The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-06-27
CHAPTER, T

n pFisHVhssSs &tOOs III LnOSe brown eyes, Du
the ulster was gone now. and there wa.
ieft only the calm expression of resigna
Sion which follows life of troubles nobly
borne. She had lived sixty-four years
In The world.
Her father and mother, the Marquis
and Marquise de Montolieu, had been In
high favor at the court Of Louis the Six
teenth. They were proud, handsome
aristocrats, and when the Revolution
came with It's fearful horrors, they were
forced to fly for their lives. When they
reached England they were penniless and
compelled to earn their bread.
The marquis gave lessons In singing,
and the marquise made a little money by
selling her paintings. A kind-hearted no
bleman, who had known them in former
days, allowed them fifty pounds a year;
and with this, and the fruit of their own
eXertions, they managed to exist Three
years later daughter was born to them,
whom they named Marie Antoniette, in
affectionate and reverential memory of
their martyred queen. From her earliest
Infancy she was deeply imbued with the
sad spirit Of the time; and the unvarying
melancholy of her parents produced a
urally bright and vivacious, but the at
mosphere Of constant sadness was infec-
tious.
When she was seventeen years old her
beloved father died, and from that time
all her energies were strained to provide
for her heart-broken and widowed moth
er. Five years later the marquise died
also, and Marie was thrown on the world,
literally penniless and friendless. Then
all at once the nobleman who had be-
friended her parents came forward and
offered her home in his house, in spite
of the remonstrances of his wife, who
was, keenly alive to the imprudence of
bringing beautiful young girl under the
same roof with her grown-up sons.
For time Marie Antoiuette was hap
-py, and then came the most bitter trial
of her life. She went out again as a
gOverness, and travelled abroad. At the
age Of thirty-fve she went into Sir How
ard Champions family, to educate his
daughters, and remained with them
'9welve years. The elder daughter made
a brilliant match, and the younger elOped
with gentleman farmer. There being
thus no further occasion for her services,
she was dismissed; but Sir Howard, be-
Ing liberal although arrogant and des.
potic man, settled an annuity of hun
dred pounds on her for life. On this, and
the interest Of what she had saved dur
ang her long years of teaching, she lived:
and small as was her income, she gave
away much. Hers was grand life of
love- OF charity and of self-abnegation.
Unsecured by her troubles, unimbittered
by her loneliness, she was the true picture
of gentle, sympathizing and patient
woman.
Sir Howard cursed his younger daugh-
ter solemnly on the Bibe-from which he
erased her name, and commanded that it
might never be uttered in his presence
again. The whole household were awe
and crept about silently and
fearfully. Madame de Montolieu was
heart-hroken.
Winifred bitterly regretted her false
step. She loved the world and the fash
lon, and so the comparatively humble life
she now led was gail and NORWOOD to
her Her husband was fond of her, but
he chafed under her constant fretful re-
grets; she quarreled with his family, re-
fused to notice them, and made him bit
ter, contemptuous little speeches, which
drove him in anger from her presence!
The only link left to her between the
present and the past was Madame de
Montolieu, who came to live in small
cottage near her, and was with her con-
stantly. But poor Winifred fretted night
and day at her loss Of caste, and became
thin and ill; and when her little girl was
born she died.
brought up and taken care of by her faith
er's sister; but when she was eight years
old Miss Eyre married, and her father
was somewhat perplexed what to do with
her. Madame de Montolieu offered to
educate her, and Mr.. Eyre gladly accept
ed the offer.
She received complete education from !
Madame de Montoiieu. who loved her as q
daughter, and had brought her I'D with
tender care and watchfulness. She spoke !
French perfectly, was a good musician
and sang as sweetly as q nightingale. |
Madame de Montolieu had devoted great
time and care to perfecting her accom-
hoping that, when she grew
up, Sir Howard might relent and give her
an opportunity Of entering into society.
for which she was eminently fitted. But |
the baronet and his whole family sternly
persisted in ignoring her, and it was
very bitter grief and humiliation to poor
Winifred.
It seemed SO cruelty unjust. Why
should Flora Champion her cousin, and
Gattered, and received everywhere. while
she, who longed SO ardently for the same
advantage, was compelled to live unnotic-
ed in farm house? Her father had Civ
en- her q pretty little pony and carriage.
In which she took great pleasure. She
would have liked to ride as we'll. but her
father could not afford, he said, to keep
two horses for her, and had given her =!
chance of riding or driving; she preferred |
the former, but chose the latter, remem-
bering that 1t was a pleasure which her
dear madame could share.
Mr.. Eyre was very fond of his daugh-
ter, and, moreover, exceedingly proud of |
her. He desired intensely for her the |
Of wealth and station, person
ally Indifferent though he was to them. |
Els greatest truble, his most bitter NOR
in life, was that her grandfath-
er would not acknowledge her. For him
self he did not care, he had no wish to
rise from the position with which his fore