The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-21
BY AUD OF MORPHEUS.
BY MARVIN DANA.

. fc,onyrirht. 19O6 by Joseph B. BowiesI
 Sitting. over their coffee in the even ipr. the various members of the coacn ing party, were detailing impressions from the days trip.
 Ry common consent the others pa used when Madam la Baronne ue Vaux began to speak. The dain.y Frenchwoman was fayorite WItn and she was usually sure or listeners to whatever she chose to say.
 "Ah, that little village" she crieo' raily. That little village all Of wood' with its wooden church! But in France if mad been all of brick and stone Yet 1t was like--oh, so very nke!-s tiny place quite near our chateau Ana it was there that something happeheu once something droll. and sweet.
 Madam la Baronne paused ana smii- sd and the sweetness in her face deep ened, and the droilness flashed In her black eyes. : "Teli us. please tell us. madam the others clamored.
 .surely," the baroness replied. There was a dear old boy lived III the village, and. too, a dear old iauy. He was an old bachelor, ana sne waa an old maid. Once, years and years and years ago, she and he had been sweethearts. Somehow they could not, or would not, marry. He went away for years, while she remained In the village always. Then at last he came back. and they were good friends. Iney were too oldNto marry. or so tney thought. But every evening he called on her, and they sat and chatted on tbe veranda when the season was right, and at other times they sat In two great chairs before the little fire Tn the little parlor of her cottage.
 One winters night. when the air was most biting and their old blood chilled by the frost of 1t, they sat coziiy m the parlor. as always, and the oid gen tleman. I suppose. was very busy to heap the tiny fire high and to keep the blaze brisk, so that they sat snugiy Tn their huge chairs and basked In the warm glow, and chatted lazily ana drowsily of the past days, when love was hot in their young hearts.
 Madam la Baronne broke off and ran her merry eyes over the group about her
 she questioned. No? We'll. there Is little more. Indeed, I have only to finish now. In the morning. when the home entered the parlor to dust It ana nut things straight, she found the dear old gentleman and the dear old lady in their great chairs before the dying fire in the tiny grate. and they were sound asleep!'
 The baroness smiled. and laughter ran in the circle around her.
 "They were married as quickly as the law would allow. Otherwise there must have been whisper of scandal And, oh, I am sure that they lived happy ever after; yes, even as happy as before!'
 The group chattered merrily over the narrative and thanked the racon- x,.4I h q "a C m
 And now let us have some music" the baroness suggested. and turned to a patriotic American. "Of course. that means you. MT. Blennen.
 Blennen's dark. thin face lighted with a pleasant smile. as he nodded an assent to the, general demand, but before he rose from his chair his eyes wandered toward woman at little distance from him and there they rest ed with a suggestion of expectation in their gaze Almost instantly the wo- man turned to meet his look. and she spoke eagerly.
 "Oh, please, MT. Blennen."
 At the words a glow of pleasure shone from the musicians face. and he hastened toward the plano. The early summer night of the Hud- son valley was soft. langurous, silent, save for the restful droning of the in sects. Through the open windows of the great drswing-room came the lux urious mingled perfumes of many blos- sons It was night and a company for music. For Blennen. though the inheritor of a princely fortune. was master of music. Many critics declar- ed that this amateur was the best liV- ing interpreter of Chopin. When he had finished, and the crowd of enthusiasts at last allowed him to break from their compliments. he went to her
 She made place beside her, and flashed a glance of fond pride upon him.
 Tt was wonderful, wonderful" she cried, softly. Your genius, Vance, Is so true--so splendidly true! An, when I listened to you, my soul went float ing in a magic land of harmony. I-
 She broke off abruptly. Then, with hardly a seconds pause, she continued, gayly: ,,
 T should never mind my insomnia. if could lie and hear you playing.
 Poor child! you don't show any sign of if. You are as fresh and dainty. as lovely and superb as ever-more beau tiful in my eyes. Grace.
 Tine woman blushed and dropped her gaze in confusion the passion Tn his voice. Her silence emboldened him. and he continued in an eager whisper:
 "Tell me. Grace, is not my happiness coming to me soon-soon?'
 But the woman raised her hand ap- pealingly, whilst she avoided the long ing eyes:
 ThS emotion in her voie checked ;, i'm ,om another plea. the am
 ,ish of despair gripped heart.
 Blennep ione in his room that nighf wed the situation. He was confron.rd by the vital fact that he loved Mrs Morse with all his soul. but that the happy issue of his love was of the utmost uncertainty. For fate made him the scapegoat of an- other mans sins.
 MT Morse had been a suave villain, of exceptional personal charm when he so wilIed. a hypocrite. debauchee a brute. He had treated his wife with exouisite courtesy in the presence of others, but. alone with her. he had outraged her every instinct. had beat on an dbruiscd her flesh and scourged her soul His death had come as a blessed release from the tortures her