The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-05

OF the Count Francois de Eaudrey.
The minister had read the head OF
the page in an eXu:tanL tone. Now
would ne wrcst tn" secret which his
wife had 50 jealoGSiy kept from him.
and he l:rgan 10 read.
For moment hr countess stood Us
one suddenly deprived OF speech. and
hen. in L low voice. a5 i; speaking oi
herself Size said:
".\nd SIC told YOU Of my sulleringS.
H,y despair: Ycs-yeS, you speak tie
1lIith: my life has been one OF long
sacrifice 10 duty"
And rest iny her head ON her hands,
She allowed her thoughts to wander
through all tic dark and drcaIy ave-
MES Of the past. disturbing memories
that slept only too slightly, and
awakening sad recoIcctionS that she
had struggled to bury. but which were
ever ready 10 rise up against her. and
assert their right to intlict sorrow with
all the kcennesS Of old.
y was youug and mad" she ex-
! claimed. Us. rising to her feet, she
paced the long. magniiicently furnish
ed room with 4 nervous step, while
her rich robes trailed after her, rust
! ling as if in mockery of her grief. Il
loved and was loved" she continued.
hastily, much Us though she was eN-
cusinS herself to the young man. who
gaZeG in pity upon her, ''and in my
| love | knew no wrong. consented 10
d secret marriage with a man beneath
ne in rank.
The chevalier attempted to speak.
Ec wished to check the tale OF woe
and sorrow which he knew she was
about TO relate: but she needed him
not. and continued, in voice which
told of the anguish in her heart.
| Our secret was soon discovered.
she said. They thought him my lover
and killed l!iHl almost under my very
ewes. and became mother
| De Naudrey could not restrain the
tears which overhowed his eyes, as the
sorrowing woman. in d voice dOubly
touching by The pent-up emotion II
BETRAYED. spoke those words which she
| had never before dared utter.
The family honor demanded that
my child should disappear.* she con,
tinucd. while her voice grew hard ana
cold again. Because my hand was
promised 10 the Count de Linieres, the
Sdmjly honor demanded that l should
deceive an honorable man, or sacrifice
the life of nv child. / bowed to the
| infexible will OF my father"
The mothers love and sorrow over
powered her, and her eyes, which hao
been 50 dry and hard, were now made
tender b. the blessed boon OF tears.
u prayed that God would have pity
on the life Of the little creature whom
| had scarce embraced when they cru
ellv tore it from me-" she continued,
while the sobs escaped with the words.
Il consoled myself with the hope that
perhaps should see it tagain some day.
Alas, the days have passed into
months, the months into years, and
all my prayers are in vain"
Nv Door aunt" said the chevailer,
as he took her hand tenderly in his
and endeavored, in the careSSing touch
he bestowed upon it, to impart some
of the sympathy and love he felt.
so cruel-so cruel, that often ask
myself if it would not have been bet
ter had they killed me too," said the
poor woman, again pacing restleSsly
up and down the room. "les-yeS,
far more merciful than to have inlet
ed the punishment l have suffered for
so many wears. I dare not think she
lives: for if she does, into what abyss
may not my criminal abandonment
have plunged her.
Try not to let your mind rest upon
these things, my poor aunt" said the
cheyalier. in a voice as low and sweet
as woman's.
The countess did not heed him.
The past had full power over her
now. and her voice was strained as
though it were not powerful enough
to sustain the weight Of emotion she
put on it. :,
The horrible thought, that if lir-
ing. she may accuse me OF her misery,
perhaps her shame. May she not cry
out from the depths OF her despair:
Accused be my unnatural mother:
All. hear that frightful curse now
ringing in my ears: it pursues me IN
nv PRAYERS. always" and her voice
ended in such wall Of misery as could
only come from d heart wrung to It's
utmost tension by despair.
And her last words were heard by
one other, whom in her wanderings in
the past she had forgotten-her hus-
band. ,
The Count de Linieres had waited
in an adjoining room lntil he thought
his wife must have said all she wished
10. to the chevalier, and he returned,
hoping that by adding some kind ad-
vice to what the countess had already
said. he might be able so to influence
his nephew. that he would accede 10
the kings wishes. -,
The heavy carpet had deadened the
sound OF his footsteps, and If he had
made any noise. both the chevaller ana
his aunt were TOO much engrossed 10
have heard it.
AS he heard his wife's last words,
uttered in such accents Of despair, he
started in alarm, and aStonishment
rooted him TO the floor, unable to move
or speak.
"What was this fearful sorrow, OF
which he knew nothing?" was the
thought that flashed over him in an
instant, and ne remained, not in the
attitude Of listener, but Of man
paralyzed with fear, while, all uncon-
SciOuS OF his presence, the two contIn-
ued their conversation.