The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-06-07

Lomaque's thin lips seemed to close
lnstinctively at the question, as If he
were never going to speak again. He
bowed-Trudaine waited-he only
bowed again. Trudaine waited a third
time. Lomaque looked at his host with
perfect %steadiness for an instant, then
his eyes began to get weak again.
You seem to have some special inter
est" he quietly remarked, "if | may
say so without o~ffense, in asking me
that question:"
Il deal frankly, at all hazard, with
every one" returned Trudaine; and,
stranger as you are, l will deal frank
ly with you. ! acknowledge that
have an interest in asking that ques-
tion-the dearest, the tenderest of all
interests" AT those last words his
voice trembled for a moment. but he
went on firmly: From the beginning
OF my sisters engagement with Dan
vile, ! made 1t my duty not to conceal
my own feelings; my conscience and
my affection for Rose counseled me to
be candid to the last, even though my
candor should distress or offend 9th
ers. When we first made the acquaint-
ance of Madame Danville, and when |
flrst discovered that her sons atten-
tons to Rose we're not unfavorably re-
ceived, l felt astonished, and though
1t cost me a hard effort, | did not con-
ceal that astonishment from my sis
ter"
Lomaque. who had hitherto been al
attention, started here. and threw up
his hands in amazement. "Astonish-
ed, did | hear you say? Astonished.
Monsieur Trudaine, that the attentions
OF a young gentleman possessed of all
the graces and accomplishments of a
hlghly~bred Frenchman should be fla
vorably received by a young lady, AS
tonished that such a dancer, such a
singer. such a talker, such a notorious
ly fascinating ladies' man as Monsieur
Danville should, by dint of respectful
assldulty, succeed in making some i'm
preston on the heart of Mademoiselle
Rose! oh! Monsieur Trudaine. veneer
ated Monsieur Trudaine, this is almost
too much to credit" Lomaaue's ewes
grew weaker than ever, and winked in
cessantly, as he uttered this apostro-
phe. AT the end he threw up his hands
again. and blinked inquiringly all
round him, in mute appeal to universal
nature.
When, in the course of time. mat
teHs were farther advanced" contin-
ued Trudaine, without paying any at
tention to the interruption: when
the offer of marriage was made. and
when | knew that Rose had in her own
hear accepted it, [ objected. IL | did
not conceal my Objections"
"Heavens!." interrupted Lomao1e
again, clasping his hands this time with
a look of bewilderment; what objec-
tons? what possible objections to a
man, young and well-bred, with an inn
mense fortune and an uncompromised
character? | have heard of these OBJ
Jectlons. l know they have made bad
blood; and ] ask myself again and
again, what can they be-"
God knows | have often tried to dis
miss them from my mind. as fanciful
and absurd" said Trudaine. land / have
always failed. 1t is impossible, in your
presence, that | can describe in detail
what my own impressions have been.
from the first, of the master whom Won
serve. Let 1t be enough if | confide to
you that | cannot, even now, persuade
myself OF the sincerity of his attach
ment to my sister, and that | feel-in
spite of myself, in spite Of my earnest
desire to put the most implicit conf
dence in Roses choice-a distrust of his
and temper, which now. on
the eve of the marriage, amounts to
terror. Long secret suffering.
doubt, and suspense wiring this confess
sion from me, Monsieur Lomaque, al
most unaWares, in defiance of caution.
IN defiance of all the conventionalities
of society. You have lived for year
lnder the same roof with this man; YOU
a seen him in his most unguarded
private moments. l tempt you to
no CONFIDENCE only ask you
II you can make me happy by telling
that l have been doing your mas
-er grievous injustice by my opinion
h1m? l ask you to take my hand and
ell me IT you can, in all honor, that my
sister is not risking the happiness of
'iage to Danville tomorrow"
He held out his hand while he spoke,
some strange chance, Lomaque hap
pened just at that moment to be look
ing away towards those beauties of ma
which he admired so greatly.
Really, Monsieur Trudaine, really
such an appeal from you, at such a
lime, amazes me-" Having got so far.
stopped and said no more.
"When we first sat down together
acre, l had no thought of making this
no idea of talking to you as I
nave talked" pursued the other. my
words have escaped me, as 1 told you,
almost unawares-you must make al
for them and for me. I can
not expect others, Monsieur Lomaque,
70 appreciate and understand my feel
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