Evening journal., 1899-12-07

rambling on.
Estelle and the count sat chatting
almost conhdentally OF the scenes AZ
the horse show, the latest opera. and
the last novel. and the formal wedding
of the forenoon. while the keen scrutiny
OF the counts yelled eyes read deeper
into the young girl'a soul than she was
at all aware Of
"A very suitable marriage ne com
mented, rising leisurely TO put his half
empty cup on the tabOuret.
Estelles eyes flashed and her lip
curled. For those two" he supple
mented. reseaung himself
What is folly for one may be wisdom
for another. Wo are all on distinct
patterns. my dear young lady, although
In different degrees. We possess with
in us the same irrational bundle Of
contradictory emotions which are apt
to play us queer tricks at odd times
and whose vagarles We none of us are
ever sure we can oircumvent or con-
troll
/ Don't you know, weally. sometimes
/ woudeh II life Is life, or rs only q
/ blundsh2 a twick OF that deWlish
fellah down yondeh. who's foollpg MS
/ an don't YOU know?" quoted Estelle.
5 with a light laugh. while her thoughts
ran on in bewildering riot, picturine
scenes and forecasting events until,
! with a start, she came back In Count
COrriellrs last words.
Would she be content7 Would a life
OF luxurious wandering suit herr
T Would liberty and freedom and the
4 Kaleidoscope OF fashions facts and
faneles, and the whirl OF social life in
the great capitals, please her fancy and
amuse and delight and ever keep a
bright smile on her beautiful lips, and
a gladness In the depths Of her glorious
cyes?
And would she honor the home Of
his forbears. the castle on the cliffs.
with her divine presence, and see
beauty IN the deep blue skies Of Italy
and hear music Ia the beat and muir
mur of the waves on the crags and
rocks of the shore3-
"Yesl Yesl Yesl" said Estelle,
family and desperately, with white lips
and despairing heart while he stood
before her, holding with compassionate
tenderness her cold and trembling
hands.
Then long pause fell between them.
The wood fire burned chocrlly the
lrettod brass work OF the fireplace
cleaned aud giistened as the htiul
flames rose and fen. That OF the hand
some room. familiar TO Estelle from her
bonny childhood 10 this eliminating
hour OF her young womanhocd, looked
with sorrowful reproach at her mat
sacrifice, and her thoughts, tumultuou.
and wild, worried her with clamurou'
appeal. reproaches and surging, unde
fined fears. until 10 still the pain ant
tumult, she sank back on the ambe
cushions OF her chair and closed hei
eyes.
The white bear on whose long iu
your feet are resting was driven, ant
hunted. and lnaliy Trapped hy a decep
tive cly. in lae black darkness OF tn
night, whea. vailed her thoughts. tn
wild winds of che s,agrCs guaht u
,, and whifled lhe snow iu cddica an
! binding msts. while baiAed an
wounded. he fell into the remmels q
/, his captor,
, Estelle's thoughts so0bed ard wrun
Z their hands.
/. The stiffness OF the library grew OF
pressive. and Estelle, drawing @ Ion
breath. looked mp.
The dark eyes were gazing dow
compassionately and sorrowfully az h'
lovely upturned face, whose varyin
color and troubled look told a tale q
tentimes read by Count Corrielli in h
4 wanderipgs through the world.
4 Caro- mio," he said gently, drawn
a chair close to hers and resuming po
a session of her hands. Il am bette
Z than you deem me.
q "Do YOU believe ] would selfshly Il
s your exquisite and reluctant youth
r. my gray hairs and sober years, an
a imprison your loveliness within u
limits of life guided and gaudy, bt
e after all a prison life, little one,
which your heart would cry out an
/, beat its wings until it lay dead, a
q bruised for struggling so inefectuall
L against the walls of its living tombf
q mot Mo- Yours is the happiness
= hold the most precious thing in all th
= world, sweetheart, so not to me sha
l. You sacrifice one second Of your prize
a less liberty or give one unwillir
l. thought in obedience to a dictate whiC
IS comes not from the heart"
70 Estelle sat and listened, while o wa'
OF color swept over her face.
s "See here, little one continued q
Ie count. with a faint half-sad smil
x which sat well on his careworn al
l- thoughtful face. Il came with missi'
this afternoon"
n "a missioni" repeated Estelle, Vagu
ly while q sigh OF unconscious rell
% escaped her.
." Mine IS a longer acquaintance WI
le the world and its incongruous inhat
" tants than yours. Win you not beliey
- child. that my knowledge of others, al
is love for you, will give me a greater ]
Up sight into intent and motive than "
II can possessY
n Il suppose So acquiesced Estel
IT sim too bewildered by the singular on
10 come of the counts proposal to dri
If any special conclusion, while a curio
hopefulness began to stir and asse
s. itself within her breast.
Then accept my advice and alta
SIS no importance to gossip rumor.
ed And again caro- milo, let no fal
lie barrier stand between you and th
lg happiness which viii surely crown
glorious young life IL you only will"
or But monsieur 10 comte---'s beg
?" Estelle. while her thoughts, now ri
It ing in gladness, sang curious and
I'd hilarating songs An her cars. Il hare
know"
to You will later" said the count, r
~.