The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-24

up and marked how the momentary
irritation made her more beautiful.
"Aglae" he said. He stopped and be-
gan again, Madame"
At the first word she looked up eager
ly, at the second she uttered little
sigh and looked down again.
Madame" he went on, II fear that
old Fabric is not the real culprit.
have been unfortunate at play, and
have lost-everything." His voice grew
harder and colder as he played anew
with the diceboX. "I have lost every
thing" he repeated. Tomorrow, or
perhaps tonight, / set out for the Da-
nube to serve against the Turk. and
you will probably see me no more. 1t
only remains to regret any passing an
noyance my disappearance may cause
you, to thank you for your considera-
tions since we have been together, and
to congratulate you on being we'll rid
of so foolish husband"
There was silence for a moment. Then
the stiffness became so poignant that St
Ibars no longer played with the dicebox.
hut looked at his wife. She was so quiet
that he wondered if she understood.
"Shc has no heart" he thought.
"Is it true" she asked at length, with
a strange ring in her voice which he did
not recognize, you have lost every
thing?"
Everything" he answered. "But
there is still your jointure; you will
have
"Ah!" she cried, and her voice was
that of a joyous child. "You think !
care for that. Is, then, Paris and the
court and gaming so necessary to you
that If you cannot have them you must
go and be killed far away? Fie on you
Raoul! For my part, do not want to
see the court any more!"
He dared not understand.
"Ah." he answered lightly, "it Is well
| that there is no need for you to give
these things up"
Can l not come with you?' she
asked.
He shook his head. "The journey
| take is a very long one" he said, land
/ must take it alone"
She had risen to her feet, and now
came a step nearer to him. There was
| strange mixture of timidity and
great bodness in her manner, as if
| her woman's nature shrank from what
| some masterful feeling impelled her
| to say. Twice she essayed to speak
and twice she stopped. Then, like a
| torrent, her words burst forth, while
one hand was pressed tightly on her
| bosom as if to still its tumultuous
beating.
you shall not go alone! / swear it!
| BE it to the ends of the earth, l will
follow you, for you are mine! mine!
| given to me by God! by holy church!
| by your own VOW in His sight! You
do not love me. ! am nothing to you
cannot amuse you or please you!
know it, God pity me! / know it toe
we'll! But TO be near you, to see you
to sometimes hear your voce--that is
my right, and no one shall take II
| from me-"
She fell on her knees, her fair head
resting on the table, her face buried il
her hands, her slender body shaker
with deep sobbng
He forgot everything, forgot that HI
was ruined, forgot that life was ovel
for him, in the great joy her words
brought him. The affected coldness o
manner slipped from him like a loos
ened cloak, and STOPPING down he gath
cred her to him with strong arms
| while their lips met in a long embrac,
again and again renewed.
IF you could know how l havu
longed and prayed for this day" sht
murmured, her tearstained, fiusheC