Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-12-05

Baroness, softly, 1Or P1eIrepOnt
voice was so firm and serious that it
was imposing; these sentiments do
J you honor, assuredly. But, then, if
| sou have such prejudice against the
| young women of today, you would
| then seem to say that you renounce
marriage. For l would like to have
you tell me in what part of the world
you can expect to find a young wo-
man who is not more OF less Of mys-
tery."
| Ma foil Aunt, rather than marry a
mystery such as Mademoiselle de La
Freillade, I swear l would prefer en-
| tering La Trappe. But then, if it is
| true that one can not take a woman
on trial, it is then impossible to find
| some young woman who has passed
through trials Of some sort? The par
| ticular circumstances of which, that
| of misfortune, for example, has
| thrown her merits into relief, and
whose post is guaranty for the
! future"
Nine. de Montauron threw upon her
nephew and equivocai look, and her
lips were pressed together more than
| usual when she answered: Eyes; no
doubt one might find 81 Il, but
would have you notice taat the girls
schooled in misfortune are generally
! without SOU"
Aunt, the dowry is secondary
consideration with me-"
Naturally; you are SO rich and you
you have such simple tastes.s 1t is
true that you will probably inherit my
fortune but let me remind you that
| that is a long ways off. My father
! died at eight-f1ve; I can thus live
thirty years more, and I would not
not hide from you that it IS my in
| tention to do So"
aunt" said Pierrepont, i'll a tone
of grave reproach.
Very we'll; I am wrong" said she.
Cali these receptions put me out of
| humor. We will speak of them again.
| Go, my friend
Pierrepont left, having kissed her
hand.
| Remaining alone, the Baroness rose
| from her armchair brusquely, and
took a few steps around the room,
| at intervals smelling the salts in her
flacon. She raised herself at the same
| time to an internal nlOnOlogue, which
could be nearly translated in these
| terms: "More hesitation. He thinks
of her. have suspected it for some
time. His attentions to her, his care
! less Indifference to the other, his per-
petual dickering with creditors. 1
could not believe him guilty Of such
absurd fol1y-so absurd and so culp-
able. To deprive NE Of that girl who
| has become indispensable to me, and
| to then impose upon me the expense
of their living, for I would defy them
| to live without my help. What do they
want? Are they in accord? Is there
yet time to parry this thrust! That
must be found cut"
She pushed the button Of the bell
and a waiting-maid appeared.
ASK Mademoiselle Beatrice to
come"
The Baroness went to her toilette,
oampened her cheeks and forehead,
which were purple, returned and
seated herself. smile upon her lips,
when Beatrice entered.
"Be seated, my dear child; 1 wish
to speak with you-yes, I wish to talk
to you. I will open my heart to You
frankly"
Madame"
you see, my child, last night l
reflected; thought Of you; I found
was not all TO you that 1 should be,
all that I would be. am a suffering
old woman. That is my excuse. Your
cares, your kind attentions, are in
valuable to me- 1 would not hide it
from you'll should be very unhappy
to be deprived of them"
"My dear lady, do not IN the least
think"
81 know what you wish to say
you do not at all think of leaving me,
and / am greatly pleased with 1t.
which is antipathetfcal to me, and
which I try personally to avoid
that is self1shness; and l asked Of
myself last night if the extreme value
that l set upon your services was not
likely to make me selfish in regard to
you. And besides, my poor child,
wish to say that do not in the least
pretend TO conf1scate your life to my
profit. You are pretty, my dear, and
Notwithstanding the adversely which
has unjustly fallen upon you. it is
really among the possible things that
some pretendant will one day ask
your hand"
Madame, 1 assure you"
THAT circumstance has not yet
happened you say? That is all very
well; but it may happen at any min
utter. Here, as in Paris, receive many
people, and among the people whom
receive there may be found men Of
taste and heart. ((But you see if theY
come" said the Baroness aside.)
However it may be, l wish to say to
You that upon such an occasion, not.
withstanding the sacrifices it vii! im-
rCse upon me, as far as am con-
cerned, you will have no difficulty, no
objection. Much to the contrary, you
will find me to most happily concur
in it. You will permit me, however, to
subjoin just one condition, which
hope TO you will seem but natural.