The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-11-06
An Affair of Honor.


de Clairmont. who lived In a venera
hlc mansion in the Faubourg st. Ger
main, near the ancient abbey church.
found her to be an aged lady OF a
very old family. a very devout church
goer. and bigotod Lcgitimist, believ-
ing in divine right" and the Count
dc Chambord. and fully expecting that
he and his white flag would rule the
dostinies of France when Orleanists,
Eonnrartists and Republicans would
he forgotten. Apart from dogma and
politics she was. however, a very
charming and interesting person. She
had evidcn,ly been very handsome In
her youth, and even in her old age
retained a little coquetry and much
spirit. At the recital of some deed
OF daring and heroism her black eyes
would flash and sparkle and her lips
tremble with emotion. It was like
going back to the past century to sit
in her dim drawing room, with its
quaint old furniture, rich and relig-
iously preserved. hung with portraits
of her ancestors, and hear her talk OF
warriors. priests and mobiles, whose
mitres and swords had dccayod. and
whose moldy and moth-eaten banners.
waving in church and chapel. are but
iattcred rags with the blazonry illegi-
bic.
One day ! was looking at the por-
trait Of lady so lovely, with a sweet
and melancholy beauty, that even the
dishguring costume of the last cen
tury. especially the abominable high
head dress. could not mar It's effect.
for you looked only on the face and
forgot the accessories. IL was from
the pencil of Nine. Lebrun, the ia
yorite artist of Marie Antoinette. who
has left us such touching souvenirs
OF the unhappy queen.
THAT lady, am sure, had a story"
| said. II need not ask If the original
was a relative of yours. Madame, for
gee a family likeness in the head"
"You are right" she said. THAT
portrait might pass for my own like
ness as | looked so years ago. | have
"a miniature taken at the same age
" Nhich looks like a reduced copy of
Nine. Lebruns charming picture"
"And the lady was-?'
Pardon me-" said the old countess;
Il will tell you her story at full length.
IL is an old family history but 1t
is thought to have some of the ele-
ments of romance. Perhaps it may be
of some future use to you as a story
teller in your own country. SO arm
yourself with patience, cousin, and
hear with an old woman's garrulity.' -
The old lady called me cousin be-
cause at some far away period there
was a matrimonial alliance between
our families, long before my grand
father emigrated 10 America.
| will not attempt to relate the mar
ratiVe in the language of my hostess,
but condensc it and tell it in my own
way.
The original of Nine. Lebrun's pic
tire. then. was Victorine de Grantier,
wife of Hector de Grantier. gentle
man of wealth and family. The mar
rage was an exception to the general
rule of French marriages, being a love
match. The parents OF the lady had
permitted her to choose husband for
herself; and though among her many
suitOrs were some more eligible in
uoint of fortune and opportunities for
rising in the world than Hector, she
gave him her hand because she could
bestow her heart with IT,
De Grantier was handsome, gentle
and warm hearted. He had no vices,
and but little ambition. He was poet
and painter, though not profession
al one and he was in easy circum-
stances, although not reckoned man
of wealth.
Never was there happier couple,
and when the brides father and moth
er, who died within a few days of each
other, left the world almost hand In
hand. the certainty of leaving their
daughter the partner of man devoted
to her, heart and soul, soothed their
last moments.
There was a shade of melancholy In
Victorine's nature, and she often
thought to herself that her married
life was too happy-that it was like a
still. bright, summer day, so perfect
so full of sunshine, so heavenly, that
weather seers pronounce it too lovely
to last, and regard it, with shaking
heads. as the precursor OF a devastat-
ing storm.
And the storm that wrecked the
happiness OF Victorine was near al
hand. Among her rejected suitors was
a wild, bod man, named Raoul NAL
travers. an ensign in the royal navy
Of a very distinguished family high
in power at court, who might wei
look forward to the prospect Of seeins
the broad pennant of an admiral iioal
ever his own quarter deck. But. with
all the qualities of noble race, he was
stained with many vices He was &
Gamester. a duellist and n libertlne;
prodigal with his gold, cruel with his
sword and fatal in his hates.
Although his rejection was couchet
in the most rpSrpctful terms n rouset