Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-01

| seen her. lie had known that she
was the fairest of women. TO him at
any rate, but he never realized until
now how magnicently royal she was
in her rare and exquisite loneliness.
| His heart sank as he looked at her
| She was one in a world. Surely this
treasure in which Nature summed up
the achievements Of the past and an
ticipated the possibilities of the fu-
ture could not be for him! But If not
for him. for no one, be swore. Yet he
felt an intense sympathy for poor de
Wire. sitting haggard at the foot OF the
table, eating nothing, modify drain
ing his glass and staring at Anne.
She was as far from him as Heaven.
Next to Anne, with the permission
of the guests on account OF the nature
of the occasion, the marquis had
placed the Comte de Kersaint, whose
naval rank would not have entitled
him to so high a seat at the table.
Next to de Kersaint sat the gallant
rear admiral. st. Andre du Verger.
soon to die and win an immortal name
for his heroism in the approaching
battle. BY his side was placed Mon
sieur de Bompart, chef-d Escadre, or
commodore, commanding a division OF
six ships of the line which nad re-
Gently entered the harbor, aided by
the unfortunate gale which had COM
PEELED Hawke to break the blockade
for the time being-a welcome reen-
forcement indeed for de Contains
The feast of the evening had been
20 oil
gagement of Anne to de Kersaint
The countess had protested, aud had
again directly preached to her grand
father the subject of her plighted
troth to de Wire. The marquis bad
refused to hear her as before, had
pooh pooled the whole affair as a girl
ish Irritation. What had lnaiGens to
do with hearts? he cue: toned. Those
were luxuries reserved for married
women. In the ethics of France in
that day maidcn's duty was obedi-
ence AS for de Wire he was cadet
OF an obscure house, no match for the
last and most beautiful of the de Ro-
hans. She surely was not in earnest.
Her grandfather refusal would in
deed relieve her honorably OF the at
tentions Of de Wire. since she had
expressly stipulated for his consent.
But between de Wire and de Kersaint
she preferred the former or, to speak
by the card, she preferred neither.
She wanted Grafton. and Grafton only.
She was in as great unhappiness
therefore in this new development as
before. Unable or unwilling, at that
;,+D
pecially now that she was separated
apparently irrevocably from Grafton,
Anne deemed it well to temporiZe IN
spite OF her flight, her remuneration OF
him. she was waiting and hoping TO
hear from the man she loved. She
had only stipulated, therefore, that
there was to be no formal betrothal,
and that her grandfather should con-
hne himself TO the simple announce
ment at the feast that 1t was in con-
temptation.
Like Grafton. she was fighting for
time. Indeed, in the engagement to
de Kersaint she reilly thought there
was a loophole for an escape before
her. Between de Kersaint and de
Wire what might not happen? She
was fully resolved never to marry de
Kersaint and her resolution with re-
gard to de Wire was not so strong as
it had been. Absence. separation. both
pleaded powerfully for Grafton. SO
she waited-and hoped still.
Laughter, jollity, merriment, SUBJ
dued by the rehnements and require
ments OF good breeding foated around
, the table Joy and good humor we're
reflected from every face except two.
Hearts beat high in anticipation The
officers Of the squadron, who had not
yet received orders for tho departure,
, felt that it was in the wind and eag
erIy anticipated it,
3 Grafton, who had ample time to
study the people in the dining room as
= the banquet progressed, marked with
thrill of happiness that the universal
joy was not reflected IN the face of his
| love. Never had he oeen it colder
paler, more filled with that ineffable
d!sdain he icved to note when not
= meant for him. There was not the
Q slightest touch Of mirth and happi-
, ness in her features as ner eyes rest
ieSSly swept lle ldDle. w men ucT
glance fell upon the iyise and happy
e Frenchman who sat next her, Grafton
S noticed that she seemed to shrink
d from him. None but lovers eye
t could have detected the movement,
9 but to him it was plain.
= Gentlemen said the marquis at
t last, the repast having been concluded
= by this time. before the Countess
!, Anne retires | wish you TO drink a
g health with me-
"A health! A health!" cried tho
g men. thrusting their chairs back from
the table, Selling their full glasses and
Q rising to their feet as they spoke,
! "Messieurs," cried the old man in
t his high pitched old voice, II give you
Q the health OF the Demolsele de Rohan
g and the Comte de Kersaint, and an
/ nounce TO you the engagement which
1 has been entered upon between this
s. son and daughter of Brittany, to carry
. on and perpetuate the two ancient
t races"
a This was death and agony to Graf
ton. 1t was only by the strongest con-
!, straint that he could keep himself
G from bursting into the room