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

| was in the habit of rising without
disturbing her, dressing, and then tax
| ing a ride on horseback But he al
| ways returned to breakfast, which was
served punctually at IL o'clock in the
| forenoon. When, therefore, it came to
| be nearly noon, and he did not make
| his appearance, she was naturally I'M
| easy His horse was very spirited and
| might possibly have thrown him, she
thought But, on inquiry, it appeared
| that the animal was in his stall, and
that M. de Granthier had left the house
on foot
Nine. de Granthier ordered the
| breakfast things removed, after MAX
ing slight repast and then took up
| a book to while away the time until
her husbands return. At l O'Clock
visitor was announced-Capt. Paul
Beauregard, an officer in the French
Guards He was an intimate friend OF
De Grantier, as well as of the lady,
and scarcely a day passed without
their seeing him.
MY husband. Have you seen any
thing of him?" she asked.
81 have been with him all the morn
ing, madame"
Where is he? Why did he not re-
turn with you? How has he been en-
gaged?"
Capt. Beauregard replied to the last
question:
"In an affair of honor, madame"
"a duel?"
Eyes; and he has been wounded. l
thought it best to prepare you for the
accident"
"He is dead" shrieked the unhappy
lady, as she fell back in convulsions,
for she had read the truth in the cap
tain's face.
Beauregard rang the bell and left
her in charge of her maid, while he
went into another room. 1t was agony
bitter as the pangs of death to listen
to her walls and sobs and shriejls; but
in an hour Florette, the waiting maid,
pale, frightened, with swollen eyes,
for she, too, had been weeping bitter
ly came to say that Madame de Gran
Tier was calmer and desired to speak
with the captain.
The officer found the lady white as
marble, but strangely quiet and col
lected.
Hector is dead?" she half asked,
half asserted.
Her friend drooped his eyes. The
answer was sufficient.
Nov tell me how this happened"
said the lady. Hector was kind and
gentle and courteous. He had no enc
my-how could he have. for he never
wronged a human being"
THAT did not prevent his having an
enemy-a mortal foe-who last night
publicly insulted him and thus forced
a challenge from your husband"
"Ay, honor compelled Hector to draw
the sword. But the name of that vii
lain-the murderer"
"Raoul Maltravers."
"He, the man whose hand rejected?
oh, my poor, dear murdered Rector.
Why did we ever meet? Fatal was the
hour in which you saw and loved me.
Often have your lips told me that l
Rad mado you the happiest of men.
Little did you dream that l would givt
you death as well as love-"
81 implore you, madam" said the
captain, not to view this tragedy III
that light, An unforeseen calamity
has fallen on you, and my heart bleeds
at sight of your distress. But can
do more than pity; l can and will
avenge Hector. Raoul Maltrayers dies
by my hand"
"Hold!" cried the widow, with sud
den and startling energy. 81 forbid
you to espouse this quarrel. l have
my own purpose of vengeance, and no
man, not even you, shall be permitted
to stand between me and my predes-
tined victim. He has robbed me of
more than life, but will requite him
was fond, weak, gentle, loving.
happy girl. They who know me hence
forth will know me as a tig!ess thirst
ing for human blood. But no word of
this to others. Be my friend in this
extremity, as you were his true and
loyal friend to the last moment. and
conduct the funeral rites You see how
calm l am when l can speak these
words without commissions.
When Victorine was alone with her
dead she had wild outburst of pas
sionate grief. but it rapidly gave place
to calmness so stern that it would
have appalled, an observer had there
been witnesses in the chamber of
| death.
Hector de Grantier," she said, ad-
| dressing the cold clay ''if my Creator
| spares my life, your son, whom your
| eyes were never to behold, shall be
| your avenger | will rear him strong,
| valiant, sldllful, and teach him to look
for no happiness, no rest, no employ
ment, until he has slain the man who
has robbed you of life. me of hus-
| band and himself of g father
Two months after the funeral the
friends of the family were apprised
that tho widow lady was the mother of
a-daughter. Shortly after this event
| she retired with her infant child to an