The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-07-26
AN AFFAIR
OF
HONOR.

mansion in the Faubourg St. German,
near the ancient abbey church. found
her to be an aged lady of a very old
family, very devout churchgoer, and
bigoted legitmist, believing in
divine right" and the Count de Cham
bord, and fully expecting that he and
his white flag would rule the destinies
lists and Republicans would be for
gotten. Apart from dogma and politics
she was, however, very charming and
Interesting person. She had evidently
been very handsome in her youth, and
even in her old age retained little
eoquetry and much spirit. At the re-
cital of some deed of daring and hero
ism her black eyes would flash and
sparkle, and her lips tremble with emo
ton. It was like going back to a past
century to sit in her dim drawing
room, with its quaint old furniture,
sich and religiously preserved, hung
with portraits of her ancestors, and
hear her talk of warriors, priests and
mobiles, whose bones were long since
dust, whose miters and swords had de-
cayed, and whose moldy and moth
eaten banners, waving in church and
chapel, are but tattered rags, with the
blazonry illegible.
One day was looking at the portrait
of lady so lovely, with sweet and
melancholy beauty, that even the dis
figuring costume of the previous cen
tury, especially the abominable high
head-dress, could not mar its effect, for
you looked only on the face and forgot
the accessories. 1t was from the pencil
of Madame Lebrun, the favorite artist
of Marie Antoinette, who has left the
such touching souvenirs of the unhappy
queen.
''That lady, am sure, had a story, :"
said. 81 need not ask if the original
was a relative of yours, madame, for
see a family likeness in the head"
"You are right" she said. THAT por-
trait might pass for my own likeness
as l looked fifty years ago. / have
miniature taken at the same age, which
looks like reduced copy of Madame
Lebrun's charming picture"
"And the lady was"
pardon me-" said the old countess;
II will tell you her story at full length.
1t is an old family history, but it is
thought to have some of the elements
of romance. Perhaps it may he of fu-
ture use to you as a story-teller in
your own country. So arm yourself
with patience, cousin, and bear with an
old womans garrulity."
The old lady called me cousin" be-
cause at some far-away period there
was a matrimonial aliance between
our families, long and long before my
grandfather emigrated to America
I will not attempt to relate the mar
rative in the language of my hostess,
but condense it and tell it in my own
way.
The original of Madame Iebrun's
picture, then, was Victorine de Gran
tier, wife of Hector de Grantier, gen.
tleman of wealth and family. The
marriage was an exception to the gen
eral rule Of French marriages, being
love match. The parents of the lady
had permitted her to choose husband
for herself; and though among her
many suitors we're some more eligible
In point of fortune and opportunities
for rising in the world than Hector,
she gave him her hand because she
could bestow her heart with it.
~ De Grantier was handsome, gentle
and warm-hearted. He had no vices,
and but little ambition. He was poet
and painter, though not profess
sional one, and he was in easy circum-
stances, although not reckoned man
of wealth.
Never was there a happier couple
and when the brides father and
mother, who died within a few days
of each other left the world almost
hand in hand, the certainty Of leaving
their daughter the partner of a man de-
voted to her, heart and soul, soothed
their last moments.
There was a shade of melancholy in
Victorines nature, and she Otter
thought to herself that her married
life was too happy-that it was like
bright summer day, SO perfect, so full
of sunshine, so heavenly, that weather
seers pronounce it too lovely to last
and regard it with shaking heads, a:
the precursor of devastating storm.
And the storm that wrecked the hap
piness of victorine was near at hand
Among her rejected suitors was wild
bold man, named Raoul Maltravers, al
ensign in the royal navy, of very dis
finguished family high in power a
court, who might well look forward t.
the prospect of seeing the broad pen
mant Of an admiral float over his owl
uuarter deck. But, with all the quail
bties Of a noble race, he was staine'
With many vices. He was a ganestei
= duelist and Mbertine; prodigaT Will
IN xold, cruel with his sword, false Il