Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-30

HelS0C, features ana COmpleNlOn. Inc
gossips of the neighborhood said they
were born for each other and predicted
marriage between the parties. But
the servants of the family asserted that
the old lady would never, for some rea-
son of her own, probably that of near
ness Of blood permit the alliance, and
that the young people rarely, if ever.
met. 1t was observed that whenever
Claudine had gone to church the che
Waller was sure to make his appearance
and when he was in the drawing room
she was always absent. Whether this
was arranged by the mother or wheth-
er this young woman and this young
man, SO strangely alike, cherished an
antipathy equally strange, was mys-
terry, like almost everything else in
this mysterious household.
Had the widow, foiled in her plan Of
vengeance by the sex of her offspring,
forgotten or forgiven Raoul Maltra-
vers? No one knew, but no one ever
heard her pronounce his name
Meanwhile Raoul Maltravers had left
the sea- not being particularly fond of
the music Of heavy guns, for though
brave enough on the due, ground. be-
cause he was the best blade in France,
and always sure Of victory, he was
really poltroon. He had married
very beautiful heiress, and lived in
great splendor. He had more than one
affair Of honor after his marriage,
with fatal result to his antagonists.
One day the Chevalier de Hauteville
made morning call on Nine. de Gran
tier. He found her in her boudoir,
which was draped with black, and
lighted with wax tapers.
You know this is sad anniversa-
ry," she said. Then she added, with
a sharp look Of inquiry: "Raoul NAL
travers."
Dead" was the reply.
Come to my heart" cried Victorine.
"Claudine, you have avenged your fa-
ther"
"Claudiue!" I exclaimed, in utter
astonishment, when the old countess
had come to this point of her narra-
tive.
Yes" she replied, "the Chevalier
de Hautevlle and Claudine de Grantier
were one and the same person. Nine.
de Grantier had reared her daughter.
like man and trained her to arms in
the solitude of her old provincial man
or house, where a wondrously skilled
professor of the sword, an Italian, gave
her lessons daily. You must not think
too harshly OF the memory of Victorine
de Grantier. | am now positively GER
tain that the death of her husband
turned her brain, and that during all
the years OF her widowhcod she was
a monomaniac. That she inspired her
daughter with her fanatical idea OF
vengeance is natural-the mother lived
for no other purpose"
But what became of Claudine?"
"She is still living at an advanced
age, a widow" replied the countess.
Doubtless narrowed by remorse for
having shed human blood?"
"IJ caused her great suffering for
years, but the clergy whom she con-
suited told her that the circumstances
absolved her from all moral guilt She
was an irresponsible agent of her
mother-her judgment deliberately
perverted by one VINO had herself lost
the power Of reason. Yet were many
hours of bitter sorrow and penitence
passed by that unhappy woman. And
now let me show you a sad relic"
The old lady rose, walked to an
ebony cabinet and unlocking it took
out a long, old fashioned rapier and
bade me draw it. | took forth the
blade and remarked that it was COW
cred with rust.
"Those darker stains are the life
blood of man." said the old lady,
with a heavy sigh-'for that was the
sword with which l killed Raoul NAL
travers."
"You?" cried
''Yes; for before | became Countess
de Clairmont l was Claude de Gran
tier. New York News.