with her sunny golden
soh. Mademoiselle Alice, I beg your par
don" -, ,aor,,,
lady seated on the beach near her.
mo Monsieur BreSson, my aunt does not
deserve your smiles; she has just scolded
Alice. you are really such a child! But
really, where were you gong so rapiuiy
that you did not see your friends! I'll,
11oT rHn
see NV father arrives by the next train,
coming from Transvaal to Biarritz; Al Al
though living for the last few years in Paris,
he still has mining interests out there.
really think he gets homesick for TransVaal
where he has lived and worked Tor twenty
How happy you two must be! We are
happy too, as mamma, who has been stay
do not know, also arrived this morning
But you had better hurry. But remember
we are going on a picnic to the mountains:
Oh bring your father, will you? Pace OF
starting from the beach. you know"
Yes indeed. I believe, said he slowly
looking at her with a grave and tender re-
spect. yes, l think he will be the 1lrst 10
want to come after we have talked toSetnef
It was now the turn of the blushing child
whose heart was unconSclously becoming
that of a woman, to become grave ,,4o7
In the little villa which he had rented
In anticipation of his arrival Robert pro-
longed the respectful and frlenoiy cong gS
i
winter night between the sea ana tne
mountains was as pure and mild as sum-
mer evening, just slightly troubled py
chilly breeze. 80, - 49,
And YOU love her so much?" asked
Pierre Bresson with a charming SInile
which seemed to bring the suggestion OF d
past melancholy. o+
yes. father I am perhaps young YET
as you say but are you not satlsneo VIII VIII
my ability? Here / am, an engineer, , nhe
YOU; to be rich, very rich, did not sulI1ce.
want to be man, also, like you 1ou
will see her tomorrow, won't you! you Viii
see how gentle and charming she is. Her
name is Alice. ,,.e,, 1,iarra
She too?" murmured thoughtfully Pierre
Bresson. -. z,.,,,,+
Yes 80 nv Robert. And if she loves you
as YOU love her-you know your rather
wish is to see you happy, entirely happy.
Thank you, father. -
The morning of the next day seemed loIg.
At o'clock precisely about hfteen peopIe
were assembled on the beach. Alice par
mant caught sight of Robert frst, ana came
NV father" said Robert-"Pierre Bres-
SON"
aOh Monsieur, how kind of you to come,
after YOUR long journey! Monsieur Hope per-
told us Yesterday of your return. ne tolu
me also that you wished me TO come 10