Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-07-12
CHAPTER XIV.

anu now beSdH the spTluELlIne OF love
for Eugene. Since that hour in the
night when she had given her gold to
her cousin her heart had followed the
gift. They shared a secret between
them; they were conscious of this under
standing whenever they looked at each
other; and this knowledge, that brought
them more and more closely together,
drew them in a manner out of the cur
rent of everyday life. And did not re-
lationship justify a certain tenderness in
the voice and kindness in the eyes. Eu-
genie, therefore, set herself to make her
cousin forget his grief in the childish
joys of growing love.
She snatched at every happiness as
some swimmer might catch at an over
hanging willow branch, that so he might
reach the bank and rest there for n little
while. Was not the time of parting very
near now? The shadow of that parting
seemed to fall across the brightest hours
of those days that fed so fast; and not
one of them went by but something hap
pened to remind her how soon it would
be upon them.
For instance, three days after des
Grassins had started for Paris, Grandet
had taken Charles before a magistrate
with the funeral solep,nity with which
such acts are performed by provincials.
aid in the presence of that functionary
the young man had had to sign a decar-
alton that he renowned all claim to his
fathers property. He went to NJ. Cru
chot to procure two powers of attorney.
one for des Grassins. the other for the
friend who was commissioned to sell his
own personal effects. There were also
some necessary formalitieS i'll connection
with his passport; and, finally, on the
arrival of the plain suit of mourning; he
sent for a clothier in Saumur and dis
posed of his now useless wardrobe.
For several days Charles looked. spoke
and behaved like a man who is in deep
trouble, hut who feels the weight of such
heavy obligations that his misfortunes
. only brace him for greater effort He
had ceased to pity HIMSELF he had be-
come q man. Never had Eugene au-
cured better of her cousins character
than she did on the day when she watch
ed him come down stairs in his plain.
black mourning suit, which set of his
pale, sad face TO such advantage. The
two women had also gone ip' mourning.
Charles received letters from Paris as
they took the midday meal: he opened
and read them.
well, cousin" said Eugene. in a low
voice. ARE your affairs going on salts
tactorilyT'
Never put questions of that sort. nv
girl" remarked Grandet. Il never talk
to you about my affairs. and why should
you meddle in your cousins? Just lei
the boy alone"
"Ohi 1 have no secrets Of any sort"
said Charles.
tut. tut. tut. You wiz End cut Il at
you must bride your tongue ~ BUSINESS,
repAsv." - l. 49, -
SNhs3 the two lovers were alone in
the Garden. Charles drew Eugene TO
the old bench under the walEut tree.
where they so often sat of late.
Il felt sure of Alphonse, and ! was
right" he said. he has done wonders.
and has settled my Affairs prudently and
Loyalty. All my debts in Paris are paid,
NY furniture sold well, and he tells me
that he has acted on the advice of an old
sea captain who had made the voyage TO
the Indies, and has invested the surplus
money in ornaments and odds and ends
for Which there is a great demand out
there. he has sent my packages TO
Nantes. where an East Indiaman is TAX
ing freight for Java, and SO. Eugene. in
Eve days we must bid each other fare
well. for a long while AT any rate. and
perhaps forever. My trading venture
and the ten thousand francs which two
Of my best friends have sent me. are
very poor start; cannot expect 10 re
turn for many years. Dear cousin, iet Us
not consider ourselves bound in any way:
! may Gle, and very likely some good op-
portunity for settling yourself
You love me-" she asked.
''Oh, yes, indeed" he replied with an
eagerness OF manner that betokened a
like eanestness in his feelings.
Then 1 win wait for yon. Charles.
Ny father is looking out of his win
dow" she exclaimed, Grading her coSsin,
who had drawn closer 70 embrace her.
sue ned to the archway; and seeing
that Charles followed her thither, she
resreated farther. flung back the folding
daor at the foct Of the staircase, and