The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-03-30

| Look not so sad, ma chere mere; IL
leave you it will be only to furtner
our rights, to redress our wrongs, ana
the time will scarcely be as long as
that through which you have just pass
ed-while / was at Beauvias Chateau.
Be prudent and hopeful; perchanee
amid the anarchy that threatens the
land we may be restored to our
rights"
"Ah, my son, for my own sake, the
hope is dead-but for you would fain
struggle longer in this world of misery
Jean is sagacious and cool, ne wouiu
! not have sent for you. If he had not
actually needed you. Yes, Bernard, you
must go when Christopher returns, ana
! | will do the best | can. l see he mas
sent me package of new books. Rough
as he seems. he has tender, brotherly
| heart"
What do we not owe him. return
ed Bernard. without his improve
ments. and the neyer-failing supplies
he forwards Us, this retreat would FUR
nish us but sorry shelter from our en-
emies. Day and night he tolls there
| in Paris, living like a m.ser, to bestow
his hard earnings upon us. We ought
to canonize him as our saint. But harR!
what is that"
While mother and son talked on fit
| fully, now respondent, and now hope
| full, at the Chateau. on that very even
ing, knelt Lady Violante. in the high
antique library, with clasped hands
and fearful eyes, asking piteously OF
her proud, stern father
ooh, my father, have mercy upon me-
| beseech you. l love not Count Ger
main-force not upon rae so uncongen-
ial husband nor yet compel me TO dls-
obey your commands"
Perverted, misguided girl" answer
ed the Count angrily, "can / not see
what has brought this sudden change?
How long since Emile was the compan-
ion of all your happiest hours, and re-
ceived warmer smiles than any Of all
your admirers could boast? Have you
not known and understood this long
time what his visits meant? | blush
! for you! 1t Is this unknown, low-born
| fellow. who fed from the Chateau like
a very THEFT is he who has wrought
! this change--peste! I would he had
broken his neck instead of his ankle!
| I might have been wiser than to have
allowed you such free ingress to his
room. Emile warned me against it, but
I counted too strongly on the pride that
should fill the heart of Beauvais."
do you wish me to understand there
is no hope of escaping marriage with
Count Emile, except by directly OPP
posing my own to my fathers will?"
| asked she.
| 81 mean you should understand there
| is no escape whatever. AS you well
| know, a fathers will is law. am the
best judge of what your rank and posi-
zion demand. Well all visit Paris
through, the court season. Upon our
return the wedding will take place.
Look to it, violante. that you conduct
yourself as a Eeauvais il you would
receive a fathers affection or bless
ing"
A hard. cold expression settled down
upon Violante's beautiful face.
81 have no mother to appeal to-" she
said, bitterly. what is the blessing Of
| father who cares more for his own
will than for my happiness? Yet
shall not dare disobey you!"
"Perverse child" said the Count, az
fected deeply at the sight Of her woe
BECOME face. 81 am acting for your
true happiness. AS for that deceitfui
Bernard, let him beware. Count Emile
is upon his track"
| Vidante started, and a terrible fear
crept over her. She remembered what
Bernard had said, and the urgent warn
ing of the latter against betraying him
self to the Germans. What il his rash
resolve to watch over her should lure
him to his own destruction? How or
| in what way the fatal web of mystery
connected him with Count Emile she
knew not; but the very vagueness Of
her fears made them more alarming.
She hurried away from her fathers
presence, and holding her throbbing
forehead in her hands tried to discover
some safe and speedy way of warning
Bernard, who she fefr convinced was
somewhere concealed around the mys-
terious and lonesome cliff. She rose
and lifted the heavy curtain away from
the window to look out. 1t was calm
starry sky, and peace and silence seem
ed to fall upon the sleeping earth like
benediction from the sparkling SEN
tiners above. An earnest, resolute pur-
pose came 10 her: She called Celeste
and babe her bring her mantle and
headgear
Il am sleepless and nervous said
she in explanation, land the night is Sc
lovely; come out with me TO the lawn
and wait there while stroll on alone.